Please wait while the page loads...

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

Since any check engine code has its own level of severity, it is troublesome to predict how bountiful miles you can drive with the warning light on. If you check engine light is glaring, we advise that you pull over and contact Richmond BMW Midlothian to help choose if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we advise a tow truck. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be changed. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly.

2016 BMW 325i 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 several commonplace causes including something as classic as a loose gas cap. Substitute commonplace reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, faulty emissions control part, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty head gasket, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, or defective spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the BMW Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as essential to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your BMW issue was fixed.

Every 2016 BMW 325i was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its natural systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the electrical control unit. If the electrical 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 strictly is mistaken nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Richmond BMW Midlothian provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Greatly Qualified Service trained.

2016 BMW 325i Check Engine Light

A flashing light expresses that the problem is threatening and if not taken care of shortly may result in mighty damage to the automobile. If the check engine light in your 2016 BMW 325i starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your BMW should be brought in shortly. This blinking light often illustrates a scrupulous engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be deposited into the exhaust system. There it can immediately enhance the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where wear and tear is attainable, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can strictly be the cause. A bad, 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 fancy repair. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our squad of automotive experts at Richmond BMW Midlothian immediately by calling 8043618758.

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 subsequently tightened to a more hazardous failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it exceptional to get the innate code reading and diagnosis. The middle cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is commonly between $88 and $111. The exceptional news, Richmond BMW Midlothian offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help designate the cause of your check engine light.

Check Engine Light Service 2016 BMW 325i

What do you do when you’re driving along in your BMW 325i and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most BMW 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 select 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 BMW 325i checked as soon as viable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.

When your 2016 BMW 325i's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t correct, 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 find out with an electronic scan tool that is used by our BMW auto repair mechanics at Richmond BMW Midlothian. There are also a number of relatively cheap 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 technical to find out the issue and repair it.

2016 BMW 325i Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that microscopic light on your vehicle’s dashboard expeditiously lights up, 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 325i. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a microscopic patience, tackling main diagnostics will give you accessible knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is genuinely supposed to do: be your guide. Sadly, distinct and accessible vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of cheap OBD codes, there are also hundreds of cheap reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is direct for someone who does not have a few of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. Call Richmond BMW Midlothian at 8043618758 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! If the engine light comes on due to a perilous concern, you risk harmful your car extra by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out instantly by a certified BMW mechanic.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2016 BMW 325i 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 several 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 BMW 325i 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 Richmond BMW Midlothian so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2016 BMW 325i?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as accepted as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a unhealthy problem that could cause unhealthy damage to your engine and come with a rare repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow naturally means something fewer unhealthy but a flashing check engine light expresses that your vehicle’s engine is in unhealthy trouble and service is decisive immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2016 BMW 325i, we extraordinarily advise not to drive the vehicle and schedule BMW service straightaway. Below is a list of the most prevalent reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2016 BMW 325i is every alluring. 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 BMW you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are basic for your 2016 BMW 325i. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel variety 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 popular, 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, considerable to more expensive repairs.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak havoc on your 2016 BMW 325i if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can discard the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound simple, bring your 325i to BMW 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 parts earliest place might cost a small bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • Your 2016 BMW 325i has a vacuum leak. Every BMW 325i has a vacuum system that performs a wide collection 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 intense heat or extreme bleak.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be changed. The mass airflow sensor in your BMW 325i 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 feasible changes, like altitude. If your BMW 325i 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 bad mass airflow sensor.
  • One of the most simple and frequent cause is that your 2016 BMW 325i gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2016 BMW 325i 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 popular 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 straightaway after you put gas in your 2016 BMW 325i, earliest 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 catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2016 BMW 325i’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 Richmond BMW Midlothian offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every BMW service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2016 BMW 325i 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 other problems from overheating.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be changed. 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 less feasible 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 BMW 325i's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the right variety 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.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most frequently misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2016 BMW 325i is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few divergent 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 car. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored car performance since the 80s and do a variety of things for your 2016 BMW 325i. Some of these include shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, controlling engine speed, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a assortment of numerous things. It can be as straightforward as your gas cap being loose or as risky as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2016 BMW 325i, contact Richmond BMW Midlothian. Contact Richmond BMW Midlothian today! Our BMW 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.

Is it safe to drive your 2016 BMW 325i with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a effective issue and it is recommended to service your BMW 325i swiftly. This question is not very common 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 strong to drive. This is usually indicated by a logical glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the automobile, it could be an indication of a more visible problem. Call the experts at Richmond BMW Midlothian by dialing 8043618758 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and deliver your 2016 BMW to our certified mechanics as soon as compelling.