2013 Lexus GX 460 Check Engine Light
If the check engine light in your 2013 Lexus GX 460 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs agile attention and your Lexus should be brought in abruptly. A flashing light indicates that the problem is stern and if not taken care of abruptly may result in considerable wear and tear to the vehicle. This twinkling light usually expresses a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can promptly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is possible, requiring an lavish repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can totally be the cause. A destructive, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is blinking, please contact our squad of automotive mentors at Nalley Lexus Smyrna quickly by calling 7706187908. 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.
Check Engine Light Service 2013 Lexus GX 460
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Lexus GX 460 and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Lexus 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 estimate 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 automobile over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your 2013 Lexus GX 460 checked as soon as available. Ignoring that warning could end up causing forceful wear and tear to costly engine components.
When your 2013 Lexus GX 460's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electrical control system that it can’t acceptable, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is typically 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 learn with an electronic probe tool that is used by our Lexus auto repair mechanics at Nalley Lexus Smyrna. There are also a number of comparatively 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 expert to indicate the issue and repair it.
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 hazardous failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it tremendous to get the cooperative code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is consistently between $88 and $111. The tremendous news, Nalley Lexus Smyrna offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help read the cause of your check engine light.
Is it safe to drive your 2013 Lexus GX 460 with the check engine light on?
If the check engine light is glaring, this means that there is a persuasive issue and it is recommended to service your Lexus GX 460 expeditiously. This question is not incredibly plain because it any depends on the severity of the issue. If the cause is a minor issue, such as a loose gas cap, it should be protected to travel to work. This is mostly indicated by a steady glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the automobile, it could be an indication of a more effective problem. Call the experts at Nalley Lexus Smyrna by dialing 7706187908 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2013 Lexus to our certified mechanics as soon as possible.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2013 Lexus GX 460 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 exact, 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 2013 Lexus GX 460 light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that sum and the light is still on, you will need to bring it in to Nalley Lexus Smyrna so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most consistently misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2013 Lexus GX 460 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 automobile. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored automobile performance since the 80s and do a variety of things for your 2013 Lexus GX 460. 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 represent a collection of different things. It can be as pure as your gas cap being loose or as unhealthy as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2013 Lexus GX 460, contact Nalley Lexus Smyrna. Contact Nalley Lexus Smyrna today! Our Lexus service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is blinking.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2013 Lexus GX 460?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as visible as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a risky problem that could cause risky damage to your engine and come with a unusual repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow typically means something less risky but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in risky trouble and service is decisive abruptly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2013 Lexus GX 460, we exceptionally suggest not to travel to work the vehicle and schedule Lexus service today. Below is a list of the most attentive reasons your check engine light can come on:
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be changed. The Oxygen sensor, current 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 vehicle will be less productive 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 Lexus GX 460's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to favor the right variety of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A harmful O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
- Your catalytic converter is harmful or going harmful. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2013 Lexus GX 460’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 Nalley Lexus Smyrna offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Lexus service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2013 Lexus GX 460 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 contrasting problems from overheating.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be changed. The mass airflow sensor in your Lexus GX 460 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 sure changes, like altitude. If your Lexus GX 460 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 harmful mass airflow sensor.
- Your 2013 Lexus GX 460 has a vacuum leak. Every Lexus GX 460 has a vacuum system that performs a wide 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 startling heat or extreme chilly.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or contrasting item can wreak havoc on your 2013 Lexus GX 460 if it’s not installed appropriately. These aftermarket components and accessories can eject the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound current, bring your GX 460 to Lexus and have our team of certified technicians ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM components first place might value a tiny 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 natural and frequent cause is that your 2013 Lexus GX 460 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2013 Lexus GX 460 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 harmful fuel cap? If your gas cap is long-established 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 2013 Lexus GX 460, 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 fundamental for your 2013 Lexus GX 460. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel variety in the combustion chamber of your vehicle. This explosion is what moves the pistons and makes the engine run. The spark plug wires transport the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If your spark plugs or spark plug wires are harmful or long-established, 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, best to more expensive repairs.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2013 Lexus GX 460 is every meaningful. 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 really require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Lexus you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
2013 Lexus GX 460 Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are countless conceivable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are many fitting causes consisting something as uncomplicated as a loose gas cap. Distinctive fitting reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, faulty head gasket, dirty mass airflow sensor, damaged oxygen sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, or defective spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Lexus 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 Lexus issue was serviced.
Every 2013 Lexus GX 460 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 sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the electronic control team. If the electronic control team 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 precisely is culpable nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Nalley Lexus Smyrna 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 trained.
2013 Lexus GX 460 Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little 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 appreciative as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your GX 460. There are hundreds of odd codes that your check engine light can suggest. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling leading diagnostics will give you fitting 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, conspicuous 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:
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Emissions controls issues
- Transmission issues
- Computer output circuit issues
- O2 Sensor
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Old Battery
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Ignition system faults
This is why it is admirable for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out hastily by a certified Lexus mechanic. Call Nalley Lexus Smyrna at 7706187908 immediately or schedule your check engine light service online today! If the engine light comes on due to a critical concern, you risk damaging your car added by not repairing the issue right away.
How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy appropriately. 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 difficult to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on. If you check engine light is shining, we recommend that you pull over and contact Nalley Lexus Smyrna to aid indicate if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck.