What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as effortless as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a significant problem that could cause significant damage to your engine and come with a generous repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A logical glow often means something less significant but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in significant trouble and service is imperative suddenly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300, we immensely endorse not to drive the vehicle and schedule Mercedes-Benz service suddenly. Below is a list of the most routine reasons your check engine light can come on:
- One of the most constitutional and copious cause is that your 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 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 classical 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300, 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.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 is every basic. 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 certainly require maintenance. The rate of a new one depends on the type of Mercedes-Benz you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, accepted as the O2 sensor, measures the payment of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be fewer consistent 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to indicate the honorable 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.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 is what determines how much fuel is basic to run your engine efficiently by measuring the payment 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 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a abrupt change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
- Your 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 has a vacuum leak. Every Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also 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 barren out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to noteworthy heat or extreme annoyed.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are basic for your 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300. 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 classical, 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.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or additional item can wreak havoc on your 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 if it’s not installed perfectly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can ditch the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even avert the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound beneficial, bring your GLC 300 to Mercedes-Benz and have our squad 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 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 catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300’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 Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Mercedes-Benz service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 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.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most normally misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300. Some of these 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 advocate a variety of different things. It can be as authentic as your gas cap being loose or as scrupulous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300, contact Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce. Contact Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce today! Our Mercedes-Benz service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is blinking.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 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 effective, 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 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 Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.
Is it safe to drive your 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 with the check engine light on?
This question is not highly uncomplicated 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 commonly indicated by a persistent glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the automobile, it could be an indication of a more serious problem. If the check engine light is glaring, this means that there is a serious issue and it is recommended to service your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 shortly. Call the specialists at Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce by dialing 7725772694 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2012 Mercedes-Benz to our certified mechanics as soon as likely.
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. It could be anything from a contentious sensor to plug wires needing to be interchanged. If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce to help determine 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 laborious to predict how several miles you can drive with the warning light on.
2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Check Engine Light
A flashing light indicates that the problem is hazardous and if not taken care of swiftly may result in dynamic damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Mercedes-Benz should be brought in swiftly. This flashing light frequently indicates a rigorous engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can immediately surge the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where wear and tear is effective, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can solely be the cause. A destructive, aged or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive mentors at Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce hastily by calling 7725772694. 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 very expensive repair.
Check Engine Light Service 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 and suddenly, a yellow light brightens on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Mercedes-Benz 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 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 checked as soon as achievable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing wide damage to expensive engine components.
When your 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the computerized control system that it can’t suitable, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is typically 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 Mercedes-Benz auto repair mechanics at Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive 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 skilled professional to mean the issue and repair it.
2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are countless likely causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several ongoing causes encompassing something as clear as a loose gas cap. Further ongoing reasons for a Check Engine Light are a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen sensor, dirty mass airflow sensor, or defective spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Mercedes-Benz 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 Mercedes-Benz issue was fixed.
Every 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the car on its rigorous 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 exactly is awry nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Incredibly Qualified Service professional.
2012 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that miniature light on your vehicle’s dashboard swiftly illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear noble 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 common as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your GLC 300. There are hundreds of back-up codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a miniature patience, tackling principal diagnostics will give you impartial knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, distinct and impartial vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of competent OBD codes, there are also hundreds of competent reasons for the light, including:
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Old Battery
- Ignition system faults
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Computer output circuit issues
- O2 Sensor
- Emissions controls issues
- Transmission issues
This is why it is effective for someone who does not have innumerable of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a unhealthy concern, you risk damaging your car extra by not repairing the issue decent away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out abruptly by a certified Mercedes-Benz mechanic. Call Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce at 7725772694 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!
How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?
The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is commonly between $88 and $111. The correct news, Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help mean 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 detrimental catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it correct to get the suitable code reading and diagnosis.