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How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?

It could be anything from a harmful sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. If you check engine light is flashing, we advise that you pull over and contact Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta to help pick if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we advise a tow truck. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how plentiful miles you can drive with the warning light on.

2020 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 suddenly illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear correct 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 different codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a microscopic patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you accessible knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is exclusively supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, understandable and handy vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of logical OBD codes, there are also hundreds of logical reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is intense for someone who does not have copious of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a critical concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue proper away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out quickly by a certified VW mechanic. Call Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta at 7706299081 straightaway or schedule your check engine light service online today!

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2020 VW Jetta?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as authentic 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 wear and tear to your engine and come with a astonishing repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow mostly means something less alarming but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in alarming trouble and service is mandatory instantly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2020 VW Jetta, we exceedingly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule VW service now. Below is a list of the most innate reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replenished. The mass airflow sensor in your VW Jetta is what determines how much fuel is decisive 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 practical changes, like altitude. If your VW Jetta is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a hasty change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2020 VW Jetta is every evident. 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 little decades ago, and they don't really 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 catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2020 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 usually 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 2020 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 substitute problems from overheating.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are decisive for your 2020 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 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, big to more pricey repairs.
  • One of the most ongoing and frequent cause is that your 2020 VW Jetta gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2020 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 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 pricey. If your check engine light turns on immediately after you put gas in your 2020 VW Jetta, first thing you should check is to make hopeful the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
  • Your 2020 VW Jetta has a vacuum leak. Every VW Jetta has a vacuum system that performs a wide mixture of functions. The vacuum system also helps reduction in cost 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 intense heat or extreme exasperated.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or substitute item can wreak havoc on your 2020 VW Jetta if it’s not installed correctly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can ditch the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even avoid the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound ongoing, bring your Jetta to VW and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed properly 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 O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replenished. 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 convenient 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 2020 VW Jetta's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to opt for the honest 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.

2020 VW Jetta Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are many potential causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several usual causes including something as straightforward as a loose gas cap. Substitute usual reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty head gasket, damaged oxygen sensor, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, or defective spark plugs to name a little. 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 2020 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 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 flashes 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 persuasive.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2020 VW Jetta is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a little 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 2020 VW Jetta. Some of these include ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, and implementing stability control, just to name assorted. With that being said, the check engine light can indicate a variety of different things. It can be as classic as your gas cap being loose or as compelling as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2020 VW Jetta, 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 probe why your check engine light is twinkling.

2020 VW Jetta Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2020 VW Jetta starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your VW should be brought in urgently. A flashing light indicates that the problem is risky and if not taken care of urgently may result in critical damage to the vehicle. This shining light frequently indicates a rigorous engine misfire allowing unused fuel to be ejected into the exhaust system. There it can promptly expand the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is conceivable, 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, former 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 very expensive repair. If your check engine light is twinkling, please contact our department of automotive experts at Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta swiftly by calling 7706299081.

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

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

Is it safe to drive your 2020 VW Jetta with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a critical issue and it is recommended to service your VW Jetta immediately. This question is not very apparent 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 persistent 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 vital 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 2020 VW to our certified mechanics as soon as possible.

Check Engine Light Service 2020 VW Jetta

What do you do when you’re driving along in your VW Jetta and now, 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 vehicle over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your 2020 VW Jetta checked as soon as probable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing dominant damage to expensive engine parts.

When your 2020 VW Jetta's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the computerized control system that it can’t honest, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is customarily 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 VW auto repair mechanics at Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta. There are also a number of relatively miniature code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you favor that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an skilled expert to learn the issue and repair it.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2020 VW Jetta will constantly 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 2020 VW Jetta 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.