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How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?

The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy properly. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is tough to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on. If you check engine light is flashing, we advise that you pull over and contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis to help read if your car is safe to drive in or if we advise a tow truck.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as uncomplicated as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a hazardous problem that could cause hazardous 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 steady glow typically means something less hazardous but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in hazardous trouble and service is decisive expeditiously. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox, we exceedingly advise not to drive the vehicle and schedule Chevrolet service today. Below is a list of the most prevalent reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox has a vacuum leak. Each Chevrolet Equinox has a vacuum system that performs a wide collection of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower harmful 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 barren out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to considerable heat or extreme cheerful.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Chevrolet Equinox is what determines how much fuel is crucial to run your engine efficiently by measuring the payment of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to genuine changes, like altitude. If your Chevrolet Equinox is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a immediate change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox’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 usually caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with each Chevrolet service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it fixed, your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox 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 extra problems from overheating.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, acknowledged as the O2 sensor, measures the payment of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be less productive 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 2014 Chevrolet Equinox's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A bad O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or extra item can wreak havoc on your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox if it’s not installed correctly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound innate, bring your Equinox to Chevrolet and have our department of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts 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.
  • One of the most commonplace and countless cause is that your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox 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 bad fuel cap? If your gas cap is old 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 immediately after you put gas in your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox, 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.
  • The battery is meager or dead. The battery in your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox is each positive. 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 genuinely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Chevrolet you commute, but check our ongoing service coupons and specials.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are crucial for your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of your vehicle. This explosion is what moves the pistons and makes the engine run. The spark plug wires deliver the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If your spark plugs or spark plug wires are bad or old, 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, leading to more expensive repairs.

2014 Chevrolet Equinox Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that miniature light on your vehicle’s dashboard instantly flashes, 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 Equinox. There are hundreds of distinctive codes that your check engine light can indicate. While that sounds daunting, with a miniature patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you practical knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, indisputable and helpful vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of effective OBD codes, there are also hundreds of effective reasons for the light, including:

  • Fuel and air metering systems problems
  • Bad Spark Plugs
  • Transmission issues
  • Old Battery
  • Emissions controls issues
  • Ignition system faults
  • O2 Sensor
  • Computer output circuit issues
  • Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap

This is why it is mandatory 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 rigid concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away. Call Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis at 3176435230 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out quickly by a certified Chevrolet mechanic.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most usually misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few substitute ways. It can say "Check Engine", it can be a symbol of an engine, it can even be a combination of both. This light brightens 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 variety of things for your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox. Some of these include shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, controlling engine speed, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can represent a collection of distinctive things. It can be as natural as your gas cap being loose or as important as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox, contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis. Contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis today! Our Chevrolet service department can assist you learn what code is turning your check engine light on or investigate why your check engine light is blinking.

Is it safe to drive your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox with the check engine light on?

This question is not very realistic 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 drive. This is commonly 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 perilous problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a perilous issue and it is recommended to service your Chevrolet Equinox at this moment. Call the consultants at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis by dialing 3176435230 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2014 Chevrolet to our certified mechanics as soon as likely.

2014 Chevrolet Equinox Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is relentless and if not taken care of swiftly may result in compelling damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox starts flashing, that means that the problem needs prompt attention and your Chevrolet should be transported in swiftly. This blinking light usually suggests a stern 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 fancy repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can entirely be the cause. A bad, common or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. 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 expensive repair. If your check engine light is glaring, please contact our team of automotive experts at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis urgently by calling 3176435230.

Check Engine Light Service 2014 Chevrolet Equinox

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Chevrolet Equinox and hastily, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Chevrolet owners, your heart sinks a little because you have little idea about what that light is trying to tell you or how you should react. The fear of the unknown (or the estimate of the unknown) can be just as stressful. But take a deep breath and realize the light coming on doesn’t mean 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 2014 Chevrolet Equinox checked as soon as convincing. Ignoring that warning could end up causing big damage to expensive engine components.

When your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t reasonable, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is typically 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 read with an electronic scan tool that is used by our Chevrolet auto repair mechanics at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis. There are also a number of relatively bargain code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you choose that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an skilled trained to choose the issue and repair it.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2014 Chevrolet Equinox will frequently 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 detailed, and you did a lot 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 2014 Chevrolet Equinox light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that sum 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.

2014 Chevrolet Equinox Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are several likely causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several beneficial causes including something as plain as a loose gas cap. Contrasting beneficial reasons for a Check Engine Light are a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen sensor, or defective spark plugs to name a lot. 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 fixed.

Every 2014 Chevrolet Equinox was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its crucial systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the electronic control unit. If the electronic control unit detects that the data is out of factory specifications, the Check Engine Light lights up telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what fully is unsound 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 Remarkably Qualified Service active.

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 well tightened to a more forceful failure like a detrimental catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it honest to get the consistent code reading and diagnosis. The average rate for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is consistently between $88 and $111. The honest news, Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help represent the cause of your check engine light.