How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
If you check engine light is flashing, we advise that you pull over and contact Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta to help imply if your vehicle is dependable to drive in or if we advise a tow truck. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is hard to predict how bountiful miles you can drive with the warning light on. 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.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most generally misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2016 VW Jetta is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few diverse 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 collection of things for your 2016 VW Jetta. 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 designate a collection of other things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as precarious as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2016 VW Jetta, contact Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta. Our VW service department can help you learn what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta today!
2016 VW Jetta Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that microscopic light on your vehicle’s dashboard immediately 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 known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Jetta. There are hundreds of contrasting codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a microscopic patience, tackling vital diagnostics will give you justifiable 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, coherent and cooperative vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of available OBD codes, there are also hundreds of available reasons for the light, including:
- Emissions controls issues
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Ignition system faults
- Transmission issues
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- O2 Sensor
- Old Battery
- Computer output circuit issues
- Bad Spark Plugs
This is why it is crucial for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a precarious concern, you risk damaging your car additional by not repairing the issue honorable away. Call Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta at 7706299081 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 VW technician.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2016 VW Jetta 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 possible, 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 2016 VW Jetta light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that reward 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.
2016 VW Jetta Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are countless capacity causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are a few detectable causes including something as detectable as a loose gas cap. Added detectable reasons for a Check Engine Light are a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen sensor, 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 VW Certified Mechanics and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as imperative 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 serviced.
Every 2016 VW Jetta was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its laborious systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the computerized control company. If the computerized control company 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 precisely is awry 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 Tremendously Qualified Service professional.
How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?
The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is continually between $88 and $111. The accomplished news, Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta 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 hazardous failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it accomplished to get the suitable code reading and diagnosis.
2016 VW Jetta Check Engine Light
If the check engine light in your 2016 VW Jetta starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your VW should be brought in immediately. A flashing light expresses that the problem is scrupulous and if not taken care of immediately may result in major damage to the car. This flashing light usually implies a perilous engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be jettisoned into the exhaust system. There it can rapidly improve 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 exactly 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 unit of automotive experts at Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta instantly by calling 7706299081. If the problem is ignored or you continue to commute, this can spread to the spark plug wires, catalytic converter, or ignition coils which can lead to a incredibly expensive repair.
Is it safe to drive your 2016 VW Jetta with the check engine light on?
If the check engine light is twinkling, this means that there is a risky issue and it is recommended to service your VW Jetta quickly. This question is not very straightforward 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 secure 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 critical problem. Call the experts at Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta by dialing 7706299081 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2016 VW to our certified mechanics as soon as handy.
Check Engine Light Service 2016 VW Jetta
What do you do when you’re driving along in your VW Jetta and abruptly, a yellow light flashes on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most VW owners, your heart sinks a tiny because you have tiny idea about what that light is trying to tell you or how you should react. The fear of the unknown (or the price 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 2016 VW Jetta checked as soon as detailed. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.
When your 2016 VW Jetta's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic 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 electronic scan tool that is used by our VW auto repair mechanics at Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta. There are also a number of rather inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you pick that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced effective to determine the issue and repair it.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2016 VW Jetta?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as uncomplicated 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 enormous repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow commonly means something less hazardous but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in hazardous trouble and service is needed at this moment. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2016 VW Jetta, we highly endorse not to commute the vehicle and schedule VW service today. Below is a list of the most sufficient reasons your check engine light can come on:
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your VW Jetta 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 certain changes, like altitude. If your VW Jetta is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a precipitous change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
- Your 2016 VW Jetta has a vacuum leak. Every VW Jetta has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps cut destructive 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, highly if they’re exposed to exciting heat or extreme cold.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are fundamental for your 2016 VW Jetta. 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 departed, 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, leading to more fancy repairs.
- One of the most uncomplicated and frequent cause is that your 2016 VW Jetta gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2016 VW Jetta 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 departed 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 fancy. If your check engine light turns on swiftly after you put gas in your 2016 VW Jetta, first 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.
- Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2016 VW Jetta’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 repaired, your 2016 VW Jetta 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 distinct problems from overheating.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, acknowledged 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 efficient 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 2016 VW Jetta's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to indicate the proper 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.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or distinct item can wreak havoc on your 2016 VW Jetta if it’s not installed correctly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even impede the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound conscious, bring your Jetta to VW and have our department of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, highly 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.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2016 VW Jetta is every breathtaking. 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 lot decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of VW you drive, but check our modern service coupons and specials.