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. If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Coggin Acura Fort Pierce to help represent if your vehicle is reliable to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. Since any check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on.
2013 Acura MDX Check Engine Light
If the check engine light in your 2013 Acura MDX starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Acura should be transported in promptly. A flashing light indicates that the problem is serious and if not taken care of promptly may result in considerable damage to the vehicle. This twinkling light usually illustrates a rigid engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be ejected into the exhaust system. There it can promptly increase 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 totally be the cause. A bad, traditional or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. 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 costly repair. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Coggin Acura Fort Pierce immediately by calling 7727424342.
Check Engine Light Service 2013 Acura MDX
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Acura MDX and abruptly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Acura owners, your heart sinks a tiny because you have tiny 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 car over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your 2013 Acura MDX checked as soon as possible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing leading damage to expensive engine components.
When your 2013 Acura MDX'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 usually 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 inspect tool that is used by our Acura auto repair mechanics at Coggin Acura Fort Pierce. There are also a number of relatively bargain 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 licensed to elect for the issue and repair it.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2013 Acura MDX 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 solid, and you did a few 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 2013 Acura MDX 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 Coggin Acura Fort Pierce so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.
2013 Acura MDX Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard now flashes, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear decent 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 established as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your MDX. There are hundreds of contrasting codes that your check engine light can mean. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling imperative diagnostics will give you convenient 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, evident and helpful 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:
- Transmission issues
- Computer output circuit issues
- Ignition system faults
- O2 Sensor
- Emissions controls issues
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Old Battery
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
This is why it is basic for someone who does not have countless of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a relentless concern, you risk damaging your vehicle further by not repairing the issue right away. Call Coggin Acura Fort Pierce at 7727424342 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out expeditiously by a certified Acura mechanic.
2013 Acura MDX Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are frequent likely causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several natural causes including something as prevalent as a loose gas cap. Distinctive natural reasons for a Check Engine Light are a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty emissions control part, faulty head gasket, damaged oxygen sensor, or defective spark plugs to name assorted. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Acura Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as essential to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Acura issue was fixed.
Every 2013 Acura MDX was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its troublesome 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 brightens telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what exactly is wrong nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Coggin Acura Fort Pierce provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Hugely Qualified Service expert.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most generally misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2013 Acura MDX is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few diverse 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 2013 Acura MDX. Some of these include shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name several. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of odd things. It can be as distinguishable as your gas cap being loose or as productive as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2013 Acura MDX, contact Coggin Acura Fort Pierce. Our Acura service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or audit why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Coggin Acura Fort Pierce today!
Is it safe to drive your 2013 Acura MDX with the check engine light on?
This question is not extremely 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 continuously 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 perilous problem. If the check engine light is twinkling, this means that there is a perilous issue and it is recommended to service your Acura MDX shortly. Call the consultants at Coggin Acura Fort Pierce by dialing 7727424342 so you can describe the issues. Or discount your speed and bring your 2013 Acura to our certified mechanics as soon as feasible.
How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?
The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is customarily between $88 and $111. The needed news, Coggin Acura Fort Pierce offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help pick 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 stringent failure like a harmful catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it needed to get the natural code reading and diagnosis.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2013 Acura MDX?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as uncomplicated 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 gigantic repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow mostly means something less treacherous but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in treacherous trouble and service is needed abruptly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2013 Acura MDX, we tremendously endorse not to drive the vehicle and schedule Acura service today. Below is a list of the most uncomplicated reasons your check engine light can come on:
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Acura MDX is what determines how much fuel is needed to run your engine efficiently by measuring the sum of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to understandable changes, like altitude. If your Acura MDX 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 2013 Acura MDX has a vacuum leak. Every Acura MDX has a vacuum system that performs a roomy variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower 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 agreeable.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your 2013 Acura MDX. 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 bad or erstwhile, you will experience poor 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.
- One of the most typical and bountiful cause is that your 2013 Acura MDX gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2013 Acura MDX 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 erstwhile 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 suddenly after you put gas in your 2013 Acura MDX, first thing you should check is to make bold the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2013 Acura MDX is every numerous. 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 actually require maintenance. The value of a new one depends on the type of Acura you commute, but check our current service coupons and specials.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, aware as the O2 sensor, measures the sum of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be less persuasive 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 2013 Acura MDX's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to opt for the prudent mixture 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.
- Issues with all aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or disparate item can wreak havoc on your 2013 Acura MDX if it’s not installed appropriately. These aftermarket parts and accessories can dump the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound aware, bring your MDX to Acura and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed appropriately and aren't causing all issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a little bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
- Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2013 Acura MDX’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 frequently caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Coggin Acura Fort Pierce offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Acura service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2013 Acura MDX 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 disparate problems from overheating.