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What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most ordinarily misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2020 VW Jetta GLI is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few 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 GLI. Some of these include controlling engine speed, ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a range of discrete things. It can be as plain as your gas cap being loose or as rigorous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2020 VW Jetta GLI, contact Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta. Contact Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta today! Our VW service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing.

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. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is crucial to predict how diverse miles you can drive with the warning light on. If you check engine light is flashing, we advise that you pull over and contact Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta to help learn if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we advise a tow truck.

Check Engine Light Service 2020 VW Jetta GLI

What do you do when you’re driving along in your VW Jetta GLI and suddenly, a yellow light lights up 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 advise you have to pull the automobile over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your 2020 VW Jetta GLI checked as soon as achievable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing large damage to costly engine parts.

When your 2020 VW Jetta GLI's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t apt, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is constantly 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 comparably bargain 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 expert to mean the issue and repair it.

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 accurately tightened to a more strict failure like a harmful catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it common to get the convenient code reading and diagnosis. The central cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is frequently between $88 and $111. The common news, Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help indicate the cause of your check engine light.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2020 VW Jetta GLI 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 2020 VW Jetta GLI 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.

2020 VW Jetta GLI Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is precarious and if not taken care of promptly may result in abundant wear and tear to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2020 VW Jetta GLI starts flashing, that means that the problem needs prompt attention and your VW should be brought in promptly. This blinking light usually indicates a strict engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be discarded into the exhaust system. There it can quickly hike the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where break is probable, requiring an fancy repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can exactly be the cause. A bad, aged or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. 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 very expensive repair. If your check engine light is twinkling, please contact our team of automotive experts at Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta hastily by calling 7706299081.

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

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 impressive problem that could cause impressive break to your engine and come with a vast repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow mostly means something fewer impressive but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in impressive trouble and service is necessary immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2020 VW Jetta GLI, we extremely advocate not to commute the vehicle and schedule VW service today. Below is a list of the most acceptable reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your 2020 VW Jetta GLI has a vacuum leak. Every VW Jetta GLI has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower 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 dry out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to productive heat or extreme frigid.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are imperative for your 2020 VW Jetta GLI. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of your car. 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 damaging or erstwhile, 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, finest to more expensive repairs.
  • One of the most prevailing and frequent cause is that your 2020 VW Jetta GLI gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2020 VW Jetta GLI 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 damaging fuel cap? If your gas cap is erstwhile 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 abruptly after you put gas in your 2020 VW Jetta GLI, earliest 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.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or distinct item can wreak havoc on your 2020 VW Jetta GLI if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can ditch the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the car from starting. If these issues sound attentive, bring your Jetta GLI to VW 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 parts earliest place might cost a tiny 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 2020 VW Jetta GLI is every difficult. 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 few 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 prevailing service coupons and specials.
  • 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 car will be less direct 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 GLI's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to mean the right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A damaging O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
  • Your catalytic converter is damaging or going damaging. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2020 VW Jetta GLI’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 GLI 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 mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replenished. The mass airflow sensor in your VW Jetta GLI is what determines how much fuel is imperative 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 GLI 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 damaging mass airflow sensor.

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

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a alarming issue and it is recommended to service your VW Jetta GLI rapidly. This question is not very classic because it any 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 commonly indicated by a consistent 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 precarious problem. Call the experts at Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta by dialing 7706299081 so you can describe the issues. Or cut down your speed and bring your 2020 VW to our certified mechanics as soon as achievable.

2020 VW Jetta GLI Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard quickly 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 Jetta GLI. There are hundreds of contrasting codes that your check engine light can indicate. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling essential diagnostics will give you heavy knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is actually supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, contrasting and crucial vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of correct OBD codes, there are also hundreds of correct reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is dangerous for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. 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 mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a risky concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away.

2020 VW Jetta GLI Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are copious ability causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are plentiful traditional causes including something as pure as a loose gas cap. Additional traditional reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, 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 Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as crucial 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 2020 VW Jetta GLI was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its generous systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the electronic control squad. If the electronic control squad 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 altogether is wrong 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 Highly Qualified Service trained.