Is it safe to drive your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado with the check engine light on?
This question is not incredibly easy because it all depends on the severity of the issue. If the cause is a minor issue, such as a loose gas cap, it should be safe to commute. This is continuously indicated by a steady glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the vehicle, it could be an indication of a more hazardous problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a hazardous issue and it is recommended to service your Chevrolet Colorado suddenly. Call the experts at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis by dialing 3176435230 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2013 Chevrolet to our certified mechanics as soon as feasible.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado will usually shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is fixed. For example, if the cause of your check engine light coming on was a loose gas cap, if it's tightened, the light will turn itself off. Likewise, if your catalytic converter is going practical, and you did frequent of stop-and-go driving, that may have turned on the check engine light due to the high usage of the converter. In most cases, your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you commute over that amount and the light is still on, you will need to bring it in to Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.
Check Engine Light Service 2013 Chevrolet Colorado
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Chevrolet Colorado and swiftly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Chevrolet owners, your heart sinks a miniature because you have miniature idea about what that light is trying to tell you or how you should react. The fear of the unknown (or the price of the unknown) can be just as stressful. But take a deep breath and realize the light coming on doesn’t determine you have to pull the car over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado checked as soon as functional. Ignoring that warning could end up causing main break to expensive engine components.
When your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t low-priced, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is frequently labeled “check engine” or “service engine soon”, or the light may be nothing more than a picture of an engine, or a picture of the engine with the word “check.”
When the light turns on, the ECM stores an engine code or “trouble code” in its memory that identifies as the issue, whether it's a sensor or a failing engine part. This code is determine with an computerized audit tool that is used by our Chevrolet auto repair mechanics at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you prefer that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced high-tech to determine the issue and repair it.
2013 Chevrolet Colorado Check Engine Light
A flashing light indicates that the problem is hazardous and if not taken care of today may result in enormous damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado starts flashing, that means that the problem needs sudden attention and your Chevrolet should be brought in today. This twinkling light usually indicates a rigorous engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can quickly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is feasible, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can solely be the cause. A bad, long-established or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis expeditiously by calling 3176435230. If the problem is ignored or you continue to drive, this can spread to the spark plug wires, catalytic converter, or ignition coils which can lead to a very pricey repair.
2013 Chevrolet Colorado Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that tiny light on your vehicle’s dashboard expeditiously illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear right away. If you hear the term, diagnostic trouble codes (DTC), these are just another name for check engine light codes. These are automotive computer codes stored by the ECM, also known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Colorado. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a tiny patience, tackling cooperative diagnostics will give you conducive knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Regrettably, distinct and conducive vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of alive OBD codes, there are also hundreds of alive reasons for the light, including:
- O2 Sensor
- Old Battery
- Emissions controls issues
- Computer output circuit issues
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Ignition system faults
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Transmission issues
This is why it is memorable for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a critical concern, you risk damaging your car additional by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out quickly by a certified Chevrolet mechanic. Call Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis at 3176435230 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few evident ways. It can say "Check Engine", it can be a symbol of an engine, it can even be a combination of both. This light illuminates in either an amber or red color and is part of the diagnostics system found on your vehicle. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored vehicle performance since the 80s and do a class of things for your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado. Some of these include controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of different things. It can be as easy as your gas cap being loose or as strict as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado, contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis. Our Chevrolet service department can aid you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis today!
How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
It could be anything from a destructive sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. If you check engine light is flashing, we advise that you pull over and contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis to help represent if your vehicle is accurate to drive in or if we advise a tow truck. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is draconian to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on.
How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?
The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not properly tightened to a more risky failure like a harmful catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it positive to get the convincing code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is typically between $88 and $111. The positive news, Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help determine the cause of your check engine light.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2013 Chevrolet Colorado?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as understandable as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a perilous problem that could cause perilous damage to your engine and come with a huge repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A dependable glow often means something less perilous but a flashing check engine light expresses that your vehicle’s engine is in perilous trouble and service is paramount expeditiously. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado, we extremely advocate not to drive the car and schedule Chevrolet service now. Below is a list of the most commonplace reasons your check engine light can come on:
- One of the most chummy and frequent cause is that your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado serves multiple purposes. It prevents gas fumes from being released when you aren't driving, it seals the fuel system and helps maintain pressure within the fuel tank. What happens if you have a harmful fuel cap? If your gas cap is traditional or has a ruptured seal, you can lose fuel through evaporation which will result in more trips to the pump. Luckily, to replace a gas cap isn't expensive. If your check engine light turns on shortly after you put gas in your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado, first thing you should check is to make confident the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, known as the O2 sensor, measures the amount of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your car will be less logical when it comes to fuel economy. So what happens if I don’t replace your O2 sensor? A faulty sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause break to your catalytic converter and your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to mean the right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A harmful O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
- Your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado has a vacuum leak. Every Chevrolet Colorado has a vacuum system that performs a colossal variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower detrimental emissions by routing the fumes as gasoline evaporates through the engine. If you notice that your RPM is high in idle or randomly surges, a vacuum leak could be the cause. Over time, vacuum hoses can dry out and crack, excessively if they’re exposed to unusual heat or extreme bitter.
- Your catalytic converter is harmful or going harmful. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter's function is to turn the carbon monoxide created by the combustion process into carbon dioxide. A damaged catalytic converter is consistently caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Chevrolet service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado will not pass an emissions test, show a lack of engine performance and will negatively affect your fuel economy. Your car may run at a higher temperature, too, which can cause substitute problems from overheating.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Chevrolet Colorado is what determines how much fuel is needed to run your engine efficiently by measuring the amount of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to certain changes, like altitude. If your Chevrolet Colorado is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a rapid change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a harmful mass airflow sensor.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado is every noticeable. Without a car battery, your car won’t start, light up the road ahead, play the radio or charge your phone. Today’s car batteries last much longer than they did a few decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Chevrolet you drive, but check our modern service coupons and specials.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or substitute item can wreak havoc on your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket elements and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the car from starting. If these issues sound accepted, bring your Colorado to Chevrolet and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, excessively aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM elements first place might cost a little bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and break caused by poor installation work corrected.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your 2013 Chevrolet Colorado. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of your car. This explosion is what moves the pistons and makes the engine run. The spark plug wires bring the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If your spark plugs or spark plug wires are harmful or traditional, you will experience poor performance and reduced power. In some extreme cases, your engine will have trouble starting or continuing to run. Worn spark plugs and plug wires can cause clogged catalytic converter or break to ignition coils and O2 sensors, large to more expensive repairs.
2013 Chevrolet Colorado Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are countless ability causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are plentiful pragmatic causes including something as effortless as a loose gas cap. Divergent pragmatic reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty head gasket, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, damaged oxygen sensor, or defective spark plugs to name various. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Chevrolet Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as decisive to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Chevrolet issue was revamped.
Every 2013 Chevrolet Colorado was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the automobile on its curious systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the electronic control squad. If the electronic control squad detects that the data is out of factory specifications, the Check Engine Light illuminates telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what exactly is mistaken nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Extremely Qualified Service professional.