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Is it safe to drive your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 with the check engine light on?
This question is not highly uncomplicated 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 drive. This is consistently indicated by a steady glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the car, it could be an indication of a more serious problem. If the check engine light is blinking, this means that there is a serious issue and it is recommended to service your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 immediately. Call the mentors at Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield by dialing 3145979489 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your Mercedes-Benz to our certified mechanics as soon as handy.
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 harsh failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it fun to get the suitable code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is commonly between $88 and $111. The fun 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.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 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 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250. Some of these include controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of different things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as serious as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250, contact Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield. Contact Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield today! Our Mercedes-Benz service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or inspect why your check engine light is shining.
Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 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 illuminates, 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 CLA 250. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you useful knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, obvious 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:
- Computer output circuit issues
- Transmission issues
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Old Battery
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- O2 Sensor
- Ignition system faults
- Emissions controls issues
Check Engine Light Service Mercedes-Benz CLA 250
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 and suddenly, 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 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 checked as soon as possible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.
When your Mercedes-Benz CLA 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 correct, 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 choose that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to determine the issue and repair it.
Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 Check Engine Light
A flashing light hints that the problem is correct and if not taken care of hastily may result in energetic damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Mercedes-Benz should be brought in hastily. This blinking light usually indicates a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can quickly raise 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 absolutely be the cause. A bad, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is blinking, please contact our team of automotive advisors at Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield suddenly by calling 3145979489. If the problem is ignored or you continue to commute, this can spread to the spark plug wires, catalytic converter, or ignition coils which can lead to a very lavish repair.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a Mercedes-Benz CLA 250?
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 serious problem that could cause serious damage to your engine and come with a hefty repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow typically means something less serious but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in serious trouble and service is needed immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250, we highly recommend 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 mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 is what determines how much fuel is basic to run your engine efficiently by measuring the dump of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to keen changes, like altitude. If your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a quick change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, admitted as the O2 sensor, measures the dump of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your automobile will be less accomplished when it comes to fuel economy.
- Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Mercedes-Benz CLA 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 repaired, your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 will not pass an emissions test, show a lack of engine performance and will negatively affect your fuel economy. Your automobile may run at a higher temperature, too, which can cause substitute problems from overheating.
- Your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 has a vacuum leak. Every Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 has a vacuum system that performs a expanded variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower 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, exceptionally if they’re exposed to imposing heat or extreme crisp.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are basic for your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel difference 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 you're spark plugs or spark plug wires are bad or popular, 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, best to more expensive repairs.
- One of the most ongoing and countless cause is that your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Mercedes-Benz CLA 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 popular 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 abruptly after you put gas in your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250, first thing you should check is to make confident the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 is every conducive. Without a automobile battery, your automobile won’t start, light up the road ahead, play the radio or charge your phone. Today’s automobile batteries last much longer than they did countless 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.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or substitute item can wreak havoc on your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 if it’s not installed accordingly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the automobile from starting. If these issues sound commonplace, bring your CLA 250 to Mercedes-Benz and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed accurately and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, exceptionally aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a miniscule bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected. 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 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to elect for the decent difference of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A bad O2 sensor can also cause a automobile to fail an emissions test.
How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
If you check engine light is shining, we recommend that you pull over and contact Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield to help mean if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. 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 many miles you can drive with the warning light on. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced.
Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 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 several common causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other common reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, damaged oxygen sensor, faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, 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 needed 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 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its crucial 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 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 Highly Qualified Service professional.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 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 functional, 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 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 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.