How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis to help represent if your vehicle is safe to travel to work in or if we recommend a tow truck. 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 difficult to predict how many miles you can travel to work with the warning light on. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly.
Check Engine Light Service 2017 Chevy Equinox
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Chevy Equinox and quickly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Chevy owners, your heart sinks a small because you have small 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 2017 Chevy Equinox checked as soon as likely. Ignoring that warning could end up causing basic damage to expensive engine parts.
When your 2017 Chevy Equinox's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the mechanical control system that it can’t equitable, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is normally 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 audit tool that is used by our Chevy auto repair mechanics at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis. There are also a number of relatively justifiable 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 licensed professional to learn the issue and repair it.
2017 Chevy Equinox Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are countless likely causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are bountiful present causes including something as effortless as a loose gas cap. Extra present 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 Chevy Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as needed to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Chevy issue was fixed.
Every 2017 Chevy 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 needed 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 explicitly 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 Exceptionally Qualified Service skilled.
Is it safe to drive your 2017 Chevy Equinox with the check engine light on?
If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a relentless issue and it is recommended to service your Chevy Equinox immediately. This question is not largely agreeable 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 dependable to drive. This is generally 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 relentless problem. Call the consultants at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis by dialing 3176435230 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2017 Chevy to our certified mechanics as soon as attainable.
2017 Chevy Equinox Check Engine Light
A flashing light expresses that the problem is risky and if not taken care of quickly may result in major damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2017 Chevy Equinox starts flashing, that means that the problem needs abrupt attention and your Chevy should be brought in quickly. This blinking light usually implies a draconian engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be deposited into the exhaust system. There it can hastily raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is realistic, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can fully be the cause. A bad, aged 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 fancy repair. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our company of automotive experts at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis immediately by calling 3176435230.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2017 Chevy Equinox?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as classic as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a alarming problem that could cause alarming damage to your engine and come with a exciting repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A logical glow commonly means something less alarming but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in alarming trouble and service is paramount suddenly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2017 Chevy Equinox, we extremely recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Chevy service today. Below is a list of the most normal reasons your check engine light can come on:
- Your catalytic converter is detrimental or going detrimental. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2017 Chevy Equinox’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter's work 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 every Chevy service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2017 Chevy 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 alternative problems from overheating.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, routine as the O2 sensor, measures the reward of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be fewer 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 damage to your catalytic converter and your 2017 Chevy Equinox's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to find out the right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A detrimental O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are necessary for your 2017 Chevy 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 bring the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If your spark plugs or spark plug wires are detrimental or former, 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, big to more expensive repairs.
- The battery is poor or dead. The battery in your 2017 Chevy Equinox is every meaningful. 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 Chevy you drive, but check our actual service coupons and specials.
- Your 2017 Chevy Equinox has a vacuum leak. Every Chevy Equinox has a vacuum system that performs a gigantic variety 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, particularly if they’re exposed to exciting heat or extreme bleak.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or alternative item can wreak havoc on your 2017 Chevy Equinox if it’s not installed perfectly. These aftermarket components and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound routine, bring your Equinox to Chevy and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, particularly aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM components first place might cost a tiny bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Chevy Equinox is what determines how much fuel is necessary to run your engine efficiently by measuring the reward of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to convenient changes, like altitude. If your Chevy Equinox is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a hasty change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a detrimental mass airflow sensor.
- One of the most prevalent and copious cause is that your 2017 Chevy Equinox gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2017 Chevy 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 detrimental fuel cap? If your gas cap is former 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 2017 Chevy Equinox, first thing you should check is to make convinced the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?
The central cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is normally between $88 and $111. The noticeable news, Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help embrace the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not perfectly tightened to a more hazardous failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it noticeable to get the polite code reading and diagnosis.
2017 Chevy Equinox Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little 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 acknowledged as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Equinox. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling mandatory diagnostics will give you appealing knowledge about your car and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is truly supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, discernible and helpful car symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of decent OBD codes, there are also hundreds of decent reasons for the light, including:
- Computer output circuit issues
- Transmission issues
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Old Battery
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Emissions controls issues
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Ignition system faults
- O2 Sensor
This is why it is numerous 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 urgently by a certified Chevy 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 critical concern, you risk damaging your vehicle additional by not repairing the issue right away.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most frequently misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2017 Chevy Equinox is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few careful 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 automobile. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored automobile performance since the 80s and do a variety of things for your 2017 Chevy 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 mean a variety of discrete things. It can be as effortless as your gas cap being loose or as terrible as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2017 Chevy Equinox, contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis. Contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis today! Our Chevy service department can help you learn what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2017 Chevy 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 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 2017 Chevy Equinox light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that fee and the light is still on, you will need to deliver it in to Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.