Chevrolet Equinox Check Engine Light

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 perfectly tightened to a more critical failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it excellent to get the fantastic code reading and diagnosis. The average rate for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is naturally between $88 and $111. The excellent 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 Chevrolet Equinox with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a compelling issue and it is recommended to service your Chevrolet Equinox immediately. This question is not exceptionally simple 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 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 moving problem. Call the experts at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis by dialing 3176435230 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and deliver your Chevrolet to our certified technicians as soon as probable.

Chevrolet Equinox Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your Chevrolet Equinox starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Chevrolet should be brought in instantly. A flashing light implies that the problem is critical and if not taken care of instantly may result in major damage to the car. This flashing light commonly indicates a harsh engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be drained into the exhaust system. There it can abruptly improve the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where wear and tear is potential, 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, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is glaring, please contact our team of automotive experts at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis expeditiously 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.

Chevrolet Equinox Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are countless attainable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are copious commonplace causes including something as accessible as a loose gas cap. Divergent commonplace reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty head gasket, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty emissions control part, dirty mass airflow sensor, damaged oxygen sensor, 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 fundamental 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 serviced.

Every Chevrolet Equinox was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the automobile on its profound systems. The sensors are mostly detecting conditions while sending data to the electrical control unit. If the electrical 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 exclusively is wrong 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 mechanical.

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

It could be anything from a damaging sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is not amiable to predict how innumerable 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 designate if your automobile 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.

Chevrolet Equinox Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that small 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 accepted as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Equinox. There are hundreds of explicit codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a small patience, tackling decisive diagnostics will give you favorable 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, visible and cooperative vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of likely OBD codes, there are also hundreds of likely reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is meaningful for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. 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 dangerous concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out urgently by a certified Chevrolet mechanic.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most mostly misunderstood lights or indicators in your Chevrolet Equinox is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few divergent ways. It can say "Check Engine", it can be a symbol of an engine, it can even be a combination of both. This light brightens 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 Equinox. 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 mean a collection of contrasting things. It can be as easy as your gas cap being loose or as unhealthy as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 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 diagnose why your check engine light is flashing.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Chevrolet Equinox will usually shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is serviced. 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 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 deliver it in to Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

Check Engine Light Service Chevrolet Equinox

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Chevrolet Equinox and suddenly, a yellow light brightens 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 Equinox checked as soon as handy. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.

When your Chevrolet Equinox's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the professional control system that it can’t exquisite, 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 professional scan tool that is used by our Chevrolet auto repair mechanics at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis. There are also a number of somewhat bargain code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you select that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to imply the issue and repair it.

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

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as real as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a compelling problem that could cause compelling damage to your engine and come with a enormous repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A dependable glow constantly means something less compelling but a flashing check engine light implies that your vehicle’s engine is in compelling trouble and service is essential suddenly. If your check engine light is flashing in your Chevrolet Equinox, we highly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Chevrolet service today. Below is a list of the most natural reasons your check engine light can come on:

• Your Chevrolet Equinox has a vacuum leak. Every Chevrolet Equinox has a vacuum system that performs a roomy variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps reduce 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, exceptionally if they’re exposed to intense heat or extreme bitter.
• Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replenished. The Oxygen sensor, known 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 fewer persuasive 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 wear and tear to your catalytic converter and your Chevrolet Equinox's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to indicate 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 present and frequent cause is that your Chevrolet Equinox gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 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 historic 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 expeditiously after you put gas in your Chevrolet Equinox, 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 catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 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 usually 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 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 disparate problems from overheating.
• The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Chevrolet Equinox is every exciting. 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 estimate of a new one depends on the type of Chevrolet you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
• Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replenished. The mass airflow sensor in your Chevrolet Equinox is what determines how much fuel is mandatory 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 informed 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.
• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or disparate item can wreak havoc on your Chevrolet Equinox if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can discharge the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound present, transport your Equinox 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, exceptionally aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might price a little bit more but could save you money from having to get slight work and wear and tear caused by slight installation work corrected.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are mandatory for your Chevrolet 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 deliver the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If your spark plugs or spark plug wires are bad or historic, you will experience slight 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 wear and tear to ignition coils and O2 sensors, primary to more expensive repairs.