Chevrolet Silverado Check Engine Light

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

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a strict issue and it is recommended to service your Chevrolet Silverado shortly. This question is not incredibly easy 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 consistently indicated by a logical 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 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 potential.

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

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Chevrolet Silverado will commonly shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is repaired. 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 Silverado light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that deposit 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 Silverado Check Engine Light

A flashing light expresses that the problem is hazardous and if not taken care of immediately may result in dominant damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your Chevrolet Silverado starts flashing, that means that the problem needs abrupt attention and your Chevrolet should be brought in immediately. This flashing light usually illustrates a relentless engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can expeditiously 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 totally be the cause. A bad, traditional 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 expensive repair. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis rapidly by calling 3176435230.

Chevrolet Silverado Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are bountiful potential causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several acceptable causes including something as natural as a loose gas cap. Back-up acceptable reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen sensor, faulty head gasket, dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, or defective spark plugs to name several. 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 needed 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 Silverado was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the automobile on its intense 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 lights up telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what exactly is erroneous 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 Hugely Qualified Service experienced.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most generally misunderstood lights or indicators in your Chevrolet Silverado is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few natural 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 assortment of things for your Chevrolet Silverado. 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 range of disparate things. It can be as plain as your gas cap being loose or as unsafe as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Chevrolet Silverado, 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.

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

The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis to help pick if your vehicle is safe to drive 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 drive with the warning light on.

Check Engine Light Service Chevrolet Silverado

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Chevrolet Silverado and shortly, a yellow light lights up 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 Silverado checked as soon as feasible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major wear and tear to expensive engine parts.

When your Chevrolet Silverado's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t prevailing, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is constantly 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 computerized scan tool that is used by our Chevrolet auto repair mechanics at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis. There are also a number of comparably low-priced 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 find out the issue and repair it.

Chevrolet Silverado 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 brightens, 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 Silverado. There are hundreds of discrete codes that your check engine light can illustrate. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling present diagnostics will give you appropriate knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is genuinely supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, factual and ready vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of feasible OBD codes, there are also hundreds of feasible reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is important for someone who does not have several 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 harsh concern, you risk harmful your car further by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out quickly by a certified Chevrolet mechanic.

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

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 treacherous problem that could cause treacherous 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 consistent glow typically means something less treacherous but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in treacherous trouble and service is needed today. If your check engine light is flashing in your Chevrolet Silverado, we highly endorse not to drive the vehicle and schedule Chevrolet service today. Below is a list of the most daily reasons your check engine light can come on:

• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or contrasting item can wreak havoc on your Chevrolet Silverado if it’s not installed properly. 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 beneficial, bring your Silverado 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 initial place might cost a scant bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and wear and tear caused by poor installation work corrected.
• Your Chevrolet Silverado has a vacuum leak. Every Chevrolet Silverado 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 intense heat or extreme angry.
• The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Chevrolet Silverado 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 Chevrolet you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are decisive for your Chevrolet Silverado. 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 long-established, 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 wear and tear to ignition coils and O2 sensors, big to more pricey repairs.
• One of the most beneficial and bountiful cause is that your Chevrolet Silverado gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Chevrolet Silverado 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 long-established 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 pricey. If your check engine light turns on urgently after you put gas in your Chevrolet Silverado, initial thing you should check is to make positive 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 Silverado’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 Silverado 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 contrasting problems from overheating.
• Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replenished. The Oxygen sensor, noted as the O2 sensor, measures the sum of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be less dependable 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 Silverado's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to prefer 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.
• Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replenished. The mass airflow sensor in your Chevrolet Silverado is what determines how much fuel is decisive to run your engine efficiently by measuring the sum of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to hopeful changes, like altitude. If your Chevrolet Silverado is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a quick change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.