Chevrolet Colorado Check Engine Light

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Chevrolet Colorado 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 honest, 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 Colorado 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.

Check Engine Light Service Chevrolet Colorado

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Chevrolet Colorado and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Chevrolet owners, your heart sinks a scant because you have scant 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 learn 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 Colorado checked as soon as favorable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing dominant wear and tear to expensive engine elements.

When your Chevrolet Colorado'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 investigate tool that is used by our Chevrolet auto repair mechanics at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis. There are also a number of relatively cheap code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you designate that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced high-tech to designate the issue and repair it.

Chevrolet Colorado Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are countless achievable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several ordinary causes encompassing something as clear-cut as a loose gas cap. Supplemental ordinary reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, damaged oxygen sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, 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 fixed.

Every Chevrolet Colorado was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its scrupulous systems. The sensors are constantly detecting conditions while sending data to the electronic control squad. If the electronic control squad 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 totally is untrue 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 Tremendously Qualified Service professional.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most consistently misunderstood lights or indicators in your Chevrolet Colorado is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few various 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 variety of things for your Chevrolet Colorado. Some of these include controlling engine speed, ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can indicate a variety of assorted things. It can be as curious as your gas cap being loose or as compelling as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Chevrolet Colorado, contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis. Our Chevrolet service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or inspect why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis today!

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 determine if your car is protected to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy appropriately. Since any check engine code has its own level of severity, it is hard to predict how countless miles you can drive with the warning light on. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced.

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 perilous failure like a harmful catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it marvelous to get the legal code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is typically between $88 and $111. The marvelous news, Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to aid learn the cause of your check engine light.

Chevrolet Colorado Check Engine Light

A flashing light expresses that the problem is rigid and if not taken care of shortly may result in major damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your Chevrolet Colorado starts flashing, that means that the problem needs brisk attention and your Chevrolet should be brought in shortly. This blinking light usually indicates a stringent engine misfire allowing unused fuel to be ditched into the exhaust system. There it can quickly increase the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can specifically be the cause. A bad, common or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is twinkling, 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 excessively expensive repair.

Chevrolet Colorado 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 common as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Colorado. There are hundreds of distinct codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a scant patience, tackling big diagnostics will give you useful 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 helpful vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of functional OBD codes, there are also hundreds of functional reasons for the light, including:

• Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
• Bad Spark Plugs
• Fuel and air metering systems problems
• Emissions controls issues
• Computer output circuit issues
• Old Battery
• O2 Sensor
• Ignition system faults
• Transmission 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 alarming concern, you risk aggressive your automobile 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 swiftly by a certified Chevrolet mechanic.

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

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a unhealthy issue and it is recommended to service your Chevrolet Colorado hastily. This question is not excessively distinct because it each 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 ordinarily indicated by a steady glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the automobile, it could be an indication of a more unhealthy 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 Chevrolet to our certified mechanics as soon as feasible.

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

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 unhealthy problem that could cause unhealthy damage to your engine and come with a big repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A logical glow typically means something fewer unhealthy but a flashing check engine light implies that your vehicle’s engine is in unhealthy trouble and service is mandatory now. If your check engine light is flashing in your Chevrolet Colorado, we incredibly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Chevrolet service today. Below is a list of the most respectable reasons your check engine light can come on:

• Your Chevrolet Colorado has a vacuum leak. Every Chevrolet Colorado has a vacuum system that performs a wide 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, especially if they’re exposed to exciting heat or extreme bleak.
• Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Chevrolet Colorado’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 repaired, your Chevrolet Colorado 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.
• The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Chevrolet Colorado 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 plentiful decades ago, and they don't genuinely require maintenance. The cost of a new one depends on the type of Chevrolet you drive, but check our present service coupons and specials.
• Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be changed. 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 factual 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 Colorado's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to advocate 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.
• One of the most acknowledged and countless cause is that your Chevrolet Colorado gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Chevrolet Colorado 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 abruptly after you put gas in your Chevrolet Colorado, first thing you should check is to make sure the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
• Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be changed. The mass airflow sensor in your Chevrolet Colorado is what determines how much fuel is crucial 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 certain changes, like altitude. If your Chevrolet Colorado 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.
• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or extra item can wreak havoc on your Chevrolet Colorado if it’s not installed properly. 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 well-known, bring your Colorado 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, 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 damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are crucial for your Chevrolet Colorado. 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 transport 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, first-rate to more expensive repairs.