Smoke boiling from under the hood, says "check Emission system" and "check VSA"
My car was boiling smoke from under the hood this morning, telling me to check the emission system and the VSA. Any idea what the problem could be?
My car has 115000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The VSA system is the "Vehicle Stability Assist" system, which is essentially your vehicle’s traction control system and ABS systems. The traction control system monitors the steering and stability of the vehicle and engages when loss of traction has been detected. This is done by the use of electronic sensors at each of the four wheels that communicate with the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) regarding steering performance and stability in adverse weather conditions. The traction control system works by reducing engine speed and determining which wheel to apply brake pressure to in order to prevent the vehicle from sliding. The anti-lock braking system and the traction control system work together to maintain the stability of the vehicle. The computer uses this information received from electronic sensors regarding the rotational speed of each wheel, the horizontal motion of the vehicle, and the vertical motion of the vehicle to determine how to direct the traction control system or the anti-lock braking system to best control the vehicle when needed. When this warning indicator light comes on in the dashboard, this could be an indication of several issues such as faulty wheel speed sensors, a faulty steering angle sensor, a faulty rotational speed sensor or a problem with the steering rack. In some cases, the traction control system may simply need to be reprogrammed. The check emissions system light may indicate a number of things raging from the catalytic converter to an oxygen sensor, both of which are part of the emissions control system. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The easiest method to reset the check engine light is to drive your car as you normally would and let the light turn off naturally by itself. If it hasn`t turned off after three days, turn the car on and off three times consecutively.
Clean or replace our vehicle`s air filter to prevent debris or contaminants from getting into your fuel or exhaust. Try replacing the oxygen sensors under the hood and on your exhaust line if they`re faulty and taking incorrect emissions readings.
Some common causes for the emission light on car illuminating are: Emission system fault – This is when the engine is burning too much fuel, increasing your carbon footprint. The emission light on car could also be on because the system is not burning enough fuel, or if the sensor is broken.
(ESC) System. Helps to stabilize the vehicle during cornering if the vehicle turns more or less than what was intended. It assists in maintaining traction on slippery surfaces by regulating engine output and selectively applying the brakes.
Error Code P0440 indicates a malfunction with a vehicle`s EVAP system. This means that the vehicle`s engine control module (ECM) has detected a leak in the fuel tank vapor system or that a vapor pressure sensor has malfunctioned.
So, is it safe to drive with the Emissions Control Light on? Yes, as long as it is the only light that has come on, you do not have to worry about your safety.
Potential solutions include leveraging photosynthesis in coastal plants, seaweed, or phytoplankton; adding certain minerals to seawater that react with dissolved CO2 and lock it away; or running an electric current through seawater to accelerate reactions that ultimately help extract CO2.
It is not good when there is an emissions problem or exhaust system failure. It can cause performance issues in your engine, potentially leading to costly internal damage. It`s also bad for you and the environment when harmful fumes and carbon monoxide are getting out more than they should.
These gasoline vapors may produce errors in the emissions system, which would cause the check engine light to come on. Dirt and Grime that gets into the gas tank could also contaminate the fuel injectors. Perhaps the biggest sign of a bad gas cap is the smell of gasoline in your vehicle.
The main culprit? A faulty exhaust. Usually, your exhaust and catalytic converter work together to limit the amount of harmful gasses your engine produces. However, when your exhaust is old, worn or damaged, it`s much less effective at doing so.
A faulty catalytic converter leads to emissions system problems. It cannot take enough carbon monoxide and transform it into carbon dioxide. If your catalytic converter accumulates trapped gases in the engine, you can be exposed to the smell of sulfur just like rotten eggs.
VSA will only come into play when it is needed. In other words, when your tires are slipping. It will not slow you down in normal driving, or even hard accelerating straight ahead.
VSA is turned on every time you start the engine, even if you previously turned it off. If you turn VSA off, your vehicle has normal braking and cornering ability, but VSA traction and stability enhancement become less effective.
