Here's why:
* Oil Light: This is your car's warning system indicating insufficient oil pressure. Oil lubricates all moving parts in the engine; without it, metal-on-metal contact occurs.
* Loud Knock: This is the sound of engine components violently impacting each other due to lack of lubrication. This is a very serious symptom.
* Engine Died: The engine shut down to prevent further, potentially irreparable damage.
The low oil pressure could be caused by several things:
* Low oil level: The most obvious. Check your dipstick immediately. If it's low, you need to find out *why*. A leak is the most likely culprit, but it could also be due to never changing the oil.
* Oil pump failure: The oil pump is responsible for circulating oil. Failure means no oil pressure, leading directly to the symptoms you've experienced.
* Clogged oil filter: A severely clogged filter can restrict oil flow.
* Holes in the engine block or oil pan: This can occur due to lack of lubrication already causing engine damage.
* Worn bearings: Worn bearings could be the cause, or the result of low oil pressure.
What you should NOT do:
* Do not attempt to restart the engine. Doing so will likely cause further and possibly irreversible damage.
What you SHOULD do:
* Have the car towed to a mechanic. This is not a DIY repair. The damage is likely extensive and requires professional diagnosis and repair (or likely replacement of the engine).
* Check the oil level (carefully, after the engine has cooled). This will at least give the mechanic some information.
* Prepare for a significant repair bill. The cost could range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the extent of the damage.
In short, you've likely suffered a serious engine failure. Professional help is urgently needed.
