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

This question is not very cordial 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 travel to work. This is constantly indicated by a steady 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 unhealthy problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a unhealthy issue and it is recommended to service your Acura RDX urgently. Call the consultants at Crown Acura Richmond by dialing 8043618447 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your Acura to our certified mechanics as soon as possible.

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 hastily flashes, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear honest 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 classical as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your RDX. There are hundreds of distinctive codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a tiny patience, tackling common diagnostics will give you convenient knowledge about your automobile and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, clear and convenient automobile symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of conceivable OBD codes, there are also hundreds of conceivable reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is dramatic for someone who does not have a few 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 relentless concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out instantly by a certified Acura mechanic.

Check Engine Light Service 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 slight because you have slight 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 Acura RDX checked as soon as functional. Ignoring that warning could end up causing big break to expensive engine components.

When your 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 polite, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is usually 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 scan tool that is used by our Acura auto repair mechanics at Crown Acura Richmond. There are also a number of comparably inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you illustrate that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an trained high-tech to illustrate the issue and repair it.

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

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as classic as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a dangerous problem that could cause dangerous break to your engine and come with a astonishing repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow commonly means something less dangerous but a twinkling check engine light expresses that your vehicle’s engine is in dangerous trouble and service is essential instantly. If your check engine light is twinkling in your Acura RDX, we hugely recommend not to commute the vehicle and schedule Acura service now. Below is a list of the most accepted reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, noted as the O2 sensor, measures the reward of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be less practical 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 Acura RDX's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to pick the noble mixture 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.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or additional item can wreak havoc on your Acura RDX if it’s not installed correctly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound plain, bring your RDX to Acura and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost some bit more but could save you money from having to get poor function and damage caused by poor installation function corrected.
  • One of the most real and countless cause is that your Acura RDX gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 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 bad 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 costly. If your check engine light turns on shortly after you put gas in your 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.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Acura RDX is what determines how much fuel is fundamental to run your engine efficiently by measuring the reward of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to decisive changes, like altitude. If your Acura RDX 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.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Acura RDX is every thought-provoking. 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 Acura you travel to work, but check our real service coupons and specials.
  • Your 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 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 important heat or extreme brisk.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 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 generally 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 serviced, your 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 additional problems from overheating.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are fundamental for your Acura RDX. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mixture 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 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, finest to more costly repairs.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Acura RDX will commonly 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 competent, 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 Acura RDX 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 Crown Acura Richmond so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

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 well tightened to a more dangerous failure like a damaging catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it great to get the feasible code reading and diagnosis. The intermediate estimate for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is naturally between $88 and $111. The great news, Crown Acura Richmond offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help indicate the cause of your check engine light.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your Acura RDX is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in assorted alternative ways. It can say "Check Engine", it can be a symbol of an engine, it can even be a combination of both. This light brightens 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 Acura RDX. 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 indicate a variety of different things. It can be as authentic as your gas cap being loose or as risky as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 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 scan why your check engine light is flashing.

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

Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how several 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 flashing, we advocate that you pull over and contact Crown Acura Richmond to help opt for if your vehicle is reliable to drive in or if we advocate a tow truck. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced.

Acura RDX Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your Acura RDX starts twinkling, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Acura should be brought in immediately. A twinkling light indicates that the problem is unhealthy and if not taken care of immediately may result in essential damage to the vehicle. This glaring light generally indicates a scrupulous engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be jettisoned into the exhaust system. There it can suddenly hike 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 strictly be the cause. A bad, classic or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our department of automotive veterans at Crown Acura Richmond urgently by calling 8043618447. If the problem is ignored or you continue to travel to work, this can spread to the spark plug wires, catalytic converter, or ignition coils which can lead to a very expensive repair.

Acura RDX Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are countless potential causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are plentiful known causes including something as cordial as a loose gas cap. Contrasting known reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, damaged oxygen sensor, faulty head gasket, 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 mandatory 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 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 difficult systems. The sensors are continuously 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 exactly is mistaken 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 Extremely Qualified Service trained.