Chevy Silverado Check Engine Light

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Chevy Silverado will ordinarily 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 effective, 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 Chevy Silverado light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that reward 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 Chevy Silverado

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Chevy Silverado and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Chevy 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 Chevy Silverado checked as soon as conceivable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing gigantic damage to expensive engine components.

When your Chevy Silverado's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the computerized control system that it can’t lawful, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is often 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 find out with an electronic diagnose tool that is used by our Chevy auto repair mechanics at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis. There are also a number of rather cheap code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you indicate that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an professional professional to indicate the issue and repair it.

Chevy Silverado Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are bountiful achievable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are copious familiar causes including something as distinct as a loose gas cap. Back-up familiar reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, damaged oxygen sensor, faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, 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 essential 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 Chevy Silverado was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its important systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the technical control unit. If the technical control unit 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 exactly is incorrect 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 Greatly Qualified Service direct.

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

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as routine as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a rigid problem that could cause rigid damage to your engine and come with a considerable repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A consistent glow normally means something less rigid but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in rigid trouble and service is basic urgently. If your check engine light is flashing in your Chevy Silverado, we highly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Chevy service now. Below is a list of the most routine reasons your check engine light can come on:

• Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be interchanged. The mass airflow sensor in your Chevy Silverado is what determines how much fuel is needed 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 critical changes, like altitude. If your Chevy Silverado is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a precipitous change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your Chevy Silverado. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of your car. 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 departed, 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 fancy repairs.
• Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be interchanged. The Oxygen sensor, easy 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 car 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 Chevy Silverado's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to represent 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.
• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or disparate item can wreak havoc on your Chevy Silverado if it’s not installed accordingly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can dump the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prohibit the car from starting. If these issues sound appreciative, bring your Silverado 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, greatly 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.
• One of the most easy and bountiful cause is that your Chevy Silverado gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Chevy 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 departed 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 fancy. If your check engine light turns on immediately after you put gas in your Chevy Silverado, first thing you should check is to make courageous the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
• The battery is poor or dead. The battery in your Chevy Silverado is each miraculous. 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 commute, but check our admitted service coupons and specials.
• Your Chevy Silverado has a vacuum leak. Each Chevy Silverado has a vacuum system that performs a wide mixture of functions. The vacuum system also helps cut down down damaging 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 barren out and crack, greatly if they’re exposed to exciting heat or extreme cold.
• Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Chevy 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 each Chevy service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your Chevy 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 disparate problems from overheating.

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

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a serious issue and it is recommended to service your Chevy Silverado immediately. This question is not excessively pure 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 reliable to drive. This is typically indicated by a steady 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 dangerous 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 Chevy to our certified mechanics as soon as accessible.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most mostly misunderstood lights or indicators in your Chevy Silverado is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few specific 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 Chevy Silverado. Some of these include shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name copious. With that being said, the check engine light can suggest a range of specific things. It can be as authentic as your gas cap being loose or as effective as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Chevy Silverado, contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis. Our Chevy service department can help you read what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis today!

Chevy Silverado Check Engine Light

A glaring light illustrates that the problem is alarming and if not taken care of swiftly may result in generous damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your Chevy Silverado starts glaring, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Chevy should be brought in swiftly. This blinking light usually indicates a scrupulous engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can promptly increase the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where wear and tear is feasible, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can precisely be the cause. A bad, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our squad of automotive experts at Bill Estes Chevy Indianapolis shortly 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.

Chevy 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 quickly 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 Silverado. There are hundreds of substitute codes that your check engine light can designate. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling profound diagnostics will give you joyful 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, helpful and joyful 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:

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

This is why it is treacherous 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 critical concern, you risk bad your car additional by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out quickly by a certified Chevy mechanic.

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

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

Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how frequent miles you can drive with the warning light on. It could be anything from a damaging sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. 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 determine if your vehicle is protected to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck.