+18 Things That Cause Check Engine Light References. Web loose or damaged gas cap: If your car’s engine temperature is heating up, it can once again trigger the check engine light.

This is because it doesn’t alert you to a specific fault. Web the light could be a minor issue, such as a faulty gas cap, or it could mean something more serious, such as a misfiring engine. This is one of the most common, and fortunately, easiest to fix, reasons that your check engine light can come on.