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What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2020 Lexus GS 350 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few numerous 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 2020 Lexus GS 350. Some of these include ignition timing, controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions and implementing stability control, just to name various. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a collection of divergent things. It can be as prevailing as your gas cap being loose or as apt as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2020 Lexus GS 350, 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.

2020 Lexus GS 350 Check Engine Light

A shining light illustrates that the problem is unhealthy and if not taken care of shortly may result in heavy wear and tear to the car. If the check engine light in your 2020 Lexus GS 350 starts shining, that means that the problem needs sudden attention and your Lexus should be brought in shortly. This blinking light typically indicates a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be discharged into the exhaust system. There it can hastily raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is feasible, 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, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is twinkling, please contact our team of automotive experts at Nalley Lexus Smyrna straightaway 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.

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 acceptable to get the innate code reading and diagnosis. The average value for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is frequently between $88 and $111. The acceptable 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 2020 Lexus GS 350 with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a dangerous issue and it is recommended to service your Lexus GS 350 now. This question is not very discernible 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 automobile, it could be an indication of a more abhorrent problem. Call the veterans at Nalley Lexus Smyrna by dialing 7706187908 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2020 Lexus to our certified mechanics as soon as ready for use.

2020 Lexus GS 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 suddenly 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 GS 350. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can choose. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling necessary diagnostics will give you happy knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is genuinely supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, assorted and easy vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of factual OBD codes, there are also hundreds of factual reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is noteworthy for someone who does not have a few of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a risky concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away. 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 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!

2020 Lexus GS 350 Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are several potential causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are various modern causes comprising something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other modern reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, damaged oxygen sensor, 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 Lexus Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as mandatory 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 2020 Lexus GS 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 hard systems. The sensors are continuously detecting conditions while sending data to the electronic control company. If the electronic control company 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 exactly is inaccurate 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 Very Qualified Service professional.

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

The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy properly. It could be anything from a detrimental sensor to plug wires needing to be replenished. If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Nalley Lexus Smyrna to aid determine if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is draconian to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2020 Lexus GS 350?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as possible as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a important problem that could cause important damage to your engine and come with a big repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A innate glow generally means something less important but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in important trouble and service is essential expeditiously. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2020 Lexus GS 350, we excessively recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Lexus service now. Below is a list of the most common reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, regular 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 impressive 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 2020 Lexus GS 350's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to represent the right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A destructive O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or different item can wreak havoc on your 2020 Lexus GS 350 if it’s not installed appropriately. These aftermarket parts and accessories can discard the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound regular, bring your GS 350 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 parts original 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.
  • Your catalytic converter is destructive or going destructive. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2020 Lexus GS 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 ordinarily 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 2020 Lexus GS 350 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 different problems from overheating.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Lexus GS 350 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 genuine changes, like altitude. If your Lexus GS 350 is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a hasty change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a destructive mass airflow sensor.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are fundamental for your 2020 Lexus GS 350. 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 destructive or old, 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, big to more pricey repairs.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2020 Lexus GS 350 is every mandatory. 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 various decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The cost of a new one depends on the type of Lexus you drive, but check our daily service coupons and specials.
  • Your 2020 Lexus GS 350 has a vacuum leak. Every Lexus GS 350 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 arid out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to imposing heat or extreme fast.
  • One of the most simple and copious cause is that your 2020 Lexus GS 350 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2020 Lexus GS 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 destructive fuel cap? If your gas cap is old 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 pricey. If your check engine light turns on hastily after you put gas in your 2020 Lexus GS 350, original thing you should check is to make satisfied the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2020 Lexus GS 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 marvelous, 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 2020 Lexus GS 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.

Check Engine Light Service 2020 Lexus GS 350

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Lexus GS 350 and suddenly, a yellow light brightens on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Lexus owners, your heart sinks a slight because you have slight 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 2020 Lexus GS 350 checked as soon as possible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing colossal damage to costly engine parts.

When your 2020 Lexus GS 350's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t prepared, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is consistently 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 scan tool that is used by our Lexus auto repair mechanics at Nalley Lexus Smyrna. There are also a number of comparably inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you mean that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to mean the issue and repair it.