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Is it safe to drive your Mercedes-Benz with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a awesome issue and it is recommended to service your Mercedes-Benz urgently. This question is not very clear 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 normally 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 contractual problem. Call the mentors at Plaza Motor Company by dialing 3145825294 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and deliver your Mercedes-Benz to our certified mechanics as soon as feasible.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most consistently misunderstood lights or indicators in your Mercedes-Benz 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 Mercedes-Benz. Some of these include controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of extra things. It can be as effortless as your gas cap being loose or as harsh as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Mercedes-Benz, contact Plaza Motor Company. Contact Plaza Motor Company today! Our Mercedes-Benz service department can assist you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing.

Check Engine Light Service Mercedes-Benz

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Mercedes-Benz and quickly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Mercedes-Benz 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 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 Mercedes-Benz checked as soon as likely. Ignoring that warning could end up causing big damage to expensive engine components.

When your Mercedes-Benz 's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t honorable, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is constantly 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 Mercedes-Benz auto repair mechanics at Plaza Motor Company. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you choose that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an trained professional to learn the issue and repair it.

Mercedes-Benz Check Engine Light

A flashing light expresses that the problem is rigid and if not taken care of at this moment may result in big damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your Mercedes-Benz starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Mercedes-Benz should be brought in at this moment. This blinking light usually indicates a harsh engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be ditched into the exhaust system. There it can suddenly hike the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where break is attainable, requiring an costly repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can specifically be the cause. A bad, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our department of automotive experts at Plaza Motor Company promptly by calling 3145825294. 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 incredibly expensive repair.

How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?

The intermediate price for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is typically between $88 and $111. The various news, Plaza Motor Company offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help find out the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not properly tightened to a more competent failure like a detrimental catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it various to get the satisfactory code reading and diagnosis.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Mercedes-Benz 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 effective, 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 Mercedes-Benz light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that drain and the light is still on, you will need to bring it in to Plaza Motor Company so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

Mercedes-Benz 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 acknowledged as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your. There are hundreds of supplemental codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling extensive diagnostics will give you convenient knowledge about your car and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is genuinely supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, unmistakable and logical car symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of conceivable OBD codes, there are also hundreds of conceivable reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is compelling for someone who does not have copious 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 car further by not repairing the issue right away. Call Plaza Motor Company at 3145825294 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out rapidly by a certified Mercedes-Benz mechanic.

Mercedes-Benz 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 innumerable competent causes including something as pure as a loose gas cap. Alternative competent reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, 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 Mercedes-Benz Certified Technicians 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 Mercedes-Benz issue was fixed.

Every Mercedes-Benz was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the car on its important 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 exactly is amiss nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Plaza Motor Company provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Immensely Qualified Service professional.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a Mercedes-Benz?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as classic 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 large repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow generally means something fewer 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 Mercedes-Benz, we highly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Mercedes-Benz service today. Below is a list of the most classic reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Mercedes-Benz is every crucial. 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 contrasting decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The cost of a new one depends on the type of Mercedes-Benz you commute, but check our current service coupons and specials.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Mercedes-Benz ’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 naturally caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Plaza Motor Company offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Mercedes-Benz service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it fixed, your Mercedes-Benz 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 Mercedes-Benz has a vacuum leak. Every Mercedes-Benz has a vacuum system that performs a expansive 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, notably if they’re exposed to exciting heat or extreme bitter.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, informed 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 factual 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 Mercedes-Benz 's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to embrace the right 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.
  • One of the most respectable and many cause is that your Mercedes-Benz gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Mercedes-Benz 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 historic 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 costly. If your check engine light turns on urgently after you put gas in your Mercedes-Benz, 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.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Mercedes-Benz 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 receptive changes, like altitude. If your Mercedes-Benz is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a immediate change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your Mercedes-Benz. 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 historic, 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, fundamental to more costly repairs.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or different item can wreak havoc on your Mercedes-Benz if it’s not installed correctly. These aftermarket elements and accessories can deposit the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even avoid the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound informed, bring your to Mercedes-Benz and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, notably aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM elements first place might cost a scant bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.

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 Plaza Motor Company to help opt for if your vehicle is safe to travel to work in or if we recommend a tow truck. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how several miles you can travel to work with the warning light on. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced.