Ford Escape Check Engine Light
If the check engine light in your Ford Escape starts flashing, that means that the problem needs hasty attention and your Ford should be transported in urgently. A flashing light expresses that the problem is critical and if not taken care of urgently may result in dominant break to the vehicle. This blinking light commonly indicates a exacting engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can abruptly boost the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can exactly be the cause. A bad, common or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. 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 highly expensive repair. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Coggin Deland Ford quickly by calling 3862100247.
Is it safe to drive your Ford Escape with the check engine light on?
This question is not very classic 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 commute. This is generally 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 alarming problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a alarming issue and it is recommended to service your Ford Escape urgently. Call the experts at Coggin Deland Ford by dialing 3862100247 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your Ford to our certified mechanics as soon as active.
Ford Escape Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are innumerable attainable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are a lot straightforward causes comprising something as straightforward as a loose gas cap. Distinctive straightforward reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, damaged oxygen sensor, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty head gasket, 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 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 Ford Escape was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its colossal systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the electronic control squad. If the electronic control squad 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 totally is unsound 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 Immensely 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 frequently between $88 and $111. The relevant news, Coggin Deland Ford offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help learn 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 risky failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it relevant to get the relevant code reading and diagnosis.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most typically misunderstood lights or indicators in your Ford Escape is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a lot extra 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 Ford Escape. Some of these include controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name several. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of back-up things. It can be as advantageous as your gas cap being loose or as precarious as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Ford Escape, contact Coggin Deland Ford. Contact Coggin Deland Ford today! Our Ford service department can assist you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or probe why your check engine light is flashing.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your Ford Escape will usually shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is serviced. 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 functional, 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 Escape 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.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a Ford Escape?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as common as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a risky problem that could cause risky damage to your engine and come with a colossal repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A persistent glow usually means something less risky but a flashing check engine light illustrates that your vehicle’s engine is in risky trouble and service is crucial swiftly. If your check engine light is flashing in your Ford Escape, we greatly advise not to drive the vehicle and schedule Ford service now. Below is a list of the most prevalent reasons your check engine light can come on:
- One of the most common and frequent cause is that your Ford Escape gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Ford Escape 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 old 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 promptly after you put gas in your Ford Escape, authentic thing you should check is to make positive the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
- Your Ford Escape has a vacuum leak. Every Ford Escape has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps cut bad 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 bare out and crack, notably if they’re exposed to efficient heat or extreme freezing.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or different item can wreak havoc on your Ford Escape if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can deposit the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound effortless, bring your Escape to Ford and have our squad of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, notably aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts authentic place might estimate a little 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 Escape is what determines how much fuel is necessary 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 actual changes, like altitude. If your Ford Escape is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a hasty change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are necessary for your Ford Escape. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of your vehicle. This explosion is what moves the pistons and makes the engine run. The spark plug wires bring 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 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, best to more expensive repairs.
- Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Ford Escape’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 Coggin Deland 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 Escape 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 different problems from overheating.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, known 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 persuasive 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 Escape's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to read the right mixture 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.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Ford Escape is every vital. 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 assorted decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Ford you drive, but check our common service coupons and specials.
Ford Escape Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard abruptly 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 beneficial as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Escape. There are hundreds of clear codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling primary diagnostics will give you suitable knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is actually supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, overt and great vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of accessible OBD codes, there are also hundreds of accessible reasons for the light, including:
- O2 Sensor
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Emissions controls issues
- Computer output circuit issues
- Old Battery
- Transmission issues
- Ignition system faults
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
This is why it is curious for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a threatening concern, you risk damaging your car supplemental by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out immediately by a certified Ford mechanic. Call Coggin Deland Ford at 3862100247 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!
How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
If you check engine light is flashing, we endorse that you pull over and contact Coggin Deland Ford to aid select if your vehicle is reliable to drive in or if we endorse a tow truck. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is needed to predict how several miles you can drive with the warning light on. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy subsequently. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced.
Check Engine Light Service Ford Escape
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Ford Escape and quickly, a yellow light lights up on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Ford owners, your heart sinks a tiny because you have tiny 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 learn you have to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your Ford Escape checked as soon as careful. Ignoring that warning could end up causing marvelous damage to lavish engine components.
When your Ford Escape'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 mostly 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 investigate tool that is used by our Ford auto repair technicians at Coggin Deland Ford. There are also 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 adequate high-tech to indicate the issue and repair it.