Please wait while the page loads...

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most generally misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2017 Acura ILX is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in frequent divergent 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 assortment of things for your 2017 Acura ILX. 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 indicate a assortment of extra things. It can be as beneficial as your gas cap being loose or as perilous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2017 Acura ILX, contact Park Place Acura. Contact Park Place Acura today! Our Acura service department can assist you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or analyze why your check engine light is flashing.

2017 Acura ILX Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are copious attainable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several logical causes including something as amusing as a loose gas cap. Assorted logical reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, dirty mass airflow sensor, damaged oxygen sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, 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 Acura Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as imperative 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 2017 Acura ILX was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its necessary 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 sorry nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Park Place Acura 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 mechanical.

Check Engine Light Service 2017 Acura ILX

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Acura ILX and abruptly, a yellow light flashes on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Acura 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 suggest 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 2017 Acura ILX checked as soon as possible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing acclaimed damage to expensive engine components.

When your 2017 Acura ILX's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the technical control system that it can’t good, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is naturally 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 scan tool that is used by our Acura auto repair mechanics at Park Place Acura. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you designate that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an licensed high-tech to choose the issue and repair it.

2017 Acura ILX Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is hazardous and if not taken care of expeditiously may result in colossal damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2017 Acura ILX starts flashing, that means that the problem needs agile attention and your Acura should be brought in expeditiously. This flashing light usually indicates a stringent engine misfire allowing unused fuel to be discarded into the exhaust system. There it can rapidly surge the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where break is likely, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can exactly 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 travel to work, 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 experts at Park Place Acura immediately by calling 4696207939.

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

If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Park Place Acura to help imply if your vehicle is firm to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy subsequently. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is laborious to predict how several miles you can drive with the warning light on. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be interchanged.

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 correctly tightened to a more alarming failure like a harmful catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it exceptional to get the great code reading and diagnosis. The average estimate for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is consistently between $88 and $111. The exceptional news, Park Place Acura offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help learn the cause of your check engine light.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2017 Acura ILX will ordinarily 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 many 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 2017 Acura ILX 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 Park Place Acura so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2017 Acura ILX?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as uncomplicated as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a precarious problem that could cause precarious damage to your engine and come with a broad repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A persistent glow commonly means something less precarious but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in precarious trouble and service is mandatory immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2017 Acura ILX, we remarkably recommend not to commute the vehicle and schedule Acura service immediately. Below is a list of the most normal reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your 2017 Acura ILX has a vacuum leak. Every Acura ILX has a vacuum system that performs a expansive variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps reduce detrimental 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 dehydrated out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to profound heat or extreme chilly.
  • Issues with each aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or disparate item can wreak havoc on your 2017 Acura ILX if it’s not installed accordingly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can discharge the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the automobile from starting. If these issues sound responsive, bring your ILX to Acura and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing each issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts initial place might cost a small bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are necessary for your 2017 Acura ILX. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mixture 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 your spark plugs or spark plug wires are bad or common, 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, extensive to more costly repairs.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2017 Acura ILX’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 Park Place Acura offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Acura service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2017 Acura ILX 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 disparate problems from overheating.
  • One of the most prevailing and frequent cause is that your 2017 Acura ILX gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2017 Acura ILX 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 common 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 hastily after you put gas in your 2017 Acura ILX, initial 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.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Acura ILX 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 big changes, like altitude. If your Acura ILX is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a immediate change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
  • The battery is meager or dead. The battery in your 2017 Acura ILX is every laborious. 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 commute, but check our existing service coupons and specials.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, known 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 automobile will be less persuasive 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 2017 Acura ILX's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the right 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.

Is it safe to drive your 2017 Acura ILX with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a rigorous issue and it is recommended to service your Acura ILX expeditiously. This question is not excessively 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 commute. This is mostly 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 strict problem. Call the veterans at Park Place Acura by dialing 4696207939 so you can describe the issues. Or lessen your speed and bring your 2017 Acura to our certified mechanics as soon as viable.

2017 Acura ILX 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 lights up, 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 established as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your ILX. There are hundreds of distinct codes that your check engine light can indicate. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling essential diagnostics will give you convenient 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, certain and convenient vehicle 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:

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

This is why it is crucial 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 suddenly by a certified Acura mechanic. Call Park Place Acura at 4696207939 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! If the engine light comes on due to a hazardous concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away.