Jeep Cherokee Check Engine Light

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Jeep Cherokee Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is risky and if not taken care of today may result in important damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your Jeep Cherokee starts flashing, that means that the problem needs sudden attention and your Jeep should be brought in today. This blinking light mostly indicates a scrupulous engine misfire allowing unused fuel to be deposited into the exhaust system. There it can quickly expand the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an lavish repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can precisely be the cause. A combative, aged 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 excessively expensive repair. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive specialists at Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram suddenly by calling 3178540239.

Check Engine Light Service Jeep Cherokee

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Jeep Cherokee and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Jeep 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 estimate 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 Jeep Cherokee checked as soon as functional. Ignoring that warning could end up causing big wear and tear to lavish engine components.

When your Jeep Cherokee'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 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 technological audit tool that is used by our Jeep auto repair mechanics at Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. There are also a number of comparatively 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 experienced to select the issue and repair it.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most typically misunderstood lights or indicators in your Jeep Cherokee is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few exact 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 Jeep Cherokee. Some of these include ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, and implementing stability control, just to name a little. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a range of contrasting things. It can be as honest as your gas cap being loose or as hazardous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Jeep Cherokee, contact Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. Contact Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram today! Our Jeep service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or observe why your check engine light is glaring.

Jeep Cherokee Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that tiny light on your vehicle’s dashboard quickly illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear prudent 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 authentic as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Cherokee. There are hundreds of assorted codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a tiny patience, tackling big 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. Sadly, discernable and convenient vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of conceivable OBD codes, there are also hundreds of conceivable reasons for the light, including:

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

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

Jeep Cherokee Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are frequent attainable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are frequent pure causes including something as pure as a loose gas cap. Extra pure reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, 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 Jeep 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 Jeep issue was fixed.

Every Jeep Cherokee was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its basic systems. The sensors are continually 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 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 inaccurate 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 Exceedingly Qualified Service professional.

How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?

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

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

If the check engine light is shining, this means that there is a alarming issue and it is recommended to service your Jeep Cherokee suddenly. This question is not very prevailing 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 travel to work. This is naturally 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 active 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 transport your Jeep to our certified mechanics as soon as available.

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

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as classic as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a exacting problem that could cause exacting damage to your engine and come with a big repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A persistent glow customarily means something less exacting but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in exacting trouble and service is necessary expeditiously. If your check engine light is flashing in your Jeep Cherokee, we immensely advise not to drive the vehicle and schedule Jeep service now. Below is a list of the most prevailing reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or additional item can wreak havoc on your Jeep Cherokee if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can deposit the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the car from starting. If these issues sound common, bring your Cherokee to Jeep and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might rate a little bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • Your Jeep Cherokee has a vacuum leak. Every Jeep Cherokee has a vacuum system that performs a wide range of functions. The vacuum system also helps premium 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 bare out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to productive heat or extreme chilly.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are basic for your Jeep Cherokee. 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. 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, first-rate to more expensive repairs.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Jeep Cherokee’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 commonly caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Jeep service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it serviced, your Jeep Cherokee 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 additional problems from overheating.
  • One of the most common and frequent cause is that your Jeep Cherokee gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Jeep Cherokee 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 urgently after you put gas in your Jeep Cherokee, first thing you should check is to make confident 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 interchanged. The mass airflow sensor in your Jeep Cherokee is what determines how much fuel is basic 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 current changes, like altitude. If your Jeep Cherokee 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 interchanged. 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 car will be less productive 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 Jeep Cherokee's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to choose the correct 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 Jeep Cherokee is every generous. 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 exactly require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Jeep you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Jeep Cherokee will consistently shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is repaired. 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 feasible, 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 Jeep Cherokee 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 deliver it in to Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

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

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 difficult to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on. If you check engine light is flashing, we advocate that you pull over and contact Bill Estes Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram to help pick if your vehicle is reliable to drive in or if we advocate a tow truck. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replenished.