2016 Chevrolet Equinox Check Engine Light

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most naturally misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2016 Chevrolet Equinox is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few distinct ways. It can say "Check Engine", it can be a symbol of an engine, it can even be a combination of both. This light flashes 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 mixture of things for your 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. 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 determine a variety of different things. It can be as easy as your gas cap being loose or as serious as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis. Our Chevrolet service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or probe why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis today!

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

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

2016 Chevrolet Equinox Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that scant light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly 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 regular as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Equinox. There are hundreds of distinctive codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a scant patience, tackling principal diagnostics will give you convenient 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, unmistakable and helpful vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of practical OBD codes, there are also hundreds of practical reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is essential for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. 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! If the engine light comes on due to a hazardous concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away.

Check Engine Light Service 2016 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 correct because you have correct idea about what that light is trying to tell you or how you should react. The fear of the unknown (or the cost of the unknown) can be just as stressful. But take a deep breath and realize the light coming on doesn’t represent 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 2016 Chevrolet Equinox checked as soon as possible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to pricey engine components.

When your 2016 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 small, 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 diagnose 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 effective licensed to determine the issue and repair it.

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 accordingly tightened to a more unhealthy failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it hopeful to get the fitting code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is generally between $88 and $111. The hopeful news, Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help choose the cause of your check engine light.

Is it safe to drive your 2016 Chevrolet Equinox with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is twinkling, this means that there is a hazardous issue and it is recommended to service your Chevrolet Equinox rapidly. This question is not very classic 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 typically indicated by a possible glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the car, it could be an indication of a more hazardous problem. Call the consultants at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis by dialing 3176435230 so you can describe the issues. Or decrease your speed and bring your 2016 Chevrolet to our certified mechanics as soon as attainable.

2016 Chevrolet Equinox Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are countless conceivable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several normal causes including something as easy as a loose gas cap. Supplemental normal reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, damaged oxygen sensor, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty head gasket, or defective spark plugs to name a few. 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 essential 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 repaired.

Every 2016 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 difficult systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the mechanical control unit. If the mechanical control unit detects that the data is out of factory specifications, the Check Engine Light flashes telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what specifically is sorry 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 Extraordinarily Qualified Service experienced.

2016 Chevrolet Equinox Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2016 Chevrolet Equinox starts twinkling, that means that the problem needs hasty attention and your Chevrolet should be brought in shortly. A twinkling light indicates that the problem is threatening and if not taken care of shortly may result in major damage to the vehicle. This blinking light ordinarily hints a stringent engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can abruptly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is conceivable, requiring an costly repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can strictly be the cause. A bad, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is twinkling, please contact our team of automotive advisors at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis today 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 expensive repair.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2016 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 exceptional problem that could cause exceptional damage to your engine and come with a abundant repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A dependable glow naturally means something less exceptional but a twinkling check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in exceptional trouble and service is fundamental expeditiously. If your check engine light is twinkling in your 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, we chiefly advocate not to drive the vehicle and schedule Chevrolet service now. Below is a list of the most archival reasons your check engine light can come on:

• Your catalytic converter is damaging or going damaging. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2016 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 ordinarily 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 2016 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 further problems from overheating.
• 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 essential 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 assorted changes, like altitude. If your Chevrolet Equinox is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a sudden change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a damaging mass airflow sensor.
• The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2016 Chevrolet Equinox is every laborious. 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 dominant service coupons and specials.
• Your 2016 Chevrolet Equinox has a vacuum leak. Every Chevrolet Equinox has a vacuum system that performs a wide alter 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 dry out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to powerful heat or extreme chilled.
• Issues with all aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or further item can wreak havoc on your 2016 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 commonplace, bring your Equinox to Chevrolet and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing all issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts earliest place might cost a tiny bit more but could save you money from having to get small work and damage caused by small installation work corrected.
• One of the most regular and many cause is that your 2016 Chevrolet Equinox gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2016 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 damaging fuel cap? If your gas cap is classical 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 rapidly after you put gas in your 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, earliest thing you should check is to make positive 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, acknowledged 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 vehicle will be less compelling 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 damage to your catalytic converter and your 2016 Chevrolet Equinox's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to imply the right collection of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A damaging O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are essential for your 2016 Chevrolet Equinox. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel collection in the combustion chamber of your vehicle. This explosion is what moves the pistons and makes the engine run. The spark plug wires transport the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If your spark plugs or spark plug wires are damaging or classical, you will experience small 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 damage to ignition coils and O2 sensors, extensive to more expensive repairs.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2016 Chevrolet Equinox 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 functional, 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 2016 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.