Please wait while the page loads...

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most usually misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2014 VW Beetle is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few various 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 mixture of things for your 2014 VW Beetle. 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 mean a range of clear things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as relentless as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2014 VW Beetle, contact Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta. Contact Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta today! Our VW service department can help you read what code is turning your check engine light on or inspect why your check engine light is flashing.

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

The intermediate cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is mostly between $88 and $111. The marvelous news, Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to aid opt for the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not appropriately tightened to a more scrupulous failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it marvelous to get the constitutional code reading and diagnosis.

2014 VW Beetle Check Engine Light Flashing

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

Every 2014 VW Beetle was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the car on its necessary systems. The sensors are frequently 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 explicitly is amiss nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta 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 professional.

Check Engine Light Service 2014 VW Beetle

What do you do when you’re driving along in your VW Beetle and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most VW 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 2014 VW Beetle checked as soon as likely. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine parts.

When your 2014 VW Beetle's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t decent, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is generally 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 electrical probe tool that is used by our VW auto repair mechanics at Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta. There are also a number of somewhat inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you prefer that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced experienced to mean the issue and repair it.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2014 VW Beetle?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as pure as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a hazardous problem that could cause hazardous damage to your engine and come with a extraordinary repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A essential glow customarily means something less hazardous but a flashing check engine light illustrates that your vehicle’s engine is in hazardous trouble and service is fundamental rapidly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2014 VW Beetle, we highly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule VW service today. Below is a list of the most classic reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2014 VW Beetle is every relentless. 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 some decades ago, and they don't certainly require maintenance. The cost of a new one depends on the type of VW you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, admitted 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 pragmatic 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 2014 VW Beetle's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to opt for the noble mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A detrimental O2 sensor can also cause a vehicle to fail an emissions test.
  • One of the most prevalent and copious cause is that your 2014 VW Beetle gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2014 VW Beetle 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 detrimental 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 rapidly after you put gas in your 2014 VW Beetle, 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.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are fundamental for your 2014 VW Beetle. 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 detrimental 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, primary to more expensive repairs.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or different item can wreak havoc on your 2014 VW Beetle if it’s not installed subsequently. These aftermarket elements and accessories can deposit the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound commonplace, bring your Beetle to VW and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed accurately and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM elements authentic 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 mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your VW Beetle is what determines how much fuel is fundamental 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 conclusive changes, like altitude. If your VW Beetle 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 detrimental mass airflow sensor.
  • Your 2014 VW Beetle has a vacuum leak. Every VW Beetle has a vacuum system that performs a expanded fluctuate 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 barren out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to important heat or extreme cold.
  • Your catalytic converter is detrimental or going detrimental. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2014 VW Beetle’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 Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every VW service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it fixed, your 2014 VW Beetle 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 different problems from overheating.

2014 VW Beetle Check Engine Light

A flashing light expresses that the problem is strict and if not taken care of shortly may result in direct damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2014 VW Beetle starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your VW should be brought in shortly. This blinking light normally indicates a strict engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can abruptly boost the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is feasible, requiring an costly repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can totally be the cause. A harmful, erstwhile 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 costly repair. If your check engine light is blinking, please contact our company of automotive experts at Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta immediately by calling 7706299081.

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 every check engine code has its own level of severity, it is troublesome to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. If you check engine light is twinkling, we determine that you pull over and contact Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta to help read if your car is safe to drive in or if we determine a tow truck.

Is it safe to drive your 2014 VW Beetle with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is glaring, this means that there is a persuasive issue and it is recommended to service your VW Beetle quickly. 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 drive. This is customarily 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 effective problem. Call the advisors at Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta by dialing 7706299081 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2014 VW to our certified mechanics as soon as feasible.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2014 VW Beetle will usually 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 accessible, 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 2014 VW Beetle 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 Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

2014 VW Beetle 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 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 established as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Beetle. There are hundreds of numerous codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a few patience, tackling imperative diagnostics will give you convenient knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is certainly supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, pronounced and convenient vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of practical OBD codes, there are also hundreds of practical reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is main for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out promptly by a certified VW mechanic. Call Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta at 7706299081 today 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 additional by not repairing the issue feasible away.