2017 BMW X3 Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are several feasible causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several normal causes including something as agreeable as a loose gas cap. Other normal reasons for a Check Engine Light are a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, damaged oxygen sensor, faulty emissions control part, dirty mass airflow sensor, 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 basic 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 2017 BMW X3 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its necessary 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 totally is remorseful 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 Highly Qualified Service mechanical.
How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
If you check engine light is flashing, we advocate that you pull over and contact Richmond BMW Midlothian to assist determine if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we advocate a tow truck. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is crucial to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on. 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.
2017 BMW X3 Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that scant light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly 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 logical as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your X3. There are hundreds of other codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a scant patience, tackling needed diagnostics will give you advantageous 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, unmistakable and practical car symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of sensible OBD codes, there are also hundreds of sensible reasons for the light, including:
- O2 Sensor
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Computer output circuit issues
- Old Battery
- Transmission issues
- Ignition system faults
- Emissions controls issues
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Bad Spark Plugs
This is why it is adequate for someone who does not have a lot 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! When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out instantly by a certified BMW mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a draconian concern, you risk damaging your car extra by not repairing the issue right away.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2017 BMW X3?
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 threatening problem that could cause threatening damage to your engine and come with a sizable repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow commonly means something less threatening but a flashing check engine light expresses that your vehicle’s engine is in threatening trouble and service is mandatory promptly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2017 BMW X3, we highly advise not to drive the vehicle and schedule BMW service now. Below is a list of the most ongoing reasons your check engine light can come on:
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are crucial for your 2017 BMW X3. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel collection 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 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, first-rate to more fancy repairs.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2017 BMW X3 is every major. 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 sophisticated service coupons and specials.
- Your 2017 BMW X3 has a vacuum leak. Every BMW X3 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 barren out and crack, hugely if they’re exposed to intense heat or extreme frosty.
- Issues with each aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or added item can wreak havoc on your 2017 BMW X3 if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can ditch the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound affectionate, deliver your X3 to BMW and have our unit of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed perfectly and aren't causing each issue. Getting accessories, hugely aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts original 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.
- Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2017 BMW X3’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 2017 BMW X3 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 added problems from overheating.
- One of the most normal and frequent cause is that your 2017 BMW X3 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2017 BMW X3 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 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 fancy. If your check engine light turns on straightaway after you put gas in your 2017 BMW X3, original thing you should check is to make convinced 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, 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 fewer effective 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 2017 BMW X3's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to designate the right collection 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.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your BMW X3 is what determines how much fuel is crucial 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 conclusive changes, like altitude. If your BMW X3 is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a abrupt change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2017 BMW X3 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 normal, 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 2017 BMW X3 light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that dump 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.
Check Engine Light Service 2017 BMW X3
What do you do when you’re driving along in your BMW X3 and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most BMW owners, your heart sinks a scant because you have scant idea about what that light is trying to tell you or how you should react. The fear of the unknown (or the rate 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 2017 BMW X3 checked as soon as feasible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing dominant damage to expensive engine components.
When your 2017 BMW X3's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t common, 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 read with an electronic inspect tool that is used by our BMW auto repair mechanics at Richmond BMW Midlothian. There are also a number of rather inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you select that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to designate 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 alarming failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it confident to get the prudent code reading and diagnosis. The middle cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is generally between $88 and $111. The confident news, Richmond BMW Midlothian offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help opt for the cause of your check engine light.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most ordinarily misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2017 BMW X3 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few other 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 2017 BMW X3. 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 distinctive things. It can be as plain as your gas cap being loose or as unhealthy as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2017 BMW X3, contact Richmond BMW Midlothian. Our BMW service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or scan why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Richmond BMW Midlothian today!
Is it safe to drive your 2017 BMW X3 with the check engine light on?
This question is not extremely accepted 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 mostly 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 alarming problem. If the check engine light is glaring, this means that there is a alarming issue and it is recommended to service your BMW X3 suddenly. Call the specialists at Richmond BMW Midlothian by dialing 8043618758 so you can describe the issues. Or lessen your speed and bring your 2017 BMW to our certified mechanics as soon as conceivable.
2017 BMW X3 Check Engine Light
A flashing light illustrates that the problem is perilous and if not taken care of shortly may result in gigantic damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2017 BMW X3 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your BMW should be transported in shortly. This blinking light usually expresses a relentless engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be ejected into the exhaust system. There it can urgently boost the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is accessible, requiring an costly repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can completely be the cause. A harmful, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our company of automotive experts at Richmond BMW Midlothian now by calling 8043618758. 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.