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What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 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 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 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300. Some of these include controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of different things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as serious as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300, contact Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce. Our Mercedes-Benz service department can help you read what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce today!
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Check Engine Light
If the check engine light in your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 starts blinking, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Mercedes-Benz should be brought in shortly. A blinking light indicates that the problem is perilous and if not taken care of shortly may result in major break to the vehicle. This blinking light usually indicates a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can quickly raise 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 absolutely be the cause. A bad, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our department of automotive veterans at Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce rapidly 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.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 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 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.
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 Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce to help represent if your vehicle is protected to commute in or if we recommend a tow truck. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. Since any check engine code has its own level of severity, it is meaningful to predict how many miles you can commute with the warning light on.
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 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 several common causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other common reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, 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 Mercedes-Benz Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as needed 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 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 vehicle on its crucial 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 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; 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 Highly Qualified Service professional.
Check Engine Light Service Mercedes-Benz GLC 300
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates 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 cost 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 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 checked as soon as possible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.
When your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300'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 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 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 issue and repair it.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a Mercedes-Benz GLC 300?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as simple as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a serious problem that could cause serious damage to your engine and come with a hefty repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow typically means something less serious but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in serious trouble and service is needed immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300, we highly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Mercedes-Benz service today. Below is a list of the most common reasons your check engine light can come on:
- Your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 has a vacuum leak. Every Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 has a vacuum system that performs a roomy variation of functions. The vacuum system also helps cut down 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 bare out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to important heat or extreme cold.
- One of the most pure and countless cause is that your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 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 former 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 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300, authentic thing you should check is to make satisfied the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump. 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 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to find out the honorable variation of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A bad O2 sensor can also cause a vehicle to fail an emissions test.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or added item can wreak havoc on your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 if it’s not installed accurately. These aftermarket components and accessories can discard the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even avert the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound aware, bring your GLC 300 to Mercedes-Benz 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 components authentic place might cost a miniature bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 is every important. Without a vehicle battery, your vehicle won’t start, light up the road ahead, play the radio or charge your phone. Today’s vehicle batteries last much longer than they did a miniature decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The estimate of a new one depends on the type of Mercedes-Benz you drive, but check our commonplace service coupons and specials.
- 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 mandatory to run your engine efficiently by measuring the sum of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to fearless changes, same altitude. If your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a immediate change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
- Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 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 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 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 added problems from overheating.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, pure as the O2 sensor, measures the sum of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be less productive when it comes to fuel economy.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are mandatory for your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel variation 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 former, you will experience poor performance and reduced power. In a miniature 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.
How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?
The central estimate for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is continuously between $88 and $111. The definite news, Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help opt for 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 precarious failure identical a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it definite to get the common code reading and diagnosis.
Is it safe to drive your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 with the check engine light on?
This question is not very effortless 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 travel to work. This is typically indicated by a dependable 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 severe problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a severe issue and it is recommended to service your Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 suddenly. Call the experts at Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce by dialing 7725772694 so you can describe the issues. Or lessen your speed and bring your Mercedes-Benz to our certified mechanics as soon as available.
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 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 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 GLC 300. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can 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 Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, obvious and helpful 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
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Computer output circuit issues
- Emissions controls issues
- Transmission issues
- O2 Sensor