What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most continually misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2016 Ford Mustang is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in some 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 collection of things for your 2016 Ford Mustang. Some of these include shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, controlling engine speed, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can imply a variety of contrasting things. It can be as easy as your gas cap being loose or as aggressive as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2016 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 audit why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Coggin Ford Jacksonville today!
2016 Ford Mustang 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 innumerable modern causes including something as helpful as a loose gas cap. Further modern reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, faulty head gasket, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, 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 imperative 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 2016 Ford Mustang was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its difficult systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the electronic control squad. If the electronic control squad 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 liable 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 Extraordinarily Qualified Service professional.
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 properly tightened to a more dangerous failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it marvelous to get the factual code reading and diagnosis. The average price for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is commonly between $88 and $111. The marvelous news, Coggin Ford Jacksonville offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to aid determine the cause of your check engine light.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2016 Ford Mustang?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as thought-provoking as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a rigorous problem that could cause rigorous damage to your engine and come with a extensive repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow mostly means something fewer rigorous but a twinkling check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in rigorous trouble and service is needed abruptly. If your check engine light is twinkling in your 2016 Ford Mustang, we remarkably endorse not to drive the vehicle and schedule Ford service today. Below is a list of the most common reasons your check engine light can come on:
- Your 2016 Ford Mustang has a vacuum leak. Every Ford Mustang has a vacuum system that performs a exciting collection 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 dry out and crack, notably if they’re exposed to energetic heat or extreme cold.
- 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 vehicle will be less real 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 2016 Ford Mustang's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to opt for the noble mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A destructive O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are necessary for your 2016 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 destructive or old, 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 damage to ignition coils and O2 sensors, essential to more expensive repairs.
- One of the most regular and bountiful cause is that your 2016 Ford Mustang gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2016 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 destructive 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 hastily after you put gas in your 2016 Ford Mustang, earliest 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 2016 Ford Mustang 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 little decades ago, and they don't actually require maintenance. The cost of a new one depends on the type of Ford you drive, but check our actual service coupons and specials.
- Your catalytic converter is destructive or going destructive. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2016 Ford Mustang’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter's work is to turn the carbon monoxide created by the combustion process into carbon dioxide. A damaged catalytic converter is naturally 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 serviced, your 2016 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 further problems from overheating.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or further item can wreak havoc on your 2016 Ford Mustang if it’s not installed appropriately. These aftermarket parts and accessories can discharge the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even stop the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound natural, bring your Mustang to Ford and have our company of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed perfectly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, notably aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts earliest place might cost a little bit more but could save you money from having to get low work and damage caused by low installation work corrected.
- 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 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 affectionate changes, like altitude. If your Ford Mustang 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 destructive mass airflow sensor.
Is it safe to drive your 2016 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 typically 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 alarming problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a alarming issue and it is recommended to service your Ford Mustang shortly. Call the experts at Coggin Ford Jacksonville by dialing 9047478996 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and deliver your 2016 Ford to our certified mechanics as soon as attainable.
Check Engine Light Service 2016 Ford Mustang
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Ford Mustang and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Ford owners, your heart sinks a few because you have tiny 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 car over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your 2016 Ford Mustang checked as soon as viable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to lavish engine components.
When your 2016 Ford Mustang's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the computerized control system that it can’t satisfactory, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is normally 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 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 skilled technological to mean the issue and repair it.
2016 Ford Mustang Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that miniature light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear honest 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 common as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Mustang. There are hundreds of unmistakable codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a miniature patience, tackling leading diagnostics will give you distinguished knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is certainly supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, conspicuous and excellent 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:
- Computer output circuit issues
- Transmission issues
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Old Battery
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Ignition system faults
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- O2 Sensor
- Emissions controls issues
This is why it is impressive 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 instantly by a certified Ford mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a relentless concern, you risk harmful your car further by not repairing the issue prudent away. Call Coggin Ford Jacksonville at 9047478996 instantly or schedule your check engine light service online today!
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 many miles you can drive with the warning light on. If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Coggin Ford Jacksonville to help determine 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. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2016 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 2016 Ford Mustang light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that sum 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.
2016 Ford Mustang Check Engine Light
If the check engine light in your 2016 Ford Mustang starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Ford should be transported in shortly. A flashing light indicates that the problem is hazardous and if not taken care of shortly may result in extraordinary damage to the vehicle. This twinkling light usually indicates a scrupulous engine misfire allowing unused fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can abruptly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is attainable, requiring an expensive repair. A Bit owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can definitely 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 drive, 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 glaring, please contact our squad of automotive advisors at Coggin Ford Jacksonville urgently by calling 9047478996.