Checking Engine Light Is On Help

Best Checking Engine Light Is On Help Service and cost In Iowa City
Mobile Auto Truck Repair Iowa City

Checking Engine Light Is On Help Service near Iowa City: Are you looking for the Best Checking Engine Light Is On Help Service near Iowa City? Mobile Auto Truck Repair Iowa City, our auto repair and service specialists know check engine light codes and diagnoses. So when your check engine light is flashing, make sure you contact our center immediately and know that your car will receive the best care, all at the right price! Cost? Free estimates! Send us a message or call us today. Best Checking Engine Light Is On Help Service around Iowa City. We serve Iowa Cityand other areas. Get a Free Quote Now!

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BEST CHECKING ENGINE LIGHT IS ON HELP SERVICE IN IOWA CITY

Check Engine Light Service -Mobile Auto Truck Repair Iowa City

Checking Engine Light Is On Help Service near Iowa City: When it comes to your check engine light, here at Mobile Auto Truck Repair Iowa City, our auto repair and service specialists know check engine light codes and diagnoses. So when your check engine light is flashing, make sure you contact our center immediately and know that your car will receive the best care, all at the right price!

When the check engine light is on, turn to Mobile Auto Truck Repair Iowa City, to check it out so our experts may diagnose the engine light codes and get the repairs you need to get back on the road – lights out and worry-free!

There are hundreds of codes that could trigger your CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. Even the most common reasons can have many possible causes.

Some top CHECK ENGINE LIGHT codes are:

  • Problem with the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor or circuit.
  • System Running Too Lean: An oxygen sensor detected a lean condition (too much oxygen in the exhaust)
  • System Running Too Rich: The oxygen sensor detected a rich condition (or a too-high fuel to oxygen ratio)
  • Cylinder misfire: A P0300 series of codes indicates a random or multiple misfire in your engine.
  • Knock Sensor Circuit Malfunction: Your vehicle’s computer constantly adjusts and retimes the engine so that it doesn’t produce harmful pre-ignition detonation or knock.
  • Insufficient Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)
  • Flow Catalyst System Efficiency below threshold

These are just a few of the hundreds of codes, causes and symptoms. Each has multiple fixes.

 

What the check engine light means

Checking Engine Light Is On Help Service near Iowa City: Sensors in your engine monitor the operation of its various systems and connect to what’s called the On-Board Diagnostic II (OBD-II) system. (Note that pre-1996 cars have an older version of the diagnostic system.) When something isn’t functioning properly, the check engine light appears to alert you.

A blinking or flashing check engine light indicates a more serious problem.

Engine lights may differ from one carmaker to the next. The light is either orange, yellow or red and is the outline of a car’s engine, sometimes along with the words check engine.

There are two types of warnings.

Check engine light on: If the symbol appears and stays on steadily, it could be a wide range of problems. It should be taken to a repair garage soon, Calkins says.

Check engine light flashing: If the symbol is blinking or flashing, this is a more serious problem. In these cases, Calkins says, you should pull over at a safe location, shut off the engine and have the car towed to a repair facility for diagnosis.

What Causes The Check Engine Light To Come On And What Should You Do?

Checking Engine Light Is On Help Service near Iowa City: Picture this scenario: You’re behind your wheel and in the middle of a long drive when the check engine light on your dashboard starts flashing.

This could definitely be an indication to a major problem prompting you to take immediate action.

You would need to visit the nearest auto repair shop and get the problem addressed. Or, if you knew about the common faults related to the check engine light coming on, you could do the troubleshooting yourself, in some cases.

The check engine light is technically known as the malfunction indicator lamp. It’s a signal from the car engine’s computer system that something is wrong with the machinery.

Prior to 1996 (this is before California and New York started to collapse financially), car manufacturers had their own engine diagnostic systems primarily to check if the vehicle was in conformance to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pollution control requirements.

Car models from 1996 and beyond are required to follow the OBD-II protocol which mandates all car manufacturers to provide a universal interface for accessing the standardized fault codes generated by the car diagnostics system.

The check engine light is usually provided in amber, orange or yellow colors. A flashing check engine light indicates a serious problem whereas a constant check engine light indicates an upcoming problem. These problems can range from a minor problem like a faulty gas cap to a major problem like engine misfire leading to a faulty catalytic converter.

Importance of the Check Engine Light

Checking Engine Light Is On Help Service near Iowa City: The car’s computer operates and monitors the car’s engine and reports any fault to the driver through the check engine light. It’s an important system of the car. The various parts of the vehicle operate at high temperature and can pose a fire hazard if faulty.

Also, this system enables the car owner to become aware of the faulty but less expensive parts of the car well in time for replacement without which the car owner may have to pay for the expensive parts which may get damaged due to the negligence of the smaller, less expensive components.

 

Solving check engine light problems

Checking Engine Light Is On Help Service near Iowa City: The first step is to read the code provided by the car’s computer system.

The first step is to read the check engine light code provided by the car’s computer system. This is the information that’s been logged by the sensors in your engine. It can be read with OBD II scanners or readers through a connection (OBD port) usually located under the steering column.

To read the code you have three options:

  • Take your car to a mechanic and pay a diagnostic fee. Often, the fee is waived if you agree to have the necessary service performed at that garage.
  • Bring your car to an auto parts store and have the code read for free. The free check engine light diagnosis is good because if the code turns out to be for something minor, you might even be able to fix it yourself.
  • Buy an inexpensive scanner and read the code yourself. This is a particularly good option if you have an older car that might occasionally be showing a check engine light for minor problems. Scanners cost as little as $15, and some will wirelessly send information to your mobile phone.

Common causes of a check engine light

A number of problems can cause your check engine light to come on, but some are more common than others. To properly identify your issue, consult your mechanic or consider purchasing an OBD-II code reader.

  • Gas cap is loose: Tighten the gas cap. If you’ve lost it, replace it with a new one.
  • Oxygen sensor is bad:You’ll need a new sensor — but identify which one is bad first.
  • Spark plugs may be fouled or failing:Replace the spark plugs.
  • Spark plug wires are bad:Try replacing the spark plug wires.
  • Catalytic converter is faulty:Have a mechanic inspect and possibly replace the device.
  • Mass airflow sensor is bad:You’ll need a new sensor.

COST

How Much It Costs To Fix A Car’s ‘Check Engine’ Problems

Checking Engine Light Is On Help Service near Iowa City: With both new-car prices and fuel costs on the rise, today’s motorists are feeling the proverbial pinch, but at least there’s some good news to report from the automotive affordability front. The average cost to fix a “check engine light” related issue decreased by 10% over the last year, and it’s 15% less than in 2006. The national average repair cost linked to a car engine light now stands at $357, including parts ($216) and labor ($141).

That’s according to the 2018 Vehicle Health Index of check engine-related issues conducted by the auto repair website CarMD, based on an analysis of over 7 million repairs conducted last year. The full report can be found here.

Additionally, the study confirms what might otherwise seem obvious to seasoned auto owners, namely that older vehicles tend to suffer costlier and more severe check engine maladies than newer models. For example, CarMD says a 2017 car or truck is most likely to suffer a loose or defective gas cap, which can be a cost-free fix, while a model from 2007 is more commonly experiencing a bad ignition coil that will cost an average $368 (which includes installing a new set of spark plugs).

Noted by either an outline of a car’s engine or the words themselves, when illuminated the check engine warning light commonly indicates a malfunction in either the ignition, fuel injection, or emissions control system. A technician can quickly analyze the problem by plugging a hand-held diagnostic device into a car’s OBD II port (it’s typically located under the dashboard) and retrieving a five-digit error code.

The five most common issues identified in the 2018 Vehicle Health Index are a faulty oxygen sensor (average cost to fix: $238), ignition coil/spark plugs ($367), catalytic converter ($1,271), the fuel-filler cap ($26), and an EVAP purge control valve ($147 – this helps prevent fuel vapors in the fuel tank from escaping into the atmosphere).

According to CarMD, those living in the Northeast U.S. pay the most for check engine repairs at an average $367, while motorists in southern and western states enjoy the cheapest repairs at (and only nominally less costly) $358.

