2012 Ford Flex Check Engine Light

2012 Ford Flex 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 common causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other generally common reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, damaged oxygen sensor, or damaged spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Ford Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and entirely repair it as required to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Ford issue was entirely fixed.

Every 2012 Ford Flex was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its important systems. The fast sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending critical 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. Nevertheless, 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; David McDavid Ford provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Remarkably Qualified Service professional.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most normally misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2012 Ford Flex is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the important onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a variety 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 variety of things for your 2012 Ford Flex. Some of these essential duties include shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, controlling engine speed, and implementing security control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety 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 2012 Ford Flex, contact David McDavid Ford. Our Ford service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing. Contact David McDavid Ford today!

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

Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is ordinarily difficult to predict how many miles you can be secure in driving with the warning light on. If you check engine light is flashing, we advise that you pull over and contact David McDavid Ford to help determine if your vehicle is secure to drive in or if we advise a tow truck. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2012 Ford Flex?

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 also be a warning of an essential 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 generally means something less serious but a flashing check engine light reveals that your vehicle’s engine is in significant trouble and useful service is necessary promptly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2012 Ford Flex, we exceedingly advise not to drive the car and schedule Ford 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 2012 Ford Flex gas cap is loose, broken or missing. The gas cap for your 2012 Ford Flex serves multiple 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 happens if you have a broken 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 replace a gas cap isn't pricey. If your check engine light turns on promptly after you put gas in your 2012 Ford Flex, 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 mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Ford Flex is what determines how much fuel is necessary 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 Ford Flex is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a sudden fast change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a critical sign of a broken mass airflow sensor.
• Your 2012 Ford Flex has a vacuum leak. Every Ford Flex has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system likewise 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, exceptionally if they’re exposed to intense heat or extreme cold.
• The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2012 Ford Flex 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 a few decades ago, and they don't absolutely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Ford you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
• Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2012 Ford Flex’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter's function is to turn the carbon monoxide created by the combustion process into carbon dioxide. A broken catalytic converter is frequently caused by consistently neglected maintenance, which is why David McDavid Ford offers a free multi-point inspection with every Ford service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2012 Ford Flex 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 delicate problems from overheating.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are necessary for your 2012 Ford Flex. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mix in the combustion chamber of your vehicle. 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 experience 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 clogged 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 quickly and your vehicle will be less efficient when it comes to fuel economy. So what happens if I don’t replace your O2 sensor? A broken sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause significant damage to your catalytic converter and your 2012 Ford Flex's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the precisely correct mix of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A broken O2 sensor can likewise cause a car to fail an emissions test.
• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak extreme havoc on your 2012 Ford Flex if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound familiar, bring your Flex to Ford and have our team of talented certified mechanics assure that your aftermarket items were installed properly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, exceptionally 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.

Check Engine Light Service 2012 Ford Flex

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Ford Flex and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Ford owners, your heart sinks extremely because you may have absolutely 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 vehicle over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is suggested that you get your 2012 Ford Flex checked instantly. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major, far-reaching damage to costly engine parts.

When your 2012 Ford Flex's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t correct, 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 Ford auto repair mechanics at David McDavid Ford. There are also a number of comparatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you prefer 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.

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, David McDavid Ford offers totally free 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 proper code reading and diagnosis.

2012 Ford Flex Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is remarkably serious and if not taken care of rapidly may result in major and serious damage to the car. If the check engine light in your 2012 Ford Flex starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention rapidly and your Ford should be brought in expeditiously. This blinking light usually signifies a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can quickly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an costly and huge repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can specifically be the cause. A defective, 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 immensely costly repair. If your check engine light is always flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at David McDavid Ford expeditiously by calling 8174207990.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2012 Ford Flex will frequently 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 promptly turn itself off. Likewise, 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 2012 Ford Flex 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 David McDavid Ford so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

2012 Ford Flex Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating, especially 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, likewise known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Flex. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can correctly represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you helpful knowledge about your vehicle and will likewise allow that crucial Check Engine Light to do what it is genuinely supposed to do: be your guide. Sadly, apparent and helpful vehicle symptoms do not regularly accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of possible OBD codes, there are likewise hundreds of possible reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is critical for someone who does not have a lot of prevailing automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. Call David McDavid Ford at 8174207990 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 proficient certified Ford 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.

Is it safe to drive your 2012 Ford Flex with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a serious issue and it is suggested to service your Ford Flex rapidly. This question is not remarkably 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 ordinarily 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. Call the experts at David McDavid Ford by dialing 8174207990 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2012 Ford to our certified mechanics as soon as possible.