Please wait while the page loads...

Ford Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are many attainable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are countless traditional causes including something as polite as a loose gas cap. Back-up traditional reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, damaged oxygen sensor, or defective 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 repair it as needed 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 Ford was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its hard systems. The sensors are continuously detecting conditions while sending 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. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what explicitly is remorseful 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 Notably Qualified Service trained.

Ford Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that scant light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly illuminates, 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 typical as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your. There are hundreds of extra codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a scant patience, tackling accessible diagnostics will give you advantageous knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is certainly supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, evident and helpful vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of practical OBD codes, there are also hundreds of practical reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is basic for someone who does not have a lot 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! When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out hastily by a certified Ford mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a risky concern, you risk detrimental 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 consistently between $88 and $111. The aware news, David McDavid Ford offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help designate the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not properly tightened to a more unhealthy failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it aware to get the conscientious code reading and diagnosis.

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

If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact David McDavid Ford to help elect for if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how copious miles you can drive with the warning light on. 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.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Ford will usually 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 helpful, 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 Ford light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that payment and the light is still on, you will need to deliver it in to David McDavid Ford so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

Check Engine Light Service Ford

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Ford and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Ford owners, your heart sinks a microscopic because you have microscopic 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 imply 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 Ford checked as soon as possible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.

When your Ford 's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electrical control system that it can’t honest, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is regularly 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 scan tool that is used by our Ford auto repair mechanics at David McDavid Ford. There are also a number of comparatively economical 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 compelling technological to read the issue and repair it.

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

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as easy as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a relentless problem that could cause relentless damage to your engine and come with a considerable repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A consistent glow typically means something less relentless but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in relentless trouble and service is needed expeditiously. If your check engine light is flashing in your Ford, we highly hint not to drive the vehicle and schedule Ford service today. Below is a list of the most prevalent reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replenished. The mass airflow sensor in your Ford is what determines how much fuel is needed to run your engine efficiently by measuring the deposit of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to genuine changes, like altitude. If your Ford 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 bad mass airflow sensor.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replenished. The Oxygen sensor, cogent as the O2 sensor, measures the deposit of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be less positive 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 Ford 's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to indicate the right collection of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A bad O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak havoc on your Ford if it’s not installed perfectly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even impede the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound routine, deliver your to Ford and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed perfectly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts earliest place might price a little bit more but could save you money from having to get scanty work and damage caused by scanty installation work corrected.
  • Your Ford has a vacuum leak. Every Ford has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps decrease 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, especially if they’re exposed to exciting heat or extreme irritated.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your Ford. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel collection in the combustion chamber of your vehicle. 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 bad or departed, you will experience scanty 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, first-rate to more expensive repairs.
  • One of the most cogent and plentiful cause is that your Ford gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Ford 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 bad fuel cap? If your gas cap is departed 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 immediately after you put gas in your Ford, earliest 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.
  • The battery is scanty or dead. The battery in your Ford is every adequate. 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 entirely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Ford you drive, but check our present service coupons and specials.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Ford ’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 frequently 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 Ford 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 problems from overheating.

Ford Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your Ford starts flashing, that means that the problem needs speedy attention and your Ford should be brought in quickly. A flashing light indicates that the problem is imposing and if not taken care of quickly may result in typical damage to the vehicle. This blinking light typically indicates a scrupulous engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can promptly hike the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is applicable, requiring an fancy repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can absolutely be the cause. A bad, historic or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at David McDavid Ford hastily 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 incredibly expensive repair.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most continuously misunderstood lights or indicators in your Ford is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in several 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 Ford. Some of these include shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, controlling engine speed, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can represent a variety of distinct things. It can be as real as your gas cap being loose or as perilous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Ford, 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 shining. Contact David McDavid Ford today!

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

This question is not especially different because it each 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 commute. 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 flashy problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a flashy issue and it is recommended to service your Ford instantly. Call the experts at David McDavid Ford by dialing 8174207990 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your Ford to our certified mechanics as soon as detailed.