2018 Ford Focus Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are innumerable capacity causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are frequent traditional causes encompassing something as straightforward as a loose gas cap. Further traditional reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, faulty head gasket, damaged oxygen sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, or defective spark plugs to name bold. 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 imperative 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 Focus was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its gigantic systems. The sensors are continually 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 illuminates telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what definitely is mistaken 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 high-tech.
How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?
The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is commonly between $88 and $111. The cool news, Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help suggest the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not appropriately tightened to a more memorable failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it cool to get the decent code reading and diagnosis.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2018 Ford Focus is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few various 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 Focus. Some of these 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 mixture of innumerable things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as relentless as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2018 Ford Focus, contact Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg. Contact Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg today! Our Ford service department can help you read what code is turning your check engine light on or investigate why your check engine light is glaring.
Check Engine Light Service 2018 Ford Focus
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Ford Focus and quickly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Ford owners, your heart sinks a bit 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 mean 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 2018 Ford Focus checked as soon as likely. Ignoring that warning could end up causing gigantic damage to costly engine parts.
When your 2018 Ford Focus's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t favorable, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is often 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 technological investigate tool that is used by our Ford auto repair mechanics at Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg. There are also 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 technological to imply the issue and repair it.
2018 Ford Focus Check Engine Light
A flashing light hints that the problem is threatening and if not taken care of urgently may result in major wear and tear to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2018 Ford Focus starts flashing, that means that the problem needs hasty attention and your Ford should be brought in urgently. This blinking light regularly indicates a stern engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be discharged 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 exactly be the cause. A damaging, departed or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is glaring, please contact our squad of automotive mentors at Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg quickly 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 highly expensive repair.
Is it safe to drive your 2018 Ford Focus with the check engine light on?
This question is not very authentic 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 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 risky problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a risky issue and it is recommended to service your Ford Focus hastily. Call the experts at Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg by dialing 3177903264 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2018 Ford to our certified mechanics as soon as reasonable.
2018 Ford Focus Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard abruptly brightens, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear honest 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 aware as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Focus. There are hundreds of exact codes that your check engine light can hint. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling imperative diagnostics will give you helpful knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is absolutely supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, overt and classic vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of accessible OBD codes, there are also hundreds of accessible reasons for the light, including:
- O2 Sensor
- Old Battery
- Ignition system faults
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Transmission issues
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Computer output circuit issues
- Emissions controls issues
This is why it is extraordinary for someone who does not have countless 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! If the engine light comes on due to a precarious concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue proper away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out abruptly by a certified Ford technician.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2018 Ford Focus?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as common as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a active problem that could cause active damage to your engine and come with a large repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow commonly means something less active but a flashing check engine light hints that your vehicle’s engine is in active trouble and service is needed promptly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2018 Ford Focus, we highly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Ford service straightaway. Below is a list of the most known reasons your check engine light can come on:
- One of the most acceptable and frequent cause is that your 2018 Ford Focus gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2018 Ford Focus 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 intrusive fuel cap? If your gas cap is classic 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 instantly after you put gas in your 2018 Ford Focus, 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.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Ford Focus is what determines how much fuel is needed to run your engine efficiently by measuring the payment of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to uncomplicated changes, like altitude. If your Ford Focus is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a agile change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a intrusive mass airflow sensor.
- Your catalytic converter is intrusive or going intrusive. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2018 Ford Focus’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter's work 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 Focus 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 additional problems from overheating.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your 2018 Ford Focus. 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. The spark plug wires deliver the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If your spark plugs or spark plug wires are intrusive or classic, you will experience scanty 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, dominant to more expensive repairs.
- Your 2018 Ford Focus has a vacuum leak. Every Ford Focus has a vacuum system that performs a roomy collection of functions. The vacuum system also helps cut down 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, particularly if they’re exposed to notable heat or extreme cheerful.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, noted as the O2 sensor, measures the payment of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be less functional 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 Focus's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to learn the polite mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A intrusive O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2018 Ford Focus is every essential. 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 few decades ago, and they don't certainly require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Ford you drive, but check our present service coupons and specials.
- Issues with each aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or additional item can wreak havoc on your 2018 Ford Focus if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even avoid the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound common, bring your Focus to Ford and have our unit of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing each issue. Getting accessories, particularly aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a bit bit more but could save you money from having to get scanty work and damage caused by scanty installation work corrected.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2018 Ford Focus will commonly 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 rational, 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 Focus 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 transport it in to Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.
How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Bill Estes Ford Brownsburg to aid designate if your vehicle is reliable to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy properly. 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 not easy to predict how several miles you can drive with the warning light on.