
Check Engine Light Service 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 and rapidly, 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 price of the unknown) can be just as stressful. But take a deep breath and realize the light coming on doesn’t represent 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 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 checked as soon as conceivable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.
When your 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t informed, 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 read with an electrical scan tool that is used by our Mercedes-Benz auto repair mechanics at Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield. There are also a number of relatively miniature 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 licensed to mean the issue and repair it.
How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
It could be anything from a harmful sensor to plug wires needing to be interchanged. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how copious miles you can drive with the warning light on. If you check engine light is flashing, we express that you pull over and contact Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield to help determine if your vehicle is secure to drive in or if we express a tow truck.
2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are countless achievable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are a few accepted causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Added accepted reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty emissions control part, faulty head gasket, or defective spark plugs to name various. 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 decisive 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 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the car 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 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 explicitly 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 Chiefly Qualified Service professional.
How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?
The average rate for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is typically between $88 and $111. The good news, Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help represent the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not accurately tightened to a more critical failure like a harmful catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it good to get the advantageous code reading and diagnosis.
2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that small light on your vehicle’s dashboard instantly illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear polite 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 famous as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your SLK 250. There are hundreds of various codes that your check engine light can mean. While that sounds daunting, with a small patience, tackling major diagnostics will give you favorable knowledge about your automobile and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is genuinely supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, evident and favorable automobile symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of potential OBD codes, there are also hundreds of potential reasons for the light, including:
- Ignition system faults
- Computer output circuit issues
- O2 Sensor
- Emissions controls issues
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Old Battery
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Transmission issues
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
This is why it is vital for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out rapidly by a certified Mercedes-Benz mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a dangerous concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue proper away. Call Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield at 3145979489 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few unmistakable 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 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250. Some of these include controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name bountiful. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of odd things. It can be as pure as your gas cap being loose or as precarious as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250, contact Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield. Our Mercedes-Benz service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or analyze why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield today!
Is it safe to drive your 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 with the check engine light on?
This question is not very simple 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 customarily 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 risky problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a risky issue and it is recommended to service your Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 shortly. Call the veterans at Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield by dialing 3145979489 so you can describe the issues. Or decrease down your speed and bring your 2014 Mercedes-Benz to our certified mechanics as soon as available.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as prevalent as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a hazardous problem that could cause hazardous 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 naturally means something less hazardous but a glaring check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in hazardous trouble and service is essential quickly. If your check engine light is glaring in your 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250, we highly endorse not to drive the vehicle and schedule Mercedes-Benz service immediately. Below is a list of the most ongoing reasons your check engine light can come on:
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are necessary for your 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250. 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 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, dominant to more expensive repairs.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 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 certain changes, like altitude. If your Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 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.
- Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250’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 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 fixed, your 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 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 other problems from overheating.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, commonplace 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 realistic 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 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to select the honorable 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.
- One of the most commonplace and innumerable cause is that your 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 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 suddenly after you put gas in your 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250, 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 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 has a vacuum leak. Every Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 has a vacuum system that performs a roomy class of functions. The vacuum system also helps cut bad 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 exciting heat or extreme bitter.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak havoc on your 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 if it’s not installed accurately. 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 commonplace, bring your SLK 250 to Mercedes-Benz 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 a miniature 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 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 is every exciting. 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 price of a new one depends on the type of Mercedes-Benz you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 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 satisfactory, 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 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that jettison 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.
2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 Check Engine Light
If the check engine light in your 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 starts blinking, that means that the problem needs precipitous attention and your Mercedes-Benz should be brought in hastily. A blinking light suggests that the problem is relentless and if not taken care of hastily may result in big damage to the vehicle. This flashing light usually hints a tough engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be ejected into the exhaust system. There it can quickly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is probable, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can definitely be the cause. A bad, departed 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 exceptionally lavish repair. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield immediately by calling 3145979489.