Jeep Wrangler 4xe Check Engine Light

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most ordinarily misunderstood lights or indicators in your Jeep Wrangler 4xe is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the important onboard diagnostics system, and displays in an assortment 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 vehicle. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored vehicle performance since the 80s and do an assortment of things for your Jeep Wrangler 4xe. Some of these essential duties include controlling engine speed, ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a wide range of different things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as dangerous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Jeep Wrangler 4xe, contact Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise. Contact Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise today! Our Jeep 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.

Jeep Wrangler 4xe Check Engine Light

A flashing light reveals 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 Jeep Wrangler 4xe starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention immediately and your Jeep should be brought in swiftly. This blinking light normally signifies a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can rapidly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an costly and extensive 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 your check engine light is regularly flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise promptly by calling 2085100490. If the problem is totally 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.

Jeep Wrangler 4xe 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 different typical causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other usually typical reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, damaged emissions control part, damaged head gasket, broken oxygen sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, or faulty spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Jeep Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and utterly repair it as needed to restore factory specifications. When this hits, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Jeep issue was completely fixed.

Every Jeep Wrangler 4xe 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 speedy 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, unfortunately that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what definitely 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 Extremely Knowledgeable Service professional.

Jeep Wrangler 4xe 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, again known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Wrangler 4xe. 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 useful knowledge about your car and will again allow that essential Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, obvious and helpful car symptoms do not repeatedly accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of possible OBD codes, there are again hundreds of possible reasons for the light, including:

• Fuel and air metering systems problems
• Old Battery
• Ignition system faults
• Bad Spark Plugs
• O2 Sensor
• Transmission issues
• Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
• Computer output circuit issues
• Emissions controls 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. Call Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise at 2085100490 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out swiftly by a skillful certified Jeep 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.

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

The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is usually 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 support determine the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not perfectly 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 appropriate code reading and diagnosis.

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

It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. Since any check engine code has its own level of severity, it is generally difficult to predict how many miles you can be safe in driving with the warning light on. If you check engine light is flashing, we suggest that you pull over and contact Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise to help determine if your car is safe to drive in or if we suggest a tow truck. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly.

Check Engine Light Service Jeep Wrangler 4xe

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Jeep Wrangler 4xe and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Jeep owners, your heart sinks extremely because you may have definitely 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, peaceful 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 suggested that you get your Jeep Wrangler 4xe checked expeditiously. Ignoring that warning could end up causing significant, huge damage to pricey engine parts.

When your Jeep Wrangler 4xe'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 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 can promptly 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 Jeep auto repair mechanics at Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise. There are again a number of essentially 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 experienced professional to determine the definitely appropriate issue and repair it.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a Jeep Wrangler 4xe?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as simple as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could again be a warning of a meaningful problem that could cause serious damage to your engine and come with a hefty and pricey repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady and continuous glow typically means something less serious but a flashing check engine light signifies that your vehicle’s engine is in significant trouble and helpful service is required immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your Jeep Wrangler 4xe, we extremely endorse not to drive the vehicle and schedule Jeep service today. Below is a list of the most typical reasons your check engine light can come on:

• Your Jeep Wrangler 4xe has a vacuum leak. Every Jeep Wrangler 4xe 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, particularly if they’re exposed to intense heat or extreme cold.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your Jeep Wrangler 4xe. 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 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 undergo 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 clogged catalytic converter or damage to ignition coils and O2 sensors, leading to more pricey repairs.
• Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Jeep Wrangler 4xe’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 examination with every Jeep service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your Jeep Wrangler 4xe 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 other perilous problems from overheating.
• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak extreme havoc on your Jeep Wrangler 4xe if it’s not installed correctly. 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 familiar, bring your Wrangler 4xe to Jeep and have our team of skilled certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, particularly aftermarket parts and accessories, or utilizing OEM parts first place might cost a little bit more but could help you save considerably from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
• One of the most regular and frequent cause is that your Jeep Wrangler 4xe gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Jeep Wrangler 4xe serves various purposes. It prevents hazardous 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 costly. Luckily, to change a gas cap isn't pricey. If your check engine light turns on quickly after you put gas in your Jeep Wrangler 4xe, 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.
• The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Jeep Wrangler 4xe is every important. Without a car battery, your car won’t start, light up the road in front, 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 absolutely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Jeep you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
• 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 instantly and your car will be less efficient when it comes to fuel economy. So what hits if I don’t change your O2 sensor? A damaged sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause serious damage to your catalytic converter and your Jeep Wrangler 4xe's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the exactly right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A damaged O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
• Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Jeep Wrangler 4xe is what determines how much fuel is needed 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 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a sudden speedy replace in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a critical sign of a damaged mass airflow sensor.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Jeep Wrangler 4xe will ordinarily 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 immediately turn itself off. Still, if your catalytic converter is working accurately, 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 Jeep Wrangler 4xe 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.

Is it safe to drive your Jeep Wrangler 4xe with the check engine light on?

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 secure to drive. This is generally 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 serious problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a serious issue and it is suggested to service your Jeep Wrangler 4xe rapidly. Call the experts at Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Boise by dialing 2085100490 so you can describe the issues. Or decrease your speed and bring your Jeep to our certified mechanics as soon as potential.