Ford Explorer Check Engine Light

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most generally misunderstood lights or indicators in your Ford Explorer is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the vital onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a variety 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 vehicle. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored vehicle performance since the 80s and do a variety of things for your Ford Explorer. Some of these essential duties include ignition timing, controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of different things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as hazardous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Ford Explorer, contact Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood. Our Ford service department can support 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!

Ford Explorer 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 many typical causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other often typical reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, faulty head gasket, broken oxygen sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, or defective 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 completely repair it as necessary to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Ford issue was entirely fixed.

Every Ford Explorer was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its vital systems. The fast sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending vital 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. Yet, 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 Exceedingly Certified Service professional.

Check Engine Light Service Ford Explorer

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Ford Explorer 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 exactly 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, serene 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 Ford Explorer checked promptly. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major, considerable damage to pricey engine parts.

When your Ford Explorer'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 generally 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 can swiftly 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 likewise a number of comparatively 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 specifically appropriate issue and repair it.

Ford Explorer Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your Ford Explorer starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention expeditiously and your Ford should be brought in quickly. A flashing light signifies that the problem is very serious and if not taken care of expeditiously may result in considerable and significant damage to the car. This blinking light frequently reveals a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can quickly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an expensive and considerable repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can specifically be the cause. A faulty, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If the problem is totally 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. If your check engine light is regularly flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood instantly by calling 7207042911.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a Ford Explorer?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as simple as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Still, the check engine light could likewise be a warning of a meaningful 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 indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in meaningful trouble and helpful service is needed immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your Ford Explorer, we highly advocate not to drive the car and schedule Ford service today. Below is a list of the most typical reasons your check engine light can come on:

• Your Ford Explorer has a vacuum leak. Every Ford Explorer has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system likewise helps lower adverse 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.
• 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 expeditiously and your car will be less efficient when it comes to fuel economy. So what results if I don’t replace your O2 sensor? A defective sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause serious damage to your catalytic converter and your Ford Explorer's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the absolutely appropriate mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A defective O2 sensor can likewise cause a vehicle to fail an emissions test.
• Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Ford Explorer’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 normally caused by repeatedly neglected maintenance, which is why Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood offers a free multi-point inspection with every Ford service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your Ford Explorer 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 delicate problems from overheating.
• Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Ford Explorer is what determines how much fuel is required 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 Explorer 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 defective mass airflow sensor.
• The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Ford Explorer is every essential. 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 genuinely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Ford you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak extreme havoc on your Ford Explorer if it’s not installed perfectly. These aftermarket components and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even limit the car from starting. If these issues sound familiar, bring your Explorer to Ford and have our team of gifted certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed accurately and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, exceptionally aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM components first place might cost a little bit more but could assist you save substantially from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
• One of the most common and frequent cause is that your Ford Explorer gas cap is loose, broken or missing. The gas cap for your Ford Explorer serves numerous purposes. It prevents hazardous gas fumes from being released when you aren't driving, it seals the fuel system and helps manage pressure within the fuel tank. What results if you have a defective 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 expensive. If your check engine light turns on quickly after you put gas in your Ford Explorer, 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.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are required for your Ford Explorer. 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 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 go through a evident 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 obstructed catalytic converter or damage to ignition coils and O2 sensors, leading to more expensive repairs.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Ford Explorer will normally 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 quickly turn itself off. Still, 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 Ford Explorer 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.

Is it safe to drive your Ford Explorer with the check engine light on?

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 vehicle, it could be an indication of a more serious problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a serious issue and it is suggested to service your Ford Explorer rapidly. Call the experts at Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood by dialing 7207042911 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your Ford to our certified mechanics as soon as possible.

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 serious failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it good to get the correct code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is usually between $88 and $111. The good news, Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood offers completely complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to assist determine the cause of your check engine light.

Ford Explorer Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating, exceptionally 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 Explorer. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can correctly represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you helpful knowledge about your car and will also allow that vital Check Engine Light to do what it is genuinely supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, apparent and useful car symptoms do not regularly accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of imaginable OBD codes, there are also hundreds of imaginable reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is vital for someone who does not have a lot of predominant automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a serious concern, you risk damaging your vehicle further by not repairing the issue right away. Call Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood at 7207042911 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out swiftly by a proficient certified Ford mechanic.

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

If you check engine light is flashing, we endorse that you pull over and contact Larry H. Miller Ford Lakewood to assist determine if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we endorse a tow truck. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. 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 typically difficult to predict how numerous miles you can be safe in driving with the warning light on.