What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most customarily misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2018 BMW X1 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few distinct 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 BMW X1. 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 represent a variety of different things. It can be as easy as your gas cap being loose or as strict as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2018 BMW X1, contact Plaza BMW. Our BMW 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 Plaza BMW today!

Is it safe to drive your 2018 BMW X1 with the check engine light on?

This question is not tremendously simple because it any 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 travel to work. This is commonly indicated by a steady glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the automobile, it could be an indication of a more risky problem. If the check engine light is twinkling, this means that there is a risky issue and it is recommended to service your BMW X1 hastily. Call the experts at Plaza BMW by dialing 3145823628 so you can describe the issues. Or cut down your speed and bring your 2018 BMW to our certified mechanics as soon as acceptable.

2018 BMW X1 Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2018 BMW X1 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your BMW should be brought in abruptly. A flashing light expresses that the problem is noteworthy and if not taken care of abruptly may result in big break to the vehicle. This blinking light frequently indicates a exacting engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can promptly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is potential, requiring an fancy repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can absolutely be the cause. A damaging, classic or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our company of automotive advisors at Plaza BMW hastily by calling 3145823628. 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 exceptionally lavish repair.

Check Engine Light Service 2018 BMW X1

What do you do when you’re driving along in your BMW X1 and quickly, a yellow light flashes on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most BMW 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 illustrate 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 2018 BMW X1 checked as soon as achievable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing extensive damage to expensive engine components.

When your 2018 BMW X1's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t meager, 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 edge with an electronic probe tool that is used by our BMW auto repair mechanics at Plaza BMW. There are also a number of relatively low-priced code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you edge that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced experienced to edge the issue and repair it.

2018 BMW X1 Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are innumerable conceivable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several ample causes encompassing something as pure as a loose gas cap. Further ample reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty head gasket, damaged oxygen sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty emissions control part, or defective spark plugs to name various. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the BMW Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as mandatory to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your BMW issue was repaired.

Every 2018 BMW X1 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the automobile on its crucial systems. The sensors are naturally 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 precisely is wrong nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Plaza BMW provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Exceedingly Qualified Service skilled.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2018 BMW X1 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 realistic, 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 BMW X1 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 Plaza BMW so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2018 BMW X1?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as discernable as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a hazardous problem that could cause hazardous damage to your engine and come with a exciting repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A instinctive glow constantly means something less hazardous but a flashing check engine light expresses that your vehicle’s engine is in hazardous trouble and service is imperative abruptly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2018 BMW X1, we greatly advise not to drive the vehicle and schedule BMW service straightaway. Below is a list of the most current 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 BMW X1 is what determines how much fuel is basic 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 specific changes, like altitude. If your BMW X1 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.
• Your 2018 BMW X1 has a vacuum leak. Every BMW X1 has a vacuum system that performs a roomy 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 dry out and crack, incredibly if they’re exposed to direct heat or extreme bitter.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are basic for your 2018 BMW X1. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel assortment in the combustion chamber of your vehicle. This explosion is what moves the pistons and makes the engine run. The spark plug wires bring 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 meager performance and reduced power. In a tiny 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, leading to more pricey repairs.
• Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be interchanged. The Oxygen sensor, established 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 available 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 BMW X1's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to designate the proper assortment 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 common and plentiful cause is that your 2018 BMW X1 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2018 BMW X1 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 pricey. If your check engine light turns on hastily after you put gas in your 2018 BMW X1, authentic 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 2018 BMW X1 is every basic. 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 some decades ago, and they don't surely require maintenance. The estimate of a new one depends on the type of BMW you drive, but check our actual service coupons and specials.
• Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2018 BMW X1’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 normally caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Plaza BMW offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every BMW service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2018 BMW X1 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 distinctive problems from overheating.
• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or distinctive item can wreak havoc on your 2018 BMW X1 if it’s not installed accurately. 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 common, bring your X1 to BMW and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed accurately and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, incredibly aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts authentic place might cost a tiny bit more but could save you money from having to get meager work and damage caused by meager installation work corrected.

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

It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is hard to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy subsequently. If you check engine light is flashing, we advise that you pull over and contact Plaza BMW to aid select if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we advise a tow truck.

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

The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is frequently between $88 and $111. The valuable news, Plaza BMW offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help learn the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not properly tightened to a more critical failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it valuable to get the correct code reading and diagnosis.

2018 BMW X1 Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that miniature light on your vehicle’s dashboard immediately illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear judicious 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 commonplace as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your X1. There are hundreds of divergent codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a miniature patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you accessible 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, important and awesome vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of legitimate OBD codes, there are also hundreds of legitimate reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is superb for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. Call Plaza BMW at 3145823628 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out quickly by a certified BMW technician. If the engine light comes on due to a alarming concern, you risk bad your car further by not repairing the issue proper away.