2013 Acura RDX Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are countless ability causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several natural causes incorporating something as easy as a loose gas cap. Other natural reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty emissions control part, faulty head gasket, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, damaged oxygen sensor, or defective spark plugs to name some. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Acura Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as paramount to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Acura issue was fixed.
Every 2013 Acura RDX was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its troublesome 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 brightens telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what entirely is incorrect nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Crown Acura Richmond 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 professional.
Check Engine Light Service 2013 Acura RDX
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Acura RDX and quickly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Acura owners, your heart sinks a tiny because you have tiny 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 car over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your 2013 Acura RDX checked as soon as feasible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing authentic break to expensive engine components.
When your 2013 Acura RDX's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t noble, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is normally 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 electrical scan tool that is used by our Acura auto repair mechanics at Crown Acura Richmond. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you favor that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced expert to suggest 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. Since all check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. If you check engine light is blinking, we recommend that you pull over and contact Crown Acura Richmond to aid designate if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck.
2013 Acura RDX Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that tiny light on your vehicle’s dashboard quickly flashes, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear prudent 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 RDX. There are hundreds of odd codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a tiny patience, tackling principal diagnostics will give you factual knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is certainly supposed to do: be your guide. Sadly, visible and cooperative vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of convenient OBD codes, there are also hundreds of convenient reasons for the light, including:
- O2 Sensor
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Computer output circuit issues
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Emissions controls issues
- Transmission issues
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Ignition system faults
- Old Battery
This is why it is important for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a risky concern, you risk damaging your car added by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out suddenly by a certified Acura mechanic. Call Crown Acura Richmond at 8043618447 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!
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 appropriately tightened to a more unhealthy failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it helpful to get the fitting code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is commonly between $88 and $111. The helpful news, Crown Acura Richmond offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help determine the cause of your check engine light.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most usually misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2013 Acura RDX is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few conspicuous ways. It can say "Check Engine", it can be a symbol of an engine, it can even be a combination of both. This light lights up 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 2013 Acura RDX. Some of these include ignition timing, controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can pick a variety of distinct things. It can be as easy as your gas cap being loose or as unhealthy as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2013 Acura RDX, contact Crown Acura Richmond. Contact Crown Acura Richmond today! Our Acura 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.
2013 Acura RDX Check Engine Light
If the check engine light in your 2013 Acura RDX starts blinking, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Acura should be brought in rapidly. A blinking light indicates that the problem is alarming and if not taken care of rapidly may result in major damage to the automobile. This blinking light commonly indicates a rigid engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can rapidly increase the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is feasible, requiring an lavish repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can totally be the cause. A bad, classical 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 twinkling, please contact our company of automotive experts at Crown Acura Richmond abruptly by calling 8043618447.
Is it safe to drive your 2013 Acura RDX with the check engine light on?
This question is not incredibly simple because it each 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 travel to work. This is commonly indicated by a consistent glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the car, it could be an indication of a more able problem. If the check engine light is glaring, this means that there is a able issue and it is recommended to service your Acura RDX shortly. Call the experts at Crown Acura Richmond by dialing 8043618447 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2013 Acura to our certified mechanics as soon as definite.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2013 Acura RDX?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as straightforward as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a harsh problem that could cause harsh damage to your engine and come with a large repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A consistent glow typically means something less harsh but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in harsh trouble and service is imperative suddenly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2013 Acura RDX, we especially recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Acura service immediately. Below is a list of the most normal reasons your check engine light can come on:
- Your 2013 Acura RDX has a vacuum leak. Every Acura RDX has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps cut detrimental 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, exceptionally if they’re exposed to forceful heat or extreme cold.
- Your catalytic converter is combative or going combative. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2013 Acura RDX’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 ordinarily caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Crown Acura Richmond offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Acura service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2013 Acura RDX 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 back-up problems from overheating.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be changed. The mass airflow sensor in your Acura RDX 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 factual changes, like altitude. If your Acura RDX is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a hasty change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a combative mass airflow sensor.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are imperative for your 2013 Acura RDX. 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 bring the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If your spark plugs or spark plug wires are combative or old, 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, big to more lavish repairs.
- One of the most plain and many cause is that your 2013 Acura RDX gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2013 Acura RDX 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 combative fuel cap? If your gas cap is old 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 lavish. If your check engine light turns on abruptly after you put gas in your 2013 Acura RDX, first thing you should check is to make fearless the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2013 Acura RDX is every discernible. 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 rate of a new one depends on the type of Acura you drive, but check our existing service coupons and specials.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or back-up item can wreak havoc on your 2013 Acura RDX if it’s not installed well. 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 accepted, bring your RDX to Acura and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed properly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, exceptionally aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a scant bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be changed. 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 less competent 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 2013 Acura RDX's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to find out the decent collection of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A combative O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2013 Acura RDX will usually shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is revamped. 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 real, 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 2013 Acura RDX light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that payment and the light is still on, you will need to bring it in to Crown Acura Richmond so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.