2017 Chevrolet Equinox Check Engine Light

Is it safe to drive your 2017 Chevrolet Equinox with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is glaring, this means that there is a hazardous issue and it is recommended to service your Chevrolet Equinox immediately. This question is not very uncomplicated 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 protected to drive. This is ordinarily 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. Call the experts at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis by dialing 3176435230 so you can describe the issues. Or lower your speed and bring your 2017 Chevrolet to our certified mechanics as soon as viable.

Check Engine Light Service 2017 Chevrolet Equinox

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Chevrolet Equinox and suddenly, 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 cost of the unknown) can be just as stressful. But take a deep breath and realize the light coming on doesn’t indicate 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 2017 Chevrolet Equinox checked as soon as handy. Ignoring that warning could end up causing large damage to pricey engine components.

When your 2017 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 correct, 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 choose that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to choose the issue and repair it.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2017 Chevrolet Equinox will mostly 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 definite, 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 2017 Chevrolet Equinox light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive 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.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most naturally misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2017 Chevrolet Equinox is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few additional ways. It can say "Check Engine", it can be a symbol of an engine, it can even be a combination of both. This light lights up 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 2017 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 mean a variety of chance things. It can be as prudent as your gas cap being loose or as hazardous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2017 Chevrolet Equinox, contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis. Contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis today! Our Chevrolet service department can aid you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or audit why your check engine light is flashing.

2017 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 known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Equinox. There are hundreds of additional codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a scant patience, tackling primary 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, notable and cooperative vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of achievable OBD codes, there are also hundreds of achievable reasons for the light, including:

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

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

2017 Chevrolet Equinox Check Engine Light

A flashing light implies that the problem is extraordinary and if not taken care of hastily may result in considerable damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2017 Chevrolet Equinox starts flashing, that means that the problem needs quick attention and your Chevrolet should be transported in hastily. This blinking light usually indicates a scrupulous engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can instantly surge the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where wear and tear is likely, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can exactly be the cause. A bad, aged 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 immediately 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.

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

Since all check engine code has its own level of severity, it is not uncomplicated to predict how acceptable miles you can drive with the warning light on. If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis to help advise if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. 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.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as easy as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a relentless problem that could cause relentless damage to your engine and come with a generous repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow mostly means something less relentless but a flashing check engine light suggests that your vehicle’s engine is in relentless trouble and service is mandatory now. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2017 Chevrolet Equinox, we highly advocate not to drive the vehicle and schedule Chevrolet service today. Below is a list of the most regular reasons your check engine light can come on:

• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel variety 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 damage to ignition coils and O2 sensors, dominant to more lavish repairs.
• 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 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 correct 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 bad mass airflow sensor.
• Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2017 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 generally 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 2017 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 back-up problems from overheating.
• Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, familiar 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 reasonable 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 2017 Chevrolet Equinox's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to endorse the right variety 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 back-up item can wreak havoc on your 2017 Chevrolet Equinox if it’s not installed well. These aftermarket parts and accessories can discard the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound accepted, deliver your Equinox to Chevrolet and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed properly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might rate a inexpensive bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
• The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2017 Chevrolet Equinox is every emotional. 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 commute, but check our current service coupons and specials.
• One of the most legal and frequent cause is that your 2017 Chevrolet Equinox gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2017 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 lavish. If your check engine light turns on promptly after you put gas in your 2017 Chevrolet Equinox, first thing you should check is to make satisfied the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
• Your 2017 Chevrolet Equinox has a vacuum leak. Every Chevrolet Equinox has a vacuum system that performs a expanded assortment of functions. The vacuum system also helps lessen 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 agitated heat or extreme frigid.

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 dangerous failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it fantastic to get the authentic code reading and diagnosis. The average value for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is mostly between $88 and $111. The fantastic 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.

2017 Chevrolet Equinox Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are frequent capability causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several adequate causes including something as plain as a loose gas cap. Alternative adequate reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty emissions control part, faulty head gasket, damaged oxygen sensor, 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 imperative 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 2017 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 hard 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 illuminates 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 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 Exceptionally Qualified Service skilled.