Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2021 VW Atlas 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 apt, 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 2021 VW Atlas 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.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most consistently misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2021 VW Atlas 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 variety of things for your 2021 VW Atlas. 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 variety of assorted things. It can be as pragmatic as your gas cap being loose or as precarious as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2021 VW Atlas, contact Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta. Our VW service department can help you read what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta today!
How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?
The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is frequently between $88 and $111. The visible news, Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help learn the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not subsequently tightened to a more exceptional failure like a detrimental catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it visible to get the detailed code reading and diagnosis.
2021 VW Atlas Check Engine Light
A flashing light indicates that the problem is precarious and if not taken care of instantly may result in colossal damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2021 VW Atlas starts flashing, that means that the problem needs hasty attention and your VW should be delivered in instantly. This blinking light usually suggests a relentless engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be discharged into the exhaust system. There it can quickly increase the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is suitable, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can altogether be the cause. A bad, historic 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 flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta shortly by calling 7706299081.
Check Engine Light Service 2021 VW Atlas
What do you do when you’re driving along in your VW Atlas and expeditiously, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most VW 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 vehicle over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your 2021 VW Atlas checked as soon as possible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing potent damage to expensive engine components.
When your 2021 VW Atlas's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t acceptable, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is mostly 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 find out 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 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 experienced compelling to imply the issue and repair it.
How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how many miles you can commute 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 find out if your vehicle is safe to commute in or if we advise a tow truck.
Is it safe to drive your 2021 VW Atlas with the check engine light on?
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 protected to drive. This is continuously 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 profound problem. If the check engine light is glaring, this means that there is a profound issue and it is recommended to service your VW Atlas straightaway. Call the experts at Nalley Volkswagen of Alpharetta by dialing 7706299081 so you can describe the issues. Or lower your speed and bring your 2021 VW to our certified mechanics as soon as feasible.
2021 VW Atlas Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that slight light on your vehicle’s dashboard instantly 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 Atlas. There are hundreds of contrasting codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a slight patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you comfortable knowledge about your car and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, evident and helpful car symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of achievable OBD codes, there are also hundreds of achievable reasons for the light, including:
- O2 Sensor
- Computer output circuit issues
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Transmission issues
- Emissions controls issues
- Old Battery
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Ignition system faults
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
This is why it is curious for someone who does not have bountiful 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! If the engine light comes on due to a dangerous concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out rapidly by a certified VW mechanic.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2021 VW Atlas?
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 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 shining check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in hazardous trouble and service is basic quickly. If your check engine light is shining in your 2021 VW Atlas, we extremely advocate not to drive the vehicle and schedule VW service today. Below is a list of the most chummy reasons your check engine light can come on:
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are basic for your 2021 VW Atlas. 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 harmful or historic, 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, dominant to more expensive repairs.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2021 VW Atlas is every miraculous. 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 actually require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of VW you drive, but check our ongoing service coupons and specials.
- Your 2021 VW Atlas has a vacuum leak. Every VW Atlas 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 important heat or extreme chilly.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your VW Atlas is what determines how much fuel is basic 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 authentic changes, like altitude. If your VW Atlas 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 harmful mass airflow sensor.
- Your catalytic converter is harmful or going harmful. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2021 VW Atlas’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 repaired, your 2021 VW Atlas 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.
- One of the most prevalent and innumerable cause is that your 2021 VW Atlas gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2021 VW Atlas 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 harmful fuel cap? If your gas cap is historic 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 immediately after you put gas in your 2021 VW Atlas, 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.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, accepted 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 fewer persuasive 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 2021 VW Atlas's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to suggest the right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A harmful O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or substitute item can wreak havoc on your 2021 VW Atlas if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound effortless, bring your Atlas to VW and have our squad 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 small bit more but could save you money from having to get poor function and damage caused by poor installation function corrected.
2021 VW Atlas Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are countless capability causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several prevailing causes including something as classic as a loose gas cap. Alternative prevailing reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, 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 Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as fundamental 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 2021 VW Atlas was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its major 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 illuminates telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what exactly is erroneous 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 Extraordinarily Qualified Service technical.