Dodge Challenger Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are countless potential causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are many regular causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other generally regular reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, defective head gasket, defective emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, or damaged spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Dodge Certified Mechanics and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and completely repair it as necessary to restore factory specifications. When this hits, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Dodge issue was entirely fixed.
Every Dodge Challenger was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the car on its critical systems. The rapid sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending important 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. Nonetheless, sadly that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what precisely is wrong nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise 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 Certified Service professional.
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 correctly tightened to a more serious failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it good to get the correct code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is ordinarily between $88 and $111. The good news, Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise offers entirely complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help determine the cause of your check engine light.
Dodge Challenger Check Engine Light
A flashing light indicates that the problem is very serious and if not taken care of immediately may result in extensive and serious damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your Dodge Challenger starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention immediately and your Dodge should be brought in swiftly. This blinking light usually reveals a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can instantly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an costly and considerable repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can definitely be the cause. A faulty, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If the problem is completely 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 repeatedly flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise immediately by calling 2085100490.
Is it safe to drive your Dodge Challenger with the check engine light on?
If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a serious issue and it is recommended to service your Dodge Challenger swiftly. This question is not very 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 usually 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 serious problem. Call the experts at Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise by dialing 2085100490 so you can describe the issues. Or lessen your speed and bring your Dodge to our certified mechanics as soon as possible.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your Dodge Challenger will usually shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is fixed. For instance, if the cause of your check engine light coming on was a loose gas cap, if it's tightened, the light will expeditiously turn itself off. Also, if your catalytic converter is working perfectly, 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 Dodge Challenger 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 Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.
Check Engine Light Service Dodge Challenger
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Dodge Challenger and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Dodge owners, your heart sinks extremely because you may have specifically 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, serene breath and realize the light coming on doesn’t mean you have to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is advised that you get your Dodge Challenger checked immediately. Ignoring that warning could end up causing significant, considerable damage to expensive engine components.
When your Dodge Challenger's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t appropriate, 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 can swiftly identify 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 Dodge auto repair mechanics at Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you select that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to determine the absolutely correct issue and repair it.
Dodge Challenger Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating, exceptionally to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly illuminate, 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, still known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Challenger. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can accurately represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you advantageous knowledge about your car and will still allow that essential Check Engine Light to do what it is absolutely supposed to do: be your guide. Sadly, evident and helpful car symptoms do not repeatedly accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of likely OBD codes, there are still hundreds of likely reasons for the light, including:
- Emissions controls issues
- Ignition system faults
- Transmission issues
- Old Battery
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Bad Spark Plugs
- O2 Sensor
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Computer output circuit issues
This is why it is essential for someone who does not have a lot of predominant automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out rapidly by a adept certified Dodge mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a serious concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away. Call Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise at 2085100490 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most normally misunderstood lights or indicators in your Dodge Challenger is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the essential onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a wide range of 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 car. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored car performance since the 80s and do a wide range of things for your Dodge Challenger. Some of these essential duties 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 an assortment of different things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as unpredictable as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Dodge Challenger, contact Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise. Our Dodge 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. Contact Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise today!
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a Dodge Challenger?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as simple as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Again, the check engine light could likewise be a warning of a serious problem that could cause serious damage to your engine and come with a hefty and costly repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady and continuous glow generally means something less serious but a flashing check engine light signifies that your vehicle’s engine is in meaningful trouble and useful service is necessary quickly. If your check engine light is flashing in your Dodge Challenger, we highly advise not to drive the car and schedule Dodge service today. Below is a list of the most common reasons your check engine light can come on:
- One of the most common and frequent cause is that your Dodge Challenger gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Dodge Challenger serves various purposes. It prevents dangerous gas fumes from being released when you aren't driving, it seals the fuel system and helps maintain pressure within the fuel tank. What hits if you have a damaged 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 and be more pricey. Luckily, to replace a gas cap isn't pricey. If your check engine light turns on promptly after you put gas in your Dodge Challenger, 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.
- Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Dodge Challenger’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 invariably neglected maintenance, which is why Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise offers a free multi-point inspection with each Dodge service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your Dodge Challenger will not pass an emissions test, show a lack of engine performance and will negatively affect your fuel economy. Your vehicle may run at a higher temperature, too, which can cause other delicate problems from overheating.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are required for your Dodge Challenger. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel combination in the combustion chamber of your car. This explosion is what moves the pistons and makes the engine run smooth. 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 old, you will endure a noticeable poor performance and decreased power. In some extreme cases, your engine will have trouble starting or continuing to run. Worn spark plugs and plug wires can cause obstructed catalytic converter or damage to ignition coils and O2 sensors, leading to more pricey repairs.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, known as the O2 sensor, measures the amount of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns more immediately and your car will be less efficient when it comes to fuel economy. So what hits if I don’t replace your O2 sensor? A damaged sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause significant damage to your catalytic converter and your Dodge Challenger's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the exactly correct combination of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A damaged O2 sensor can again cause a vehicle to fail an emissions test.
- Your Dodge Challenger has a vacuum leak. Each Dodge Challenger has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system again 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, particularly if they’re exposed to intense heat or extreme cold.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Dodge Challenger is what determines how much fuel is required 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 certain changes, like altitude. If your Dodge Challenger is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a sudden speedy change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a vital sign of a damaged mass airflow sensor.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak extreme havoc on your Dodge Challenger if it’s not installed correctly. These aftermarket components and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even impede the car from starting. If these issues sound familiar, bring your Challenger to Dodge and have our team of accomplished certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed accurately and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, particularly aftermarket parts and accessories, or utilizing OEM components first place might cost a little bit more but could help you save substantially from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Dodge Challenger is each vital. Without a vehicle battery, your vehicle won’t start, light up the road ahead, play the radio or charge your phone. Today’s vehicle batteries last much longer than they did a few decades ago, and they don't absolutely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Dodge you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
If you check engine light is flashing, we advocate that you pull over and contact Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise to help determine if your vehicle is secure to drive in or if we advocate a tow truck. 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 usually difficult to predict how numerous miles you can be secure in driving with the warning light on. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly.