2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 Check Engine Light

Check Engine Light Service 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Mercedes-Benz SL 550 and shortly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Mercedes-Benz 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 car over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 checked as soon as effective. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.

When your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550'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 typically 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 Mercedes-Benz auto repair mechanics at Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you elect for that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an active professional to determine the issue and repair it.

Is it safe to drive your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 with the check engine light on?

This question is not very visible 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 active to drive. This is regularly 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 treacherous problem. If the check engine light is glaring, this means that there is a treacherous issue and it is recommended to service your Mercedes-Benz SL 550 at this moment. Call the mentors at Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield by dialing 3145979489 so you can describe the issues. Or lessen your speed and bring your 2012 Mercedes-Benz to our certified mechanics as soon as agreeable.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 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 steady, 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you travel to work over that fee and the light is still on, you will need to bring it in to Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are innumerable capacity causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are a few prevailing causes including something as prevailing as a loose gas cap. Added prevailing reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen sensor, faulty head gasket, or defective spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Mercedes-Benz 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 Mercedes-Benz issue was fixed.

Every 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its basic systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the computerized control unit. If the computerized 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 wrong nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Notably Qualified Service mechanical.

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

The average price for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is regularly between $88 and $111. The enjoyable news, Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help learn the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not properly tightened to a more precarious failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it enjoyable to get the fitting code reading and diagnosis.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is perilous and if not taken care of rapidly may result in major damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Mercedes-Benz should be brought in rapidly. This flashing light usually indicates a relentless engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be discharged into the exhaust system. There it can at this moment surge the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can genuinely be the cause. A bad, old 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 team of automotive mentors at Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield shortly by calling 3145979489.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550?

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 dangerous problem that could cause dangerous damage to your engine and come with a substantial repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A instinctive glow commonly means something less dangerous but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in dangerous trouble and service is imperative shortly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550, we extraordinarily suggest not to drive the vehicle and schedule Mercedes-Benz service today. Below is a list of the most common reasons your check engine light can come on:

• Your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 has a vacuum leak. Every Mercedes-Benz SL 550 has a vacuum system that performs a extensive variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps rebate 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 bare out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to imposing heat or extreme brisk.
• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or contrasting item can wreak havoc on your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even stop the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound prevalent, bring your SL 550 to Mercedes-Benz 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 meager work and damage caused by meager installation work corrected.
• Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Mercedes-Benz SL 550 is what determines how much fuel is necessary 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 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 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.
• One of the most prevalent and frequent cause is that your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 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 classical 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 promptly after you put gas in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550, first thing you should check is to make courageous the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are necessary for your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550. 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 classical, you will experience meager 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, best to more expensive repairs.
• Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, established 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 informed 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to represent the good mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A bad O2 sensor can also cause a vehicle to fail an emissions test.
• Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter's perform is to turn the carbon monoxide created by the combustion process into carbon dioxide. A damaged catalytic converter is frequently caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Mercedes-Benz service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 will not pass an emissions test, show a lack of engine performance and will negatively affect your fuel economy. Your vehicle may run at a higher temperature, too, which can cause contrasting problems from overheating.
• The battery is scanty or dead. The battery in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 is every vital. Without a vehicle battery, your vehicle won’t start, light up the road ahead, play the radio or charge your phone. Today’s vehicle batteries last much longer than they did a few decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The cost of a new one depends on the type of Mercedes-Benz you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.

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

Since any check engine code has its own level of severity, it is laborious 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 shining, we endorse that you pull over and contact Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield to help read if your vehicle is secure to drive in or if we endorse a tow truck. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that small light on your vehicle’s dashboard rapidly illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear correct away. If you hear the term, diagnostic trouble codes (DTC), these are just supplemental name for check engine light codes. These are automotive computer codes stored by the ECM, also traditional as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your SL 550. There are hundreds of various codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a small patience, tackling common diagnostics will give you conducive knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is solely supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, visible and helpful vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of possible OBD codes, there are also hundreds of possible reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is critical for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. Call Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield at 3145979489 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out hastily by a certified Mercedes-Benz mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a notable concern, you risk bad your car further by not repairing the issue reasonable away.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few specific ways. It can say "Check Engine", it can be a symbol of an engine, it can even be a combination of both. This light flashes 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 range of things for your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550. Some of these include shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, controlling engine speed, and implementing stability control, just to name a lot. With that being said, the check engine light can suggest a variety of a lot things. It can be as realistic as your gas cap being loose or as alarming as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 550, contact Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield. Our Mercedes-Benz service department can assist you learn what code is turning your check engine light on or inspect why your check engine light is blinking. Contact Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield today!