What’s the worst that could happen when the check engine light illuminates? Here’s how deep you’ll have to dig into your wallet, on average, to cover the cost of the 10 most expensive fixes (including parts and labor), as determined by CarMD:

  • Replace engine: $7,050
  • Replace electronic power steering unit: $5,201
  • Replace transmission assembly/reprogram electronic control module: $5,130
  • Replace transmission and torque converter: $5,051
  • Replace audio and visual control unit: $4,29
  • Replace transmission case and torque converter: $4,245
  • Replace hybrid-car battery/reprogram electronic control module: $4,149
  • Replace compu-valve module: $4,105
  • Replace transmission assembly: $3,905
  • Replace hybrid-car battery $3,798

On the other hand, the resulting error code could specify a relatively inexpensive fix, as evidenced by the 10 cheapest check-engine problems identified by CarMD:

  • Inspect/replace (if necessary) loose fuel cap: $26
  • Replace air conditioning compressor clutch relay: $38
  • Replace electronic engine control fuse: $46
  • Perform diagnostic trouble code confirmation: $47
  • Repair engine/body ground wire: $48
  • Clean ground wire: $49
  • Replace exhaust gas recirculation boost sensor vacuum hose: $52
  • Inspect for correct air filter and ensure air box is latched properly: $53
  • Replace electronic throttle control system fuse: $53
  • Replace secondary air injection control solenoid valve vacuum hose: $55

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why is my check engine light on?

Checking Engine Light Is On Help Service near Iowa City: Your vehicle’s powertrain control module (PCM) is the computer that monitors the normal operating range of the different components in your vehicle. It has electronic sensors all over your car, so when something’s amiss,  the check engine light can tell you hey, there’s a problem here.  From there, you should schedule an appointment with a professional mechanic in order to determine the exact issue that caused the alert. Common issues are a loose gas cap, an issue with your mass airflow and oxygen sensors, and spark plug and catalytic converter malfunctions.  You can only be certain what is going on when a full computer diagnostic has been run.

What should I do when my check engine light turns on?

If you’re driving, don’t panic, but pull over. Sometimes it’s ok to drive a moderate distance with your check engine light on, but without knowing what’s wrong with your vehicle, it’s better to just get off the road. Once you’ve safely pulled over, run through this checklist to see if it’s possibly something serious. Once you’ve decided whether or not you need to call a tow truck, the next step is to schedule a car computer diagnostic to have your car inspected by a car care expert who’ll be able to diagnose the problem and provide the service to fix it then and there.

The experts at Virginia Tire & Auto will use our top-of-the-line diagnostic tools, run road tests and take a deep dive into your vehicle until we can guarantee your car is fixed and road-ready.

Why is my check engine light flashing?

Typically, when the check engine light turns on, the symbol on your dashboard is a solid light that remains on until the problem is resolved. It’s not advised to keep driving with your light on, but a solid check engine symbol indicates that you’ll most likely be ok as long as you schedule an appointment with a mechanic soon.

However, if the light is flashing, that generally means there’s a serious problem with your engine. When your check engine light flashes, pull over, turn off your car and call a tow truck. Before you drive your car again, take it into your local VATire location and get an engine diagnostic to see what the problem is.

Will I need repairs if my check engine light turns on?

You won’t necessarily need repairs every time that your check engine light comes on. Sometimes all you need to do is tighten your gas cap and that’s that. Most of the time, however, the check engine light is an indicator that there is a serious problem with your car that needs to be addressed.

Regardless of the issue, taking your car in to get checked by a professional car care expert is the best way to fix any current issues with your car and avoid further damage down the road. Trained mechanics can read your car’s computer and decide what, if any, repairs will be needed.  

Can I ignore my check engine light?

If car manufacturers thought something was unimportant, they wouldn’t have made a special light for it. If your check engine light comes on, that means that something needs to be addressed. If you’ve seen your check engine light turn off on its own before, that means whatever component was causing the alert has swung back into its normal operating range and stopped alerting your PCM. If that’s a recurring problem in your vehicle, it could easily swing back out again and cause issues. Basically, when the check engine light turns on, it’s time to come in for a car computer diagnostic.  

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