Check Engine Light Service 2018 Ford Mustang
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Ford Mustang and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Ford 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 2018 Ford Mustang checked as soon as direct. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major wear and tear to expensive engine components.
When your 2018 Ford Mustang's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t apt, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is naturally 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 probe tool that is used by our Ford auto repair technicians at David McDavid Ford. There are also a number of rather inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you hint that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to hint the issue and repair it.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2018 Ford Mustang?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as straightforward as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a alarming problem that could cause alarming damage to your engine and come with a enormous repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow usually means something less alarming but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in alarming trouble and service is crucial quickly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2018 Ford Mustang, we extraordinarily advocate not to drive the vehicle and schedule Ford service quickly. Below is a list of the most friendly reasons your check engine light can come on:
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2018 Ford Mustang is every clear. 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 really require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Ford you travel to work, but check our logical service coupons and specials.
- One of the most common and many cause is that your 2018 Ford Mustang gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2018 Ford Mustang 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 damaging fuel cap? If your gas cap is classical 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 expensive. If your check engine light turns on swiftly after you put gas in your 2018 Ford Mustang, first thing you should check is to make hopeful the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your 2018 Ford Mustang. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of your automobile. 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 damaging or classical, 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, extensive to more expensive repairs.
- Your catalytic converter is damaging or going damaging. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2018 Ford Mustang’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 neglected maintenance, which is why David McDavid Ford offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Ford service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2018 Ford Mustang 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 extra problems from overheating.
- Your 2018 Ford Mustang has a vacuum leak. Every Ford Mustang has a vacuum system that performs a expansive collection of functions. The vacuum system also helps reduce damaging 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 parched out and crack, excessively if they’re exposed to forceful heat or extreme brisk.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or extra item can wreak havoc on your 2018 Ford Mustang if it’s not installed subsequently. These aftermarket parts and accessories can discard the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the automobile from starting. If these issues sound admitted, bring your Mustang to Ford and have our company of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed subsequently and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, excessively aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a miniature bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Ford Mustang 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 unmistakable changes, like altitude. If your Ford Mustang is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a sudden change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a damaging mass airflow sensor.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, admitted as the O2 sensor, measures the amount of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your automobile will be less cooperative 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 2018 Ford Mustang's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A damaging O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2018 Ford Mustang will commonly 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 adequate, 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 2018 Ford Mustang 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.
2018 Ford Mustang 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 flashes, 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 known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Mustang. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can mean. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you convenient knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, engaging and convenient vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of noble OBD codes, there are also hundreds of noble reasons for the light, including:
- Emissions controls issues
- Ignition system faults
- O2 Sensor
- Computer output circuit issues
- Old Battery
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Transmission issues
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
This is why it is imperative for someone who does not have various of 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! If the engine light comes on due to a unhealthy concern, you risk harmful your car further by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out expeditiously by a certified Ford technician.
Is it safe to drive your 2018 Ford Mustang with the check engine light on?
If the check engine light is twinkling, this means that there is a serious issue and it is recommended to service your Ford Mustang straightaway. This question is not excessively courageous 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 typically 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 relentless problem. Call the mentors at David McDavid Ford by dialing 8174207990 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and transport your 2018 Ford to our certified mechanics as soon as feasible.
2018 Ford Mustang Check Engine Light
If the check engine light in your 2018 Ford Mustang starts shining, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Ford should be transported in immediately. A shining light indicates that the problem is risky and if not taken care of immediately may result in dynamic damage to the vehicle. This flashing light usually indicates a rigorous engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be ditched into the exhaust system. There it can suddenly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is conceivable, requiring an pricey repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can solely be the cause. A bad, aged or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive consultants at David McDavid Ford instantly by calling 8174207990. 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 very expensive repair.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most consistently misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2018 Ford Mustang is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few contrasting 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 variety of things for your 2018 Ford Mustang. Some of these include ignition timing, controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of discrete things. It can be as distinguishable as your gas cap being loose or as critical as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2018 Ford Mustang, contact David McDavid Ford. Contact David McDavid Ford today! Our Ford service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or audit why your check engine light is flashing.
2018 Ford Mustang Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are countless achievable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are frequent classic causes including something as natural as a loose gas cap. Disparate classic reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen sensor, faulty head gasket, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, or defective spark plugs to name a lot. 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 repair it as mandatory 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 fixed.
Every 2018 Ford Mustang 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 sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the electrical control unit. If the electrical control unit detects that the data is out of factory specifications, the Check Engine Light flashes 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 liable 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 Very Qualified Service competent.
How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how countless miles you can drive with the warning light on. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. If you check engine light is flashing, we advise that you pull over and contact David McDavid Ford to assist elect for if your car is safe to drive in or if we advise a tow truck. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy properly.
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 properly tightened to a more precarious failure like a harmful catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it tall to get the definite code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is typically between $88 and $111. The tall news, David McDavid Ford offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help embrace the cause of your check engine light.