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

Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is laborious to predict how bountiful miles you can drive with the warning light on. If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg to help mean if your automobile is safe to drive in or if we recommend 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.

2018 Ford Explorer Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that small light on your vehicle’s dashboard immediately 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 amicable as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Explorer. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a small patience, tackling decisive diagnostics will give you practical 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, clear and practical vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of cogent OBD codes, there are also hundreds of cogent reasons for the light, including:

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

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

Check Engine Light Service 2018 Ford Explorer

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Ford Explorer and suddenly, a yellow light flashes on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Ford owners, your heart sinks some 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 price of the unknown) can be just as stressful. But take a deep breath and realize the light coming on doesn’t suggest 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 2018 Ford Explorer checked as soon as feasible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing giant damage to pricey engine components.

When your 2018 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 correct, 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 identifies as the issue, whether it's a sensor or a failing engine part. This code is read with an electronic investigate tool that is used by our Ford auto repair mechanics at Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg. There are also a number of relatively bargain code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you determine 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 issue and repair it.

2018 Ford Explorer Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2018 Ford Explorer starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Ford should be brought in abruptly. A flashing light suggests that the problem is unhealthy and if not taken care of abruptly may result in large damage to the vehicle. This twinkling light usually suggests a stringent engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can hastily surge the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is effective, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can solely be the cause. A bad, classical or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our department of automotive experts at Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg immediately 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 pricey repair.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most continually misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2018 Ford Explorer is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in countless discrete 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 2018 Ford Explorer. Some of these include shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, controlling engine speed, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of diverse things. It can be as common as your gas cap being loose or as unhealthy as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2018 Ford Explorer, contact Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg. Our Ford service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or probe why your check engine light is blinking. Contact Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg today!

Is it safe to drive your 2018 Ford Explorer with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a strict issue and it is recommended to service your Ford Explorer quickly. This question is not very realistic 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 dependable to drive. This is customarily 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 harsh problem. Call the consultants at Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg by dialing 3177903264 so you can describe the issues. Or lower your speed and bring your 2018 Ford to our certified mechanics as soon as achievable.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2018 Ford Explorer 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 2018 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 Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

2018 Ford Explorer Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are bountiful potential causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are copious acceptable causes including something as visible as a loose gas cap. Added acceptable reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen sensor, dirty mass airflow sensor, 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 Ford Certified Mechanics 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 2018 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 laborious systems. The sensors are customarily detecting conditions while sending data to the computerized control squad. If the computerized control squad detects that the data is out of factory specifications, the Check Engine Light illuminates 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 sorry 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 Highly Qualified Service skilled.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2018 Ford Explorer?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as pure as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a treacherous problem that could cause treacherous damage to your engine and come with a extraordinary repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A consistent glow normally means something less treacherous but a blinking check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in treacherous trouble and service is necessary hastily. If your check engine light is blinking in your 2018 Ford Explorer, we highly advise not to drive the vehicle and schedule Ford service today. Below is a list of the most routine reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or further item can wreak havoc on your 2018 Ford Explorer if it’s not installed accordingly. These aftermarket elements and accessories can jettison the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even avert the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound ongoing, transport your Explorer to Ford and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed accurately and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM elements original place might cost a slight 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 prevailing and copious cause is that your 2018 Ford Explorer gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2018 Ford Explorer 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 aged 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 2018 Ford Explorer, original 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.
  • 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 mandatory to run your engine efficiently by measuring the ditch of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to contractual changes, like altitude. If your Ford Explorer 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.
  • Your 2018 Ford Explorer has a vacuum leak. Every Ford Explorer has a vacuum system that performs a wide assortment of functions. The vacuum system also helps lessen harmful 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, especially if they’re exposed to imposing heat or extreme nice.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, established as the O2 sensor, measures the ditch of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be less compelling 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 2018 Ford Explorer's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the polite assortment 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 catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2018 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 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 fixed, your 2018 Ford Explorer 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 further problems from overheating.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are mandatory for your 2018 Ford Explorer. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel assortment in the combustion chamber of your vehicle. 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 aged, you will experience poor performance and reduced power. In a slight 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, dominant to more expensive repairs.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2018 Ford Explorer is every vital. 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 rate of a new one depends on the type of Ford you drive, but check our present service coupons and specials.

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 subsequently tightened to a more intense failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it sufficient to get the attentive code reading and diagnosis. The average value for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is typically between $88 and $111. The sufficient 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.