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What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most consistently misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2017 BMW X5 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a lot additional 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 X5. Some of these include ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, and implementing stability control, just to name several. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of further things. It can be as classic as your gas cap being loose or as alarming as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2017 BMW X5, contact Richmond BMW Midlothian. Our BMW service department can help you learn what code is turning your check engine light on or inspect why your check engine light is shining. Contact Richmond BMW Midlothian today!

2017 BMW X5 Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are countless attainable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are a few established causes including something as classic as a loose gas cap. Other established reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen sensor, 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 crucial 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 X5 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its mandatory 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 lights up 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 inaccurate 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 Remarkably Qualified Service expert.

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 risky failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it awesome to get the common code reading and diagnosis. The middle price for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is frequently between $88 and $111. The awesome news, Richmond BMW Midlothian offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help find out the cause of your check engine light.

Check Engine Light Service 2017 BMW X5

What do you do when you’re driving along in your BMW X5 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 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 2017 BMW X5 checked as soon as conceivable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing vital wear and tear to fancy engine components.

When your 2017 BMW X5's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t cheap, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is frequently 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 learn with an electronic probe tool that is used by our BMW auto repair mechanics at Richmond BMW Midlothian. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you pick that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an trained professional to embrace the issue and repair it.

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

If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Richmond BMW Midlothian to help learn if your automobile is secure to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. It could be anything from a destructive sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy properly. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is hard to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2017 BMW X5?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as effortless as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a strict problem that could cause strict 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 typically means something less strict but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in strict trouble and service is fundamental swiftly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2017 BMW X5, we particularly represent not to drive the vehicle and schedule BMW service today. Below is a list of the most effortless reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • One of the most effortless and frequent cause is that your 2017 BMW X5 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2017 BMW X5 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 detrimental fuel cap? If your gas cap is former 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 2017 BMW X5, first 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 catalytic converter is detrimental or going detrimental. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2017 BMW X5’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 revamped, your 2017 BMW X5 will not pass an emissions test, show a lack of engine performance and will negatively affect your fuel economy. Your automobile may run at a higher temperature, too, which can cause different problems from overheating.
  • 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 automobile will be less possible 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 X5'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 detrimental O2 sensor can also cause a automobile to fail an emissions test.
  • The battery is meager or dead. The battery in your 2017 BMW X5 is every efficient. Without a automobile battery, your automobile won’t start, light up the road ahead, play the radio or charge your phone. Today’s automobile batteries last much longer than they did a few decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The rate of a new one depends on the type of BMW you commute, but check our ongoing service coupons and specials.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your BMW X5 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 confident changes, like altitude. If your BMW X5 is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a rapid change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a detrimental mass airflow sensor.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or different item can wreak havoc on your 2017 BMW X5 if it’s not installed perfectly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can discard the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even avoid the automobile from starting. If these issues sound natural, bring your X5 to BMW 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 scanty work and damage caused by scanty installation work corrected.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are crucial for your 2017 BMW X5. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of your automobile. 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 detrimental or former, you will experience scanty 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, large to more expensive repairs.
  • Your 2017 BMW X5 has a vacuum leak. Every BMW X5 has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps reduce 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 intense heat or extreme delightful.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2017 BMW X5 will frequently shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is repaired. 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 2017 BMW X5 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.

2017 BMW X5 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 commonplace as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your X5. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a scant patience, tackling main diagnostics will give you positive knowledge about your car and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is actually supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, distinguishable and competent car symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of capacity OBD codes, there are also hundreds of capacity reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is treacherous for someone who does not have various 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 rapidly by a certified BMW mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a unhealthy concern, you risk bad your car further by not repairing the issue right away.

Is it safe to drive your 2017 BMW X5 with the check engine light on?

This question is not very easy 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 consistently indicated by a dependable 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 specific problem. If the check engine light is blinking, this means that there is a specific issue and it is recommended to service your BMW X5 rapidly. Call the experts at Richmond BMW Midlothian by dialing 8043618758 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and transport your 2017 BMW to our certified mechanics as soon as consistent.

2017 BMW X5 Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2017 BMW X5 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs quick attention and your BMW should be brought in urgently. A flashing light indicates that the problem is powerful and if not taken care of urgently may result in central damage to the vehicle. This twinkling light usually illustrates a draconian engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be ditched into the exhaust system. There it can quickly surge the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an fancy repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can certainly be the cause. A destructive, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Richmond BMW Midlothian quickly 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 costly repair.