The EVAP system leak error means the sensor detected the Evaporated fuel in the gas tank is leaking. If this fault is detected multiple times, it is recommended to have the vehicle serviced by a mechanic to resolve the leak.
An EVAP leak can cause a variety of issues, including a decrease in fuel efficiency, an increase in emissions, and a decrease in engine performance. If left unchecked, an EVAP leak can also cause damage to the catalytic converter, which can be expensive to repair.
If the check engine light illuminates, it will either blink or remain constantly illuminated, depending on the problem. A blinking light, or in some cars a red light instead of a yellow or orange light, indicates a problem that needs immediate attention. Either way, you should have the vehicle checked by a mechanic.
In general, you will need to drive between 50-100 miles after you clear your car`s computer. Hopefully, this will get rid of the check engine light once and for all. If it doesn`t, there may be a more critical factor causing this item to turn on.
Disconnect both O2 sensors (front and rear). Start the engine and allow the vehicle to idle. After faults have stored: Cycle the ignition OFF/ON 2 times with a 10 second pause in between key cycles.
The easiest way to perform an ECU reset is by removing the fuse from the fuse box. It is a very simple process, and all you have to do is pull out the car key, remove the fuse from the fuse box, and then put it back after about 15 to 20 seconds. Doing this clears any long-term memory stored in the car`s ECU.
Like desktop computers and most other electronics, disconnecting the battery cable for a short period will not fully reset your ECU due to the residual power remaining in the circuits.
The least invasive way to diagnose your ECM is to connect an onboard diagnostic (OBD or OBD II) tool to the diagnostic port. From there, you can scan to see if your engine computers have produced any error codes. There are many of these codes, and your diagnostic tool`s manual should have information on what they mean.
Driving with Bad Catalytic Converter
If you`re noticing sluggish engine performance, reduced acceleration, a smell of rotten eggs or sulfur from the exhaust, dark exhaust smoke, or extreme heat coming from under the vehicle, these are symptoms of a clogged Catalytic Converter, and it should be repaired soon.
They are particulate matter (often referred to as particle pollution), ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. These pollutants can harm human health, harm the environment, and cause property damage.
The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities in the United States is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Smoke boiling from under the hood, says "check Emission system" and "check VSA"
ANSWER : The VSA system is the "Vehicle Stability Assist" system, which is essentially your vehicle’s traction control system and ABS systems. The traction control system monitors the steering and stability of the vehicle and engages when loss of traction has been detected. This is done by the use of electronic sensors at each of the four wheels that communicate with the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) regarding steering performance and stability in adverse weather conditions. The traction control system works by reducing engine speed and determining which wheel to apply brake pressure to in order to prevent the vehicle from sliding. The anti-lock braking system and the traction control system work together to maintain the stability of the vehicle. The computer uses this information received from electronic sensors regarding the rotational speed of each wheel, the horizontal motion of the vehicle, and the vertical motion of the vehicle to determine how to direct the traction control system or the anti-lock braking system to best control the vehicle when needed. When this warning indicator light comes on in the dashboard, this could be an indication of several issues such as faulty wheel speed sensors, a faulty steering angle sensor, a faulty rotational speed sensor or a problem with the steering rack. In some cases, the traction control system may simply need to be reprogrammed. The check emissions system light may indicate a number of things raging from the catalytic converter to an oxygen sensor, both of which are part of the emissions control system. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.
hood latch locked before could. Lose hood and now hood is jammed and can’t get it unjammed
ANSWER : Hi there:
If the hood was having a problem closing and won’t open now, it’s typically an indicator that the hood latch itself is damaged or simply needs to be lubricated. The best way to have this issue repaired or diagnosed is to contact a professional mechanic and have them complete a door will not open inspection. This will allow them to determine why the front hood on your 96 Ford Explorer is locked and recommend the right repairs.
My car is running hot…it was smoking from under the hood, after a little bit of cooling, the smoke stopped, but it still smells
ANSWER : I believe you have a bad thermostat. Symptoms of a bad thermostat are coolant boiling over and very tight upper radiator hose. The smell is going to be because of the antifreeze on the engine. No worries that will go away after having the car on for a while because it will burn off.
Replace your thermostat and I’m sure your problem will be fix. Consider YourMechanic if you would like to have a technician come to your home to diagnose the issue and replace the thermostat.
I pulled over and under the hood a lot of white smoke coming from under the hood. Got it towed and saw the oil dipstick was dry
ANSWER : It would be fairly easy for me to say you do need engine repair or replacement simply by your description and 30+ years of experience. However, you can try refilling the oil to correct level to see if it does start and/or sounds normal. Did the oil leak out all at once or did the level drop over a month ? Even if it was over the course of a month, a 4-5 quart oil loss over 4 weeks is still a substantial leak. The cause of the leak should be looked into before trying anything
Your best bet may be to have the vehicle towed to a local repair shop. Explain what happened completely. You can maybe negotiate a set amount of diagnostic time you are willing to pay to find pout if the engine is repairable or requires replacement.
White smoke under hood on the passenger side when idle 2003 infiniti g35 coupe
ANSWER : Hi There,
The white smoke may be a couple of different possibilities, depending on the kind of white smoke. If this is more of a steamy white smoke, this may indicate an overheating problem which may be causing the coolant to be turning to a white smokey vapor due to being burnt in the engine. If it is a thicker white smoke, this may suggest potentially melting wiring or an electrical problem causing something to burn. Due to the potentially dangerous potential of an electrical problem, I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
The white smoke may be a couple of different possibilities, depending on the kind of white smoke. If this is more of a steamy white smoke, this may indicate an overheating problem which may be causing the coolant to be turning to a white smokey vapor due to being burnt in the engine. If it is a thicker white smoke, this may suggest potentially melting wiring or an electrical problem causing something to burn. Due to the potentially dangerous potential of an electrical problem, I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
just got a oil change Car engine temp got really hot, oil spilled under the hood, loud screeching and smoke when the car is on
ANSWER : Hi there. I honestly hate hearing horror stories like this and am very sorry this has happened to you. There are several things that could have caused this issue, ranging from the oil service place forgetting to put the oil cap back on, tighten the oil pan bolt or the oil filter was improperly installed; causing the oil to spray, increase engine temperature and many other possible damage to internal engine components. The first thing I would do is contact the oil service location and inform them of the problems you have experienced. They should be given every opportunity to resolve and repair this issue; or at least, have an "accident claim" filled out by you; as it’s possible that major damage may have occurred. If they are unwilling to help, I would set up an oil leak inspection from one of our professional mechanics so they can determine where the oil is leaking from and any other damage that has occurred. In the best case scenario, the issue can be resolved easily.
Car is making a knocking noise when stopping. Other mechanics say it’s motor. Some say it’s the piston
ANSWER : Unfortunately, there is no way to tell without doing some more testing. The timing and small details about the noises you are hearing may make a huge difference in diagnosing the issue.
Lifters will make more of a "clicking" sound if they are not lubricated or are starting to wear down. These clicks will go away at higher speeds. If you are replacing one, replace all of them. The best way to inspect these is to open up the valves and take a look. This can be time consuming. One of the most common reasons for knock is due to improper combustion. New spark plugs can help tremendously if this is the case. The timing of the spark can also be an issue.
You may want to inspect the spark plugs and distributor as well. They might be the reason the combustion is off time. Engine knock can also be caused by fuel delivery issues, or poor fuel quality. Piston and engine knock will typically sound better as the engine warms up. A compression test can help give you insight to the condition of the pistons. This will take a special set up that plugs into your spark plug socket. If you would like to have this diagnosed, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the noise and advise you on repairs.
Hood cable broke and hood won’t open
ANSWER : Hello. There is a spring loaded latch that the cable pulls on so you should grab a flashlight and a screwdriver like the one you saw him use and look for where the spring is. The lever needs to be pushed towards the drivers side of the car. If you play with it a little bit, you’ll get it. Keep in mind it’s spring loaded so it will require a little force. There are multiple videos that show the process if you still cannot get it to release.
