Chevrolet Check Engine Light

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

If you check engine light is glaring, we recommend that you pull over and contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis to help determine if your vehicle is reliable to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be interchanged. 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 not excellent to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Chevrolet 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 forceful, 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 Chevrolet 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.

Chevrolet Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that miniature light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly lights up, 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 additional name for check engine light codes. These are automotive computer codes stored by the ECM, also classic as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a miniature patience, tackling critical 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, evident and real 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:

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

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

How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?

The central cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is consistently between $88 and $111. The helpful news, Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help indicate the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not properly tightened to a more serious failure like a destructive catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it helpful to get the decent code reading and diagnosis.

Chevrolet Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is hazardous and if not taken care of shortly may result in considerable damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your Chevrolet starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Chevrolet should be brought in shortly. This blinking light often implies a rigorous engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be ejected into the exhaust system. There it can quickly improve the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is possible, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can actually be the cause. A bad, erstwhile or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our company 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.

Check Engine Light Service Chevrolet

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Chevrolet 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 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 Chevrolet checked as soon as achievable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing broad wear and tear to fancy engine components.

When your Chevrolet 's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t realistic, 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 inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you elect for that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to illustrate the issue and repair it.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most consistently misunderstood lights or indicators in your Chevrolet is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in several odd 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 variety of things for your Chevrolet. 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 odd things. It can be as easy as your gas cap being loose or as perilous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Chevrolet, contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis. Our Chevrolet service department can help you opt for what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis today!

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

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as conspicuous as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a strict problem that could cause strict damage to your engine and come with a major repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow typically means something less strict but a twinkling check engine light illustrates that your vehicle’s engine is in strict trouble and service is needed immediately. If your check engine light is twinkling in your Chevrolet, we remarkably recommend not to commute the vehicle and schedule Chevrolet service today. Below is a list of the most accepted reasons your check engine light can come on:

• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are fundamental for your Chevrolet. 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 erstwhile, 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, main to more expensive repairs.
• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or back-up item can wreak havoc on your Chevrolet if it’s not installed correctly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can ditch the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound typical, bring your 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, chiefly 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 damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
• Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Chevrolet is what determines how much fuel is fundamental 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 attentive changes, like altitude. If your Chevrolet 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 Chevrolet has a vacuum leak. Every Chevrolet has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety 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 dehydrated out and crack, chiefly if they’re exposed to bizarre heat or extreme bitter.
• Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Chevrolet ’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 frequently 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 serviced, your Chevrolet 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.
• The battery is poor or dead. The battery in your Chevrolet is every fundamental. 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 various decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The estimate of a new one depends on the type of Chevrolet you commute, but check our contemporary service coupons and specials.
• One of the most prevalent and countless cause is that your Chevrolet gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Chevrolet 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 erstwhile 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 swiftly after you put gas in your Chevrolet, first thing you should check is to make bold 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, present 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 possible 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 Chevrolet 's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to opt for 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.

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

This question is not very effortless 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 artistic problem. If the check engine light is glaring, this means that there is a artistic issue and it is recommended to service your Chevrolet quickly. Call the experts at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis by dialing 3176435230 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your Chevrolet to our certified mechanics as soon as conceivable.

Chevrolet Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are many capacity causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several natural causes including something as easy as a loose gas cap. Other natural reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, damaged oxygen sensor, faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, 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 necessary 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 Chevrolet 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 electronic control department. If the electronic control department 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 strictly 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 Extremely Qualified Service mechanical.