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Is it safe to drive your 2017 Ford C-Max 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 C-Max promptly. 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 Coggin Deland Ford by dialing 3862100247 so you can describe the issues. Or lessen your speed and bring your 2017 Ford to our certified mechanics as soon as possible.

2017 Ford C-Max Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2017 Ford C-Max starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention promptly and your Ford should be brought in swiftly. A flashing light reveals that the problem is very serious and if not taken care of promptly may result in significant and serious damage to the vehicle. This blinking light ordinarily indicates a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can expeditiously 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 exactly be the cause. A broken, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. 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 costly repair. If your check engine light is always flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Coggin Deland Ford promptly by calling 3862100247.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2017 Ford C-Max?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as simple as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Still, the check engine light could also be a warning of a significant 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 generally means something less serious but a flashing check engine light signifies that your vehicle's engine is in meaningful trouble and helpful service is necessary immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2017 Ford C-Max, we very endorse not to drive the car and schedule Ford service today. Below is a list of the most regular reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are required for your 2017 Ford C-Max. 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 endure a conspicuous 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 blocked catalytic converter or damage to ignition coils and O2 sensors, leading to more expensive 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 instantly and your car 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 2017 Ford C-Max's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle's onboard computer to determine the definitely right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A broken O2 sensor can again cause a vehicle to fail an emissions test.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2017 Ford C-Max is each vital. Without a vehicle battery, your vehicle won't start, light up the road in front, play the radio or charge your phone. Today's vehicle 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 Ford you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
  • Your 2017 Ford C-Max has a vacuum leak. Each Ford C-Max has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system again 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, especially if they're exposed to intense heat or extreme cold.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2017 Ford C-Max'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 normally caused by invariably neglected maintenance, which is why Coggin Deland Ford offers a free multi-point inspection with each Ford service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2017 Ford C-Max will not pass an emissions test, show a lack of engine performance and will negatively affect your fuel economy. Your vehicle 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 2017 Ford C-Max if it's not installed correctly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even impede the car from starting. If these issues sound familiar, bring your C-Max to Ford and have our team of accomplished certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed accurately and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts 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 common and frequent cause is that your 2017 Ford C-Max gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2017 Ford C-Max serves multiple purposes. It prevents dangerous gas fumes from being released when you aren't driving, it seals the fuel system and helps cultivate 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 expensive. If your check engine light turns on quickly after you put gas in your 2017 Ford C-Max, 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 C-Max is what determines how much fuel is required 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 C-Max 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 broken mass airflow sensor.

2017 Ford C-Max 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, also known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your C-Max. 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 useful knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that essential Check Engine Light to do what it is absolutely supposed to do: be your guide. Sadly, evident and useful vehicle symptoms do not invariably accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of potential OBD codes, there are also hundreds of potential reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is important for someone who does not have a lot of predominant automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a serious concern, you risk damaging your vehicle further by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out quickly by a talented certified Ford mechanic. Call Coggin Deland Ford at 3862100247 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!

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 serious failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it good to get the correct code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is generally between $88 and $111. The good news, Coggin Deland Ford offers completely complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to assist determine the cause of your check engine light.

Check Engine Light Service 2017 Ford C-Max

What do you do when you're driving along in your Ford C-Max and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you're like most Ford owners, your heart sinks exceptionally 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, 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 suggested that you get your 2017 Ford C-Max checked expeditiously. Ignoring that warning could end up causing significant, huge damage to costly engine components.

When your 2017 Ford C-Max'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 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 immediately 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 Coggin Deland Ford. There are likewise a number of relatively 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 Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2017 Ford C-Max is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the essential 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 2017 Ford C-Max. Some of these essential duties include ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, 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 hazardous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2017 Ford C-Max, contact Coggin Deland 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 Coggin Deland Ford today!

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2017 Ford C-Max 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 instantly turn itself off. Still, if your catalytic converter is working properly, 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 2017 Ford C-Max 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 Coggin Deland Ford so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

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

If you check engine light is flashing, we advise that you pull over and contact Coggin Deland Ford to support determine if your vehicle is secure to drive in or if we advise 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 each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is usually difficult to predict how numerous miles you can be secure in driving with the warning light on.

2017 Ford C-Max 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 common causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other usually common reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, faulty emissions control part, dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, or broken spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Ford Certified Mechanics and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and totally repair it as required to restore factory specifications. When this occurs, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Ford issue was totally fixed.

Every 2017 Ford C-Max was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the car on its crucial systems. The rapid 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 absolutely is wrong nor what to do about it. That's where we come in; Coggin Deland 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 Exceptionally Certified Service professional.