Is it safe to drive your 2023 Ford EcoSport 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 Ford EcoSport swiftly. This question is not very 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 generally 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 serious problem. Call the experts at Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood by dialing 8559022046 so you can describe the issues. Or lessen your speed and bring your 2023 Ford to our certified mechanics as soon as likely.
2023 Ford EcoSport Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are countless potential causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are various regular causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other usually regular reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, broken oxygen sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, defective emissions control part, defective head gasket, or damaged spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Ford Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and totally repair it as required to restore factory specifications. When this results, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Ford issue was entirely fixed.
Every 2023 Ford EcoSport was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its crucial systems. The rapid sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending essential data to the electronic control unit. If the electronic control unit detects that the data is out of factory specifications, the Check Engine Light illuminates telling you that there is a problem. Nonetheless, sadly that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won't tell you what precisely is wrong nor what to do about it. That's where we come in; Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Exceptionally Qualified Service professional.
2023 Ford EcoSport Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating, especially to see that little light on your vehicle's dashboard suddenly illuminate, 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 EcoSport. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can accurately represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you advantageous knowledge about your car and will also allow that important Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, apparent and helpful car 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:
- Emissions controls issues
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Computer output circuit issues
- O2 Sensor
- Ignition system faults
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Old Battery
- Transmission issues
This is why it is important for someone who does not have a lot of prevalent automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out promptly by a adept certified Ford mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a serious concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away. Call Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood at 8559022046 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!
2023 Ford EcoSport Check Engine Light
If the check engine light in your 2023 Ford EcoSport starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention expeditiously and your Ford should be brought in swiftly. A flashing light signifies that the problem is very serious and if not taken care of expeditiously may result in significant and significant damage to the car. This blinking light normally reveals a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can expeditiously raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an costly and major repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can exactly be the cause. A broken, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is constantly flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood immediately by calling 8559022046. If the problem is entirely 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 pricey repair.
How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?
The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is ordinarily between $88 and $111. The good news, Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood offers entirely complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to assist determine the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not accurately tightened to a more serious failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it good to get the proper code reading and diagnosis.
How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
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 usually difficult to predict how numerous miles you can be safe in driving with the warning light on. 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 Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood to help determine if your car is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2023 Ford EcoSport will usually 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 promptly turn itself off. Also, if your catalytic converter is working correctly, 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 2023 Ford EcoSport 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 Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.
Check Engine Light Service 2023 Ford EcoSport
What do you do when you're driving along in your Ford EcoSport and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you're like most Ford owners, your heart sinks drastically because you may have absolutely 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, peaceful breath and realize the light coming on doesn't mean you have to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is suggested that you get your 2023 Ford EcoSport checked instantly. Ignoring that warning could end up causing considerable, considerable damage to expensive engine parts.
When your 2023 Ford EcoSport's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can't right, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is typically labeled “check engine†or “service engine soonâ€, or the light may be nothing more than a picture of an engine, or a picture of the engine with the word “check.â€
When the light turns on, the ECM stores an engine code or “trouble code†in its memory that can instantly identify the issue, whether it's a sensor or a failing engine part. This code is read with an electronic scan tool that is used by our Ford auto repair mechanics at Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood. There are again a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you pick that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to determine the explicitly right issue and repair it.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2023 Ford EcoSport?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as simple as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could again be a warning of an essential problem that could cause serious damage to your engine and come with a hefty and expensive repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady and continuous glow typically means something less serious but a flashing check engine light signifies that your vehicle's engine is in serious trouble and useful service is needed immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2023 Ford EcoSport, we exceedingly suggest not to drive the vehicle and schedule Ford service today. Below is a list of the most common reasons your check engine light can come on:
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2023 Ford EcoSport is each vital. Without a vehicle battery, your vehicle won't start, light up the road in front, play the radio or charge your phone. Today's vehicle 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 Ford you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
- Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2023 Ford EcoSport's exhaust system. The catalytic converter's function is to turn the carbon monoxide created by the combustion process into carbon dioxide. A broken catalytic converter is usually caused by constantly neglected maintenance, which is why Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with each Ford service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2023 Ford EcoSport will not pass an emissions test, show a lack of engine performance and will negatively affect your fuel economy. Your vehicle may run at a higher temperature, too, which can cause other perilous problems from overheating.
- One of the most common and frequent cause is that your 2023 Ford EcoSport gas cap is loose, broken or missing. The gas cap for your 2023 Ford EcoSport serves different purposes. It prevents unpredictable gas fumes from being released when you aren't driving, it seals the fuel system and helps maintain pressure within the fuel tank. What hits if you have a faulty fuel cap? If your gas cap is old or has a ruptured seal, you can lose fuel through evaporation which will result in more trips to the pump and be more expensive. Luckily, to replace a gas cap isn't pricey. If your check engine light turns on promptly after you put gas in your 2023 Ford EcoSport, 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.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak extreme havoc on your 2023 Ford EcoSport if it's not installed perfectly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even limit the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound familiar, bring your EcoSport to Ford and have our team of gifted certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed properly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, exceptionally aftermarket parts and accessories, or utilizing OEM parts first place might cost a little bit more but could help you save substantially from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. 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 more swiftly and your vehicle will be less efficient when it comes to fuel economy. So what hits if I don't replace your O2 sensor? A faulty sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause serious damage to your catalytic converter and your 2023 Ford EcoSport's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle's onboard computer to determine the specifically correct mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A faulty O2 sensor can again cause a vehicle to fail an emissions test.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are necessary for your 2023 Ford EcoSport. 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 smooth. 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 old, you will undergo a noticeable poor performance and decreased power. In some extreme cases, your engine will have trouble starting or continuing to run. Worn spark plugs and plug wires can cause blocked catalytic converter or damage to ignition coils and O2 sensors, leading to more pricey repairs.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Ford EcoSport is what determines how much fuel is necessary 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 Ford EcoSport is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a sudden fast change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a vital sign of a faulty mass airflow sensor.
- Your 2023 Ford EcoSport has a vacuum leak. Each Ford EcoSport has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system again helps lower unhealthy 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, exceptionally if they're exposed to intense heat or extreme cold.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2023 Ford EcoSport is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the important onboard diagnostics system, and displays in an assortment of different 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 car. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored car performance since the 80s and do an assortment of things for your 2023 Ford EcoSport. Some of these essential duties include shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a wide range of different things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as unpredictable as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2023 Ford EcoSport, contact Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood. Our Ford service department can assist you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood today!