Dodge Challenger Check Engine Light

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most typically misunderstood lights or indicators in your Dodge Challenger is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few 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 vehicle. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored vehicle performance since the 80s and do a variety of things for your Dodge Challenger. Some of these include shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can embrace a variety of chance things. It can be as straightforward as your gas cap being loose or as scrupulous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Dodge Challenger, contact Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. Contact Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram today! Our Dodge 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.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Dodge Challenger 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 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 Dodge Challenger 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 Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

Dodge Challenger Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are plentiful conceivable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are plentiful prevalent causes consisting something as authentic as a loose gas cap. Added prevalent reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, faulty head gasket, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, or defective spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Dodge Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as fundamental to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Dodge issue was repaired.

Every Dodge Challenger was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its necessary systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the electronic control team. If the electronic control team 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 exactly is wrong nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram 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 Qualified Service technical.

Check Engine Light Service Dodge Challenger

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Dodge Challenger and swiftly, a yellow light brightens on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Dodge 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 rate of the unknown) can be just as stressful. But take a deep breath and realize the light coming on doesn’t determine 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 Dodge Challenger checked as soon as potential. Ignoring that warning could end up causing imperative damage to expensive engine components.

When your Dodge Challenger's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electrical control system that it can’t correct, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is frequently 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 high-tech inspect tool that is used by our Dodge auto repair mechanics at Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you designate that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an active skilled to mean the issue and repair it.

Dodge Challenger 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 illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear proper 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 acknowledged as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Challenger. There are hundreds of distinctive codes that your check engine light can indicate. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling principal diagnostics will give you handy knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is absolutely supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, accessible and essential vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of possible OBD codes, there are also hundreds of possible reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is relevant for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. Call Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram at 3178540239 at this moment or schedule your check engine light service online today! When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out expeditiously by a certified Dodge mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a serious concern, you risk damaging your car additional by not repairing the issue proper away.

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

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a tough issue and it is recommended to service your Dodge Challenger swiftly. This question is not very pure 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 consistently indicated by a consistent 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 stringent problem. Call the consultants at Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram by dialing 3178540239 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and deliver your Dodge to our certified technicians as soon as potential.

Dodge Challenger Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is important and if not taken care of immediately may result in broad damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your Dodge Challenger starts flashing, that means that the problem needs abrupt attention and your Dodge should be brought in immediately. This blinking light usually indicates a exacting engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can hastily hike the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is achievable, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can certainly be the cause. A bad, traditional or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is blinking, please contact our team of automotive consultants at Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram shortly by calling 3178540239. 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 excessively expensive repair.

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 Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram to help pick if your car is reliable to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be changed. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is not convenient to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly.

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

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as prevalent as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a curious problem that could cause curious damage to your engine and come with a large repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A persistent glow typically means something less curious but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in curious trouble and service is essential suddenly. If your check engine light is flashing in your Dodge Challenger, we highly mean not to travel to work the vehicle and schedule Dodge service today. Below is a list of the most known reasons your check engine light can come on:

• One of the most current and frequent cause is that your Dodge Challenger gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Dodge Challenger 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 costly. If your check engine light turns on immediately after you put gas in your Dodge Challenger, 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.
• Issues with each aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or back-up item can wreak havoc on your Dodge Challenger if it’s not installed accordingly. These aftermarket components and accessories can dump the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even avoid the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound acknowledged, bring your Challenger to Dodge and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed properly and aren't causing each issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM components first place might cost a little bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
• Your Dodge Challenger has a vacuum leak. Each Dodge Challenger has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps cut down 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 dehydrated out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to accomplished heat or extreme cool.
• Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Dodge Challenger’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 constantly caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with each Dodge service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your Dodge Challenger 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 back-up problems from overheating.
• The battery is poor or dead. The battery in your Dodge Challenger is each active. 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 Dodge you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
• 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 faster and your vehicle will be less essential 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 Dodge Challenger's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to learn the acceptable 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.
• Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Dodge Challenger is what determines how much fuel is decisive 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 real changes, like altitude. If your Dodge Challenger 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.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are decisive for your Dodge Challenger. 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 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 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 costly repairs.

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 subsequently tightened to a more perilous failure like a damaging catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it superb to get the constitutional code reading and diagnosis. The average price for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is typically between $88 and $111. The superb news, Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help mean the cause of your check engine light.