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What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2012 Ford Mustang?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as easy as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a unhealthy problem that could cause unhealthy damage to your engine and come with a major repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow frequently means something fewer unhealthy but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in unhealthy trouble and service is needed instantly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2012 Ford Mustang, we especially hint not to drive the vehicle and schedule Ford service today. Below is a list of the most lucid reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or extra item can wreak havoc on your 2012 Ford Mustang if it’s not installed perfectly. 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 prevailing, bring your Mustang to Ford and have our department of certified technicians ensure that your aftermarket items were installed accurately and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a meager bit more but could save you money from having to get low work and break caused by low installation work corrected.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, established 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 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 break to your catalytic converter and your 2012 Ford Mustang's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the prudent 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.
  • One of the most prevailing and bountiful cause is that your 2012 Ford Mustang gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2012 Ford Mustang 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 historic 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 expeditiously after you put gas in your 2012 Ford Mustang, first thing you should check is to make hopeful 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 2012 Ford Mustang is every unusual. 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 value of a new one depends on the type of Ford you drive, but check our commonplace service coupons and specials.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2012 Ford Mustang’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 Coggin Ford Jacksonville offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Ford service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2012 Ford Mustang 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 extra problems from overheating.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are essential for your 2012 Ford Mustang. 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 historic, you will experience low 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 break to ignition coils and O2 sensors, dominant to more costly repairs.
  • Your 2012 Ford Mustang has a vacuum leak. Every Ford Mustang has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps cut down 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 barren out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to unusual heat or extreme frosty.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Ford Mustang is what determines how much fuel is essential 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 exact changes, like altitude. If your Ford Mustang 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.

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

Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how bountiful miles you can commute with the warning light on. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy appropriately. If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Coggin Ford Jacksonville to help indicate if your vehicle is safe to commute in or if we recommend a tow truck. It could be anything from a harmful sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced.

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 perfectly tightened to a more risky failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it big to get the definite code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is frequently between $88 and $111. The big news, Coggin Ford Jacksonville offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to aid mean the cause of your check engine light.

2012 Ford Mustang Check Engine Light Flashing

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

Every 2012 Ford Mustang was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the automobile on its vital systems. The sensors are frequently detecting conditions while sending data to the computerized control company. If the computerized control company 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 awry nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Coggin Ford Jacksonville provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Immensely Qualified Service professional.

2012 Ford Mustang Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard quickly flashes, 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 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 Mustang. There are hundreds of distinct codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you convenient knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Regrettably, conspicuous and convenient vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of functional OBD codes, there are also hundreds of functional reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is important for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. Call Coggin Ford Jacksonville at 9047478996 expeditiously or schedule your check engine light service online today! When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out expeditiously by a certified Ford mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a important concern, you risk harmful your car further by not repairing the issue proper away.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2012 Ford Mustang is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few distinctive 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 car. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored car performance since the 80s and do a variety of things for your 2012 Ford Mustang. Some of these include controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name a little. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of diverse things. It can be as evident as your gas cap being loose or as precarious as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2012 Ford Mustang, contact Coggin Ford Jacksonville. Our Ford service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or observe why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Coggin Ford Jacksonville today!

Check Engine Light Service 2012 Ford Mustang

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Ford Mustang and now, a yellow light flashes on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Ford owners, your heart sinks some 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 Ford Mustang checked as soon as detailed. Ignoring that warning could end up causing adequate damage to expensive engine parts.

When your 2012 Ford Mustang's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t equitable, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is consistently 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 computerized investigate tool that is used by our Ford auto repair mechanics at Coggin Ford Jacksonville. 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 gifted to learn the issue and repair it.

Is it safe to drive your 2012 Ford Mustang with the check engine light on?

This question is not very uncomplicated 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 constantly 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 flashing, this means that there is a treacherous issue and it is recommended to service your Ford Mustang swiftly. Call the experts at Coggin Ford Jacksonville by dialing 9047478996 so you can describe the issues. Or reduction in cost your speed and bring your 2012 Ford to our certified mechanics as soon as achievable.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2012 Ford Mustang 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 2012 Ford Mustang 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 Coggin Ford Jacksonville so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

2012 Ford Mustang Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2012 Ford Mustang starts flashing, that means that the problem needs precipitous attention and your Ford should be transported in shortly. A flashing light indicates that the problem is important and if not taken care of shortly may result in substantial break to the vehicle. This flashing light usually indicates a rigorous engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can abruptly hike the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where wear and tear is sensible, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can strictly be the cause. A bad, aged or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Coggin Ford Jacksonville suddenly by calling 9047478996. 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 remarkably expensive repair.