Why Is My Subaru Check Engine Light On?

If the check engine light (CEL) on your Subaru has recently illuminated, you might be unsure what to do. The most important thing to remember is not to panic. Although your Subaru check engine light means that something is amiss under the hood, it could be something simple like a loose gas cap. 

You can achieve peace of mind by learning the Subaru check engine light codes, which can help you determine whether it’s time for a Subaru maintenance trip to the Sendell Subaru service center. Either way, you can always contact our team to ask about your check engine light and schedule an appointment.

Possible Reasons for an Illuminated Subaru Check Engine Light

The first thing to note when your check engine light comes on is its color. If your check engine light illuminates yellow, then your Subaru needs service, but you can still drive it to our Greensburg service center. However, if your engine light is red, you should pull over immediately and arrange a tow. Driving with a red check engine light could result in severe engine damage, not to mention unsafe driving conditions.

That being said, we have listed six of the most common reasons our Westmont driver customers see a lit-up check engine light in their Subaru. If you see your dashboard light up, it could be one of these issues—meaning it’s time for Subaru maintenance near Ligonier.

System Fault with EVAP

A canister of activated charcoal captures the gasoline fumes from your engine before sending the air back through with the evaporation system. If there is an issue with the evaporation canister or another component of this system, the check engine light can click on. Typically, you can fix this problem by replacing the canister, so ask a Subaru expert to check if this is the issue by reading the Subaru CEL codes.

Mass Air Sensor

The Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor reads how much air is entering the engine. Something as minor as an expired engine air filter, or even the MAF itself, can trip the CEL in this case, but it’s a good idea to drive straight to your nearest Subaru dealer to have it checked out.

Coolant Temperature Sensor

Coolant circulates throughout your Subaru’s engine to keep it cool. If this sensor detects that the coolant isn’t doing its job, your engine will begin to overheat—leading to a harder-working engine and other issues.

Loosened Gas Cap

While a loosened gas cap isn’t a major problem, it can cause your Subaru onboard computer to think something more serious is going on. If your check engine light comes on soon after you’ve filled up the tank in the Murrysville area, double-check that the cap is sealed and tight. It might save you a trip to a Subaru maintenance center.

Ignition System Fault

Modern engines in general, and Subaru BOXER® engines in particular, are sophisticated feats of engineering. With a lot of parts and components going into every firing of the spark plug, there are plenty of reasons your ignition system can illuminate the CEL. Since these issues are generally pretty major, ignition problems are usually illuminated red.

O2 Sensors

The most common reason we see for a CEL light to come on is the O2 sensors in the exhaust system. Most modern vehicles have two O2 sensors: one before the catalytic converter and the other behind. If either of these has a mishap, your Subaru might not be mixing air and fuel correctly in the engine, leading to reduced performance. We recommend letting only our factory-trained experts handle these important sensors at our Greensburg service center.

Schedule Subaru Maintenance and Service with Sendell Subaru

The next time your Subaru check engine light comes on, don’t fret—give us a call at 724-837-1600 to talk with one of our service experts about an appointment. You might be able to save on your Subaru maintenance too with our rotating service specials! We’re standing by to help you get back on the road.