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What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 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 variety of things for your 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450. Some of these include controlling engine speed, ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can imply a collection of back-up things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as relentless as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450, 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 diagnose why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield today!

Is it safe to drive your 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a precarious issue and it is recommended to service your Mercedes-Benz SL 450 urgently. This question is not highly clear 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 protected to drive. This is regularly indicated by a persistent 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 critical problem. Call the experts at Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield by dialing 3145979489 so you can describe the issues. Or lessen your speed and bring your 2018 Mercedes-Benz to our certified mechanics as soon as feasible.

Check Engine Light Service 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Mercedes-Benz SL 450 and abruptly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Mercedes-Benz owners, your heart sinks a decent because you have decent 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 indicate you have to pull the automobile over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 checked as soon as applicable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major wear and tear to expensive engine components.

When your 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electrical control system that it can’t economical, 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 find out with an electronic observe tool that is used by our Mercedes-Benz auto repair mechanics at Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield. There are also a number of relatively bargain code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you determine that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an competent trained to mean the issue and repair it.

2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 Check Engine Light

A glaring light illustrates that the problem is unhealthy and if not taken care of instantly may result in substantial damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 starts glaring, that means that the problem needs prompt attention and your Mercedes-Benz should be brought in instantly. This glaring light frequently indicates a exacting engine misfire allowing unused fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can hastily expand the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is potential, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can specifically be the cause. A bad, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is glaring, please contact our department of automotive experts at Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield shortly by calling 3145979489. 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 costly repair.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 will typically 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 fair, 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 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 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 Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are countless possible causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are a few common causes including something as real as a loose gas cap. Alternative common reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen sensor, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty head gasket, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, or defective spark plugs to name assorted. 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 fundamental 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 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its meaningful systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the electrical control unit. If the electrical 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 incorrect 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 Exceptionally Qualified Service technical.

2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly brightens, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear right 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 SL 450. There are hundreds of assorted codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling primary diagnostics will give you advantageous 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, evident and convenient vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of conscious OBD codes, there are also hundreds of conscious reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is remarkable 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 relentless concern, you risk damaging your automobile further by not repairing the issue right away. 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 promptly by a certified Mercedes-Benz mechanic.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as simple 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 big repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A consistent glow typically means something less perilous but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in perilous trouble and service is essential expeditiously. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450, we extraordinarily recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Mercedes-Benz service straightaway. Below is a list of the most admitted reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be interchanged. The mass airflow sensor in your Mercedes-Benz SL 450 is what determines how much fuel is imperative to run your engine efficiently by measuring the payment 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 SL 450 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 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450. 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 correct 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 expensive repairs.
  • One of the most traditional and bountiful cause is that your 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 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 expensive. If your check engine light turns on today after you put gas in your 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450, earliest 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.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or distinctive item can wreak havoc on your 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 if it’s not installed well. These aftermarket parts and accessories can discharge the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound honorable, transport your SL 450 to Mercedes-Benz and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed perfectly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, greatly aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts earliest place might price a tiny bit more but could save you money from having to get correct work and damage caused by correct installation work corrected.
  • Your 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 has a vacuum leak. Every Mercedes-Benz SL 450 has a vacuum system that performs a colossal variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower combative 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 barren out and crack, greatly if they’re exposed to exciting heat or extreme cold.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be interchanged. The Oxygen sensor, traditional as the O2 sensor, measures the payment of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be less direct 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 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to find out the right 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 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450’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 revamped, your 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 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 distinctive problems from overheating.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 is every colossal. 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 genuinely 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.

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

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

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

If you check engine light is flashing, we endorse that you pull over and contact Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield to assist suggest if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we endorse a tow truck. It could be anything from a detrimental 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 innumerable miles you can drive with the warning light on. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly.