Please wait while the page loads...

2012 Ford F-250 Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that miniature light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear noble 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 F-250. There are hundreds of definite codes that your check engine light can mean. While that sounds daunting, with a miniature patience, tackling helpful diagnostics will give you cheerful knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is certainly supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, reasonable and helpful vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of possible OBD codes, there are also hundreds of possible reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is important for someone who does not have assorted of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. Call Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg at 3177903264 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out quickly by a certified Ford mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a serious concern, you risk destructive your vehicle further by not repairing the issue proper away.

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 well tightened to a more dangerous failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it excellent to get the suitable code reading and diagnosis. The intermediate cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is consistently between $88 and $111. The excellent news, Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help determine the cause of your check engine light.

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. It could be anything from a destructive sensor to plug wires needing to be changed. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is hard to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on. If you check engine light is shining, we endorse that you pull over and contact Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg to help mean if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we endorse a tow truck.

Check Engine Light Service 2012 Ford F-250

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Ford F-250 and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Ford 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 indicate you have to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your 2012 Ford F-250 checked as soon as possible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing basic damage to expensive engine components.

When your 2012 Ford F-250's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t good, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is naturally 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 electronic diagnose tool that is used by our Ford auto repair mechanics at Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg. There are also a number of comparatively noble code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you opt for that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an trained experienced to represent the issue and repair it.

2012 Ford F-250 Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2012 Ford F-250 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs prompt attention and your Ford should be brought in abruptly. A flashing light indicates that the problem is relentless and if not taken care of abruptly may result in major damage to the car. This flashing light frequently indicates a exacting engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can suddenly raise 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 genuinely be the cause. A intrusive, former or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg abruptly by calling 3177903264. 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.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2012 Ford F-250 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few 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 2012 Ford F-250. Some of these 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 mixture of contrasting things. It can be as authentic as your gas cap being loose or as dangerous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2012 Ford F-250, contact Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg. Our Ford service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or audit why your check engine light is blinking. Contact Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg today!

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2012 Ford F-250?

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 also be a warning of a precarious problem that could cause precarious damage to your engine and come with a big repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A logical glow frequently means something less precarious but a shining check engine light expresses that your vehicle’s engine is in precarious trouble and service is needed suddenly. If your check engine light is shining in your 2012 Ford F-250, we highly advocate not to drive the automobile and schedule Ford service today. Below is a list of the most simple reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • One of the most commonplace and countless cause is that your 2012 Ford F-250 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2012 Ford F-250 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 classical 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 expensive. If your check engine light turns on immediately after you put gas in your 2012 Ford F-250, first thing you should check is to make hopeful 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 extra item can wreak havoc on your 2012 Ford F-250 if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can ditch the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even avert the car from starting. If these issues sound famous, transport your F-250 to Ford and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might rate a small bit more but could save you money from having to get meager work and damage caused by meager installation work corrected.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2012 Ford F-250 is every fundamental. 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 bit decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Ford you travel to work, but check our current service coupons and specials.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2012 Ford F-250’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 Ford Brownsburg offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Ford service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2012 Ford F-250 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 extra problems from overheating.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Ford F-250 is what determines how much fuel is fundamental 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 specific changes, like altitude. If your Ford F-250 is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a sudden change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, commonplace 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 reasonable 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 2012 Ford F-250's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to mean the proper collection 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 2012 Ford F-250 has a vacuum leak. Every Ford F-250 has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower detrimental 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 dehydrated out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to emotional heat or extreme brisk.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are fundamental for your 2012 Ford F-250. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel collection in the combustion chamber of your car. This explosion is what moves the pistons and makes the engine run. The spark plug wires bring the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If your spark plugs or spark plug wires are bad or classical, you will experience meager 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, leading to more expensive repairs.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2012 Ford F-250 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 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 2012 Ford F-250 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 Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

Is it safe to drive your 2012 Ford F-250 with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is twinkling, this means that there is a strict issue and it is recommended to service your Ford F-250 hastily. This question is not exceedingly straightforward 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 frequently indicated by a consistent 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 rigorous problem. Call the experts at Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg by dialing 3177903264 so you can describe the issues. Or lower your speed and bring your 2012 Ford to our certified mechanics as soon as probable.

2012 Ford F-250 Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are many capability causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are plentiful prevalent causes including something as prevalent as a loose gas cap. Contrasting prevalent reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen 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 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 Ford issue was fixed.

Every 2012 Ford F-250 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its excellent systems. The sensors are constantly 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 brightens telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what absolutely is unsound nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Extremely Qualified Service technical.