5 Symptoms of a Faulty Engine Control System
Is your check engine light always on? Are you experiencing problems like poor performance, stalled acceleration, or poor fuel economy? These seemingly unrelated issues could point to a deeper problem: a faulty Engine Control Unit (ECU), also known as the ECM (Engine Control Module).
If it’s not working properly, things can get messy quickly. Learn how to recognize the signs of engine failure and how much it might cost to replace (note: it’s not cheap).
5 Most Common Symptoms of a Defective Engine Control Unit
Fortunately, there are certain symptoms you can spot early on to determine if your engine control module is faulty.
1) Check the Engine Light
An easy symptom to recognize is when the “Check Engine Light” warning light comes on on your dashboard. Of course, there are many different reasons why this light comes on.
However, if the engine control module detects a problem with an electronic component, circuit, or sensor, the check engine light will come on immediately.
Sometimes the engine control unit does this erroneously. To find out if there is indeed a problem with your engine control module, you need to look for certain error codes in your vehicle’s computer.
These codes will identify the cause of the problem. For more information on the error code, contact the manufacturer, your user manual, our website, or various online resources.
2) Engine misfire or stall
Another symptom that may follow the warning light coming on is the engine misfiring or sometimes stalling. There is no real consistency to these issues either. Engine misfires or misfire patterns are random, making it difficult to pinpoint a specific engine problem.
Often, this is due to a faulty engine control unit that provides incorrect information to the engine. If the problem worsens, the engine will perform poorly while driving.
3) High gasoline consumption
Because a vehicle needs the right air-fuel ratio to function optimally, a faulty engine control module doesn’t know how much fuel to pump into the combustion chamber. This means that too much fuel is often burned in the combustion process. As a result, your vehicle will run out of gas and use more fuel than necessary. Not only will you have to budget more for gas every month, but it will also have a negative impact on the environment.
4) Poor Engine Performance
Alternatively, a faulty ECM could mean that not enough fuel is being delivered to the combustion chamber. This means that when you step on the accelerator, your car will no longer accelerate as it used to.
You might notice a bit of shaking or vibration, especially when driving uphill, when there is extra weight on the car, or when towing something. You may also experience a rough idle due to not having enough fuel for the conditions.
5) Car Won’t Start
The worst symptom is when your car won’t start at all. It may have some difficulty starting at first, but then it never starts again. This happens when the engine control unit fails completely and no longer functions at all.
When this happens, the engine no longer has a computer system to control and direct its own functions. You may be able to start the engine, but it won’t start because the computer isn’t giving the engine the important information it needs to do its job.
Again, there could be other reasons why the engine won’t start. The only way to know for sure if this symptom is related to a faulty engine control module is to have it inspected by a certified auto mechanic.