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

If you check engine light is flashing, we propose that you pull over and contact Larry H. Miller Chrysler Dodge Ram FIAT Denver to support determine if your vehicle is secure to drive in or if we propose a tow truck. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. Since every check engine code has its own level of severity, it is typically difficult to predict how multiple miles you can be secure in driving with the warning light on.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Ram Promaster City 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 quickly 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 Ram Promaster City 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 Dodge Ram FIAT Denver so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

Ram Promaster City 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 typical causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other often typical reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty head gasket, broken oxygen sensor, damaged emissions control part, 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 Ram Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and totally 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 Ram issue was completely fixed.

Every Ram Promaster City was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its critical systems. The quick 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. Yet, sadly that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what specifically is wrong nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Larry H. Miller Chrysler Dodge Ram FIAT Denver provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Highly Qualified Service professional.

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

The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is generally between $88 and $111. The good news, Larry H. Miller Chrysler Dodge Ram FIAT Denver offers completely complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help determine the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not accurately 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.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most ordinarily misunderstood lights or indicators in your Ram Promaster City is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the vital 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 vehicle. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored vehicle performance since the 80s and do a wide range of things for your Ram Promaster City. Some of these essential duties include ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, and implementing security 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 Ram Promaster City, contact Larry H. Miller Chrysler Dodge Ram FIAT Denver. Contact Larry H. Miller Chrysler Dodge Ram FIAT Denver today! Our Ram service department can support you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing.

Ram Promaster City Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your Ram Promaster City starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention quickly and your Ram should be brought in promptly. A flashing light reveals that the problem is very serious and if not taken care of quickly may result in major and serious damage to the vehicle. This blinking light ordinarily signifies a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can swiftly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an pricey 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 Dodge Ram FIAT Denver instantly by calling 7207343858. 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 costly repair.

Check Engine Light Service Ram Promaster City

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Ram Promaster City and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Ram owners, your heart sinks exceptionally 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, calm 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 Ram Promaster City checked expeditiously. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major, considerable damage to expensive engine components.

When your Ram Promaster City's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t right, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is generally 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 expeditiously 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 Ram auto repair mechanics at Larry H. Miller Chrysler Dodge Ram FIAT Denver. There are likewise a number of relatively inexpensive 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 experienced professional to determine the exactly correct issue and repair it.

Ram Promaster City Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating, particularly 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 Promaster City. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can properly represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you helpful knowledge about your car and will again allow that vital Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Sadly, obvious and helpful car symptoms do not repeatedly accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of potential OBD codes, there are again hundreds of potential reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is essential for someone who does not have a lot of prevalent 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 Ram 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 Dodge Ram FIAT Denver at 7207343858 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a Ram Promaster City?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as simple as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Also, the check engine light could likewise be a warning of a meaningful 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 usually means something less serious but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in serious trouble and helpful service is needed promptly. If your check engine light is flashing in your Ram Promaster City, we very propose not to drive the car and schedule Ram service today. Below is a list of the most typical reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Ram Promaster City 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 Ram Promaster City is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a sudden quick change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a critical sign of a damaged mass airflow sensor.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your Ram Promaster City. 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 go through a conspicuous 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 blocked 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 Ram Promaster City’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 invariably neglected maintenance, which is why Larry H. Miller Chrysler Dodge Ram FIAT Denver offers a complimentary multi-point examination with each Ram service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your Ram Promaster City 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 Ram Promaster City if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket components and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even limit the car from starting. If these issues sound familiar, bring your Promaster City to Ram and have our team of talented certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed perfectly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, particularly aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM components first place might cost a little bit more but could assist you save substantially from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • One of the most typical and frequent cause is that your Ram Promaster City gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Ram Promaster City serves different purposes. It prevents hazardous gas fumes from being released when you aren't driving, it seals the fuel system and helps manage 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 swiftly after you put gas in your Ram Promaster City, 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 Ram Promaster City is each vital. 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 genuinely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Ram 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 rapidly 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 serious damage to your catalytic converter and your Ram Promaster City's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the definitely appropriate mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A damaged O2 sensor can likewise cause a car to fail an emissions test.
  • Your Ram Promaster City has a vacuum leak. Each Ram Promaster City has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system likewise helps lower adverse 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.

Is it safe to drive your Ram Promaster City 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 Ram Promaster City quickly. 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 Dodge Ram FIAT Denver by dialing 7207343858 so you can describe the issues. Or decrease your speed and bring your Ram to our certified mechanics as soon as possible.