What are some signs of car engine malfunction?

Signs of vehicle engine malfunction include lit dashboard warning lights, irregular movement or jerking, strange noises, bad odors, and smoke from under the hood, exhaust pipe or air vents. A professional should inspect the cause of any of these symptoms as soon as possible to avoid potentially hazardous failure.

Dashboard warning lights generally communicate specific engine issues such as low oil level, low oil pressure and overheating. The check engine light is triggered by a wide array of sensors and requires a diagnostic tool to read the exact error code. The most common trigger of the check engine light is a malfunctioning oxygen sensor.