How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
It could be anything from a harmful sensor to plug wires needing to be replenished. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. If you check engine light is flashing, we advocate that you pull over and contact Nalley Lexus Smyrna to help learn if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we advocate a tow truck. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how innumerable miles you can drive with the warning light on.
Check Engine Light Service 2016 Lexus ES 350
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Lexus ES 350 and quickly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Lexus 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 2016 Lexus ES 350 checked as soon as accessible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.
When your 2016 Lexus ES 350's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the mechanical control system that it can’t decent, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is mostly 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 electrical scan tool that is used by our Lexus auto repair mechanics at Nalley Lexus Smyrna. There are also a number of comparatively meager 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 trained professional to embrace the issue and repair it.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most continuously misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2016 Lexus ES 350 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a lot 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 car. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored car performance since the 80s and do a mixture of things for your 2016 Lexus ES 350. 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 variety of assorted things. It can be as pure as your gas cap being loose or as relentless as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2016 Lexus ES 350, contact Nalley Lexus Smyrna. Contact Nalley Lexus Smyrna today! Our Lexus service department can aid you read what code is turning your check engine light on or analyze why your check engine light is flashing.
2016 Lexus ES 350 Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard quickly 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 known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your ES 350. There are hundreds of distinctive codes that your check engine light can determine. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling principal 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, accessible and dominant vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of attainable OBD codes, there are also hundreds of attainable reasons for the light, including:
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Ignition system faults
- O2 Sensor
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Computer output circuit issues
- Transmission issues
- Emissions controls issues
- Old Battery
This is why it is interesting 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 swiftly by a certified Lexus mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a bizarre concern, you risk damaging your car supplemental by not repairing the issue right away. Call Nalley Lexus Smyrna at 7706187908 now or schedule your check engine light service online today!
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 perfectly tightened to a more unhealthy failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it useful to get the suitable code reading and diagnosis. The average rate for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is commonly between $88 and $111. The useful news, Nalley Lexus Smyrna offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help determine the cause of your check engine light.
2016 Lexus ES 350 Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are countless likely causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are countless accepted causes incorporating something as uncomplicated as a loose gas cap. Alternative accepted reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, faulty emissions control part, faulty head gasket, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, 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 Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as decisive 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 revamped.
Every 2016 Lexus ES 350 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its difficult systems. The sensors are continually 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 wrong 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 Exceedingly Qualified Service experienced.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2016 Lexus ES 350?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as conspicuous as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a critical problem that could cause critical damage to your engine and come with a immense repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow typically means something less critical but a glaring check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in critical trouble and service is mandatory quickly. If your check engine light is glaring in your 2016 Lexus ES 350, we highly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Lexus service today. Below is a list of the most conspicuous reasons your check engine light can come on:
- Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2016 Lexus ES 350’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 fixed, your 2016 Lexus ES 350 will not pass an emissions test, show a lack of engine performance and will negatively affect your fuel economy. Your automobile may run at a higher temperature, too, which can cause added problems from overheating.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2016 Lexus ES 350 is every terrible. Without a automobile battery, your automobile won’t start, light up the road ahead, play the radio or charge your phone. Today’s automobile 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 authentic service coupons and specials.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are mandatory for your 2016 Lexus ES 350. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of your car. 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, major to more expensive repairs.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Lexus ES 350 is what determines how much fuel is mandatory 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 authentic changes, like altitude. If your Lexus ES 350 is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a brisk change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
- One of the most authentic and innumerable cause is that your 2016 Lexus ES 350 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2016 Lexus ES 350 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 straightaway after you put gas in your 2016 Lexus ES 350, first thing you should check is to make courageous the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
- Your 2016 Lexus ES 350 has a vacuum leak. Every Lexus ES 350 has a vacuum system that performs a roomy variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower contentious 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, chiefly if they’re exposed to intense heat or extreme brisk.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, authentic 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 good 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 2016 Lexus ES 350's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A bad O2 sensor can also cause a automobile to fail an emissions test.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or added item can wreak havoc on your 2016 Lexus ES 350 if it’s not installed accurately. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the car from starting. If these issues sound commonplace, bring your ES 350 to Lexus and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed well and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, chiefly aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a tiny bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
2016 Lexus ES 350 Check Engine Light
A flashing light indicates that the problem is hazardous and if not taken care of expeditiously may result in major damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2016 Lexus ES 350 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Lexus should be brought in expeditiously. This blinking light usually indicates a harsh engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be ejected into the exhaust system. There it can rapidly improve the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is attainable, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can precisely be the cause. A bad, long-established 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 very expensive repair. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our squad of automotive experts at Nalley Lexus Smyrna promptly by calling 7706187908.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2016 Lexus ES 350 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 2016 Lexus ES 350 light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that reward 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.
Is it safe to drive your 2016 Lexus ES 350 with the check engine light on?
If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a persuasive issue and it is recommended to service your Lexus ES 350 rapidly. This question is not very correct 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 car, it could be an indication of a more persuasive problem. Call the experts at Nalley Lexus Smyrna by dialing 7706187908 so you can describe the issues. Or lower your speed and bring your 2016 Lexus to our certified mechanics as soon as reasonable.