Is it safe to drive your Mercedes-Benz SL 550 with the check engine light on?
If the check engine light is blinking, this means that there is a threatening issue and it is recommended to service your Mercedes-Benz SL 550 instantly. 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 drive. 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 serious problem. Call the mentors at Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce by dialing 7725772694 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your Mercedes-Benz to our certified mechanics as soon as handy.
Mercedes-Benz SL 550 Check Engine Light
A glaring light indicates that the problem is severe and if not taken care of shortly may result in gargantuan damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your Mercedes-Benz SL 550 starts glaring, that means that the problem needs hasty attention and your Mercedes-Benz should be brought in shortly. This blinking light frequently indicates a strict engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be jettisoned into the exhaust system. There it can immediately surge the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is attainable, requiring an lavish repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can certainly be the cause. A bad, aged or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is blinking, please contact our team of automotive experts 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.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most generally misunderstood lights or indicators in your Mercedes-Benz SL 550 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few definitive ways. It can say "Check Engine", it can be a symbol of an engine, it can even be a combination of both. This light brightens in either an amber or red color and is part of the diagnostics system found on your automobile. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored automobile performance since the 80s and do a variety of things for your Mercedes-Benz SL 550. 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 represent a variety of divergent things. It can be as authentic as your gas cap being loose or as unsafe as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Mercedes-Benz SL 550, 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 observe why your check engine light is flashing.
Mercedes-Benz SL 550 Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that slight 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 SL 550. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a slight patience, tackling basic 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. Unfortunately, distinct and cooperative 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:
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Bad Spark Plugs
- O2 Sensor
- Ignition system faults
- Computer output circuit issues
- Emissions controls issues
- Old Battery
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Transmission issues
This is why it is large for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. Call Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce at 7725772694 at this moment or schedule your check engine light service online today! If the engine light comes on due to a strict concern, you risk damaging your car added by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out quickly by a certified Mercedes-Benz mechanic.
How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy appropriately. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce to aid imply 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 hard to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a Mercedes-Benz SL 550?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as confident as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a alarming problem that could cause alarming damage to your engine and come with a major repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow generally means something fewer alarming but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in alarming trouble and service is imperative immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your Mercedes-Benz SL 550, we extremely recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Mercedes-Benz service today. Below is a list of the most confident reasons your check engine light can come on:
- Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Mercedes-Benz SL 550’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 SL 550 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 distinctive problems from overheating.
- Your Mercedes-Benz SL 550 has a vacuum leak. Every Mercedes-Benz SL 550 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 dry out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to afraid heat or extreme congenial.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Mercedes-Benz SL 550 is every principal. 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 various decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Mercedes-Benz you drive, but check our present 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 extensive 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 Mercedes-Benz SL 550's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to designate the right mixture 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.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your Mercedes-Benz SL 550. 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 aged, 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, preeminent to more expensive repairs.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Mercedes-Benz SL 550 is what determines how much fuel is needed 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 precise changes, like altitude. If your Mercedes-Benz SL 550 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.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or distinctive item can wreak havoc on your Mercedes-Benz SL 550 if it’s not installed appropriately. These aftermarket parts and accessories can discard the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound natural, bring your SL 550 to Mercedes-Benz and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed well 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.
- One of the most legal and frequent cause is that your Mercedes-Benz SL 550 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Mercedes-Benz SL 550 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 aged 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 Mercedes-Benz SL 550, 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.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your Mercedes-Benz SL 550 will ordinarily shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is revamped. 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 efficient, 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 SL 550 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 Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.
How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?
The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is typically between $88 and $111. The positive news, Mercedes-Benz of Fort Pierce offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to aid determine the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not correctly tightened to a more exceptional failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it positive to get the constitutional code reading and diagnosis.
Mercedes-Benz SL 550 Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are plentiful potential causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are innumerable regular causes including something as natural as a loose gas cap. Discrete regular reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, damaged oxygen sensor, or defective spark plugs to name different. 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 mandatory 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 SL 550 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 lights up telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what strictly is erroneous 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 Immensely Qualified Service experienced.
Check Engine Light Service Mercedes-Benz SL 550
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Mercedes-Benz SL 550 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 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 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 SL 550 checked as soon as essential. Ignoring that warning could end up causing primary damage to expensive engine components.
When your Mercedes-Benz SL 550's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electrical control system that it can’t relevant, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is commonly 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 learn with an computerized probe 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 skilled professional to learn the issue and repair it.