Some older vehicles would illuminate the MIL when there was a failure in the ABS system - more common pre-OBD-II.
However, let's stick with emissions. Perfectly fine, if one of those emissions sensors fails?
If one of the intake air (volume - MAF, pressure - MAP, temperature - IAT) sensors are failing, they can deliver the wrong info the computer. Your car can stall while you're driving as a result of too little or too much fuel.
A failing oxygen sensor causes driving issues. Slam on the gas to merge in with one failing, and the engine may fall on it's face.
Timing faults can trigger an MIL. Again, the vehicle can stall with the vehicle in motion.
Yep, only related to emissions, but far from "perfectly fine."
I've driven three different vehicles with the CEL on, which the shop couldn't diagnose or correct ("maybe it's this, maybe it's that, we ain't real sure, but pay us a couple grand anyway"), for thousands of miles without any of the events you described ever happening.
Poor analogy. The Check Engine light is only related to emissions. Nothing else. It's perfectly fine, mechanically speaking, to drive with the CEL on.
You just made the mistake yourself.
Some older vehicles would illuminate the MIL when there was a failure in the ABS system - more common pre-OBD-II.
However, let's stick with emissions. Perfectly fine, if one of those emissions sensors fails?
If one of the intake air (volume - MAF, pressure - MAP, temperature - IAT) sensors are failing, they can deliver the wrong info the computer. Your car can stall while you're driving as a result of too little or too much fuel.
A failing oxygen sensor causes driving issues. Slam on the gas to merge in with one failing, and the engine may fall on it's face.
Timing faults can trigger an MIL. Again, the vehicle can stall with the vehicle in motion.
Yep, only related to emissions, but far from "perfectly fine."
I've driven three different vehicles with the CEL on, which the shop couldn't diagnose or correct ("maybe it's this, maybe it's that, we ain't real sure, but pay us a couple grand anyway"), for thousands of miles without any of the events you described ever happening.
But you do you, homey.