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Check Engine Light Service 2014 Acura MDX

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Acura MDX and urgently, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Acura owners, your heart sinks a small because you have small idea about what that light is trying to tell you or how you should react. The fear of the unknown (or the estimate 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 2014 Acura MDX checked as soon as achievable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing extensive damage to expensive engine components.

When your 2014 Acura MDX'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 naturally 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 audit tool that is used by our Acura auto repair mechanics at Crown Acura Richmond. There are also a number of somewhat inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you mean that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to mean the issue and repair it.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most mostly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2014 Acura MDX is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few different 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 mixture of things for your 2014 Acura MDX. 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 mean a assortment of confident things. It can be as uncomplicated as your gas cap being loose or as active as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2014 Acura MDX, contact Crown Acura Richmond. Our Acura service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or audit why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Crown Acura Richmond today!

Is it safe to drive your 2014 Acura MDX with the check engine light on?

This question is not very common 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 safe to commute. This is typically 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 relentless problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a relentless issue and it is recommended to service your Acura MDX instantly. Call the advisors at Crown Acura Richmond by dialing 8043618447 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and deliver your 2014 Acura to our certified mechanics as soon as potential.

2014 Acura MDX Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is unsafe and if not taken care of quickly may result in major damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2014 Acura MDX starts flashing, that means that the problem needs sudden attention and your Acura should be brought in quickly. This blinking light mostly implies a exacting engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be drained into the exhaust system. There it can rapidly enhance the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is viable, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can solely be the cause. A bad, long-established 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 department of automotive experts at Crown Acura Richmond immediately by calling 8043618447.

2014 Acura MDX Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are copious attainable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several common causes including something as effortless as a loose gas cap. Back-up common reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty head gasket, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, 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 Acura Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as needed 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 2014 Acura MDX was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its difficult 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 precisely is erroneous 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 Exceedingly Qualified Service effective.

How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?

The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is commonly between $88 and $111. The astonishing news, Crown Acura Richmond offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help read the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not correctly tightened to a more precarious failure like a destructive catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it astonishing to get the correct code reading and diagnosis.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2014 Acura MDX 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 productive, 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 2014 Acura MDX light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that deposit 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.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2014 Acura MDX?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as honest as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a perilous problem that could cause perilous damage to your engine and come with a major repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A common glow generally means something less perilous but a flashing check engine light hints that your vehicle’s engine is in perilous trouble and service is crucial immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2014 Acura MDX, we tremendously recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Acura service today. Below is a list of the most prevalent reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Acura MDX is what determines how much fuel is imperative to run your engine efficiently by measuring the sum 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 Acura MDX 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.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are imperative for your 2014 Acura MDX. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel collection 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 bad or departed, 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, fundamental to more expensive repairs.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, known as the O2 sensor, measures the sum of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your automobile will be less correct 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 2014 Acura MDX's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the humane 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.
  • One of the most common and frequent cause is that your 2014 Acura MDX gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2014 Acura MDX 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 departed 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 swiftly after you put gas in your 2014 Acura MDX, original thing you should check is to make hopeful the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak havoc on your 2014 Acura MDX if it’s not installed well. These aftermarket elements and accessories can discharge the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the automobile from starting. If these issues sound favored, bring your MDX to Acura and have our unit of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed perfectly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, chiefly aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM elements original 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.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2014 Acura MDX is every troublesome. 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 estimate of a new one depends on the type of Acura you drive, but check our actual service coupons and specials.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2014 Acura MDX’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 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 2014 Acura MDX 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 2014 Acura MDX has a vacuum leak. Every Acura MDX has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower treacherous 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, chiefly if they’re exposed to extraordinary heat or extreme fast.

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

If you check engine light is flashing, we advise that you pull over and contact Crown Acura Richmond to help elect for if your vehicle is reliable to drive in or if we advise a tow truck. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is critical 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 interchanged. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly.

2014 Acura MDX Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that slight light on your vehicle’s dashboard hastily lights up, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear noble 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 acknowledged as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your MDX. There are hundreds of specific codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a slight patience, tackling difficult diagnostics will give you essential knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is surely supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, distinct and useful vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of likely OBD codes, there are also hundreds of likely reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is ecstatic for someone who does not have assorted of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. Call Crown Acura Richmond at 8043618447 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! If the engine light comes on due to a alarming concern, you risk damaging your car extra by not repairing the issue noble away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out promptly by a certified Acura mechanic.