Is it safe to drive your Dodge Journey with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a important issue and it is recommended to service your Dodge Journey expeditiously. This question is not excessively 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 customarily indicated by a steady glow of the check engine light. If you notice a variety in the performance of the vehicle, it could be an indication of a more risky problem. Call the experts at Mike Shaw Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram by dialing 9702364701 so you can describe the issues. Or premium your speed and bring your Dodge to our certified technicians as soon as probable.

Dodge Journey 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 damaged oxygen sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, dirty mass airflow sensor, 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 Dodge 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 Dodge issue was fixed.

Every Dodge Journey 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; Mike Shaw Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram 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.

Dodge Journey 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 Journey. 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:

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

This is why it is important 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 abruptly by a certified Dodge technician. If the engine light comes on due to a thoughtful concern, you risk damaging your car other by not repairing the issue proper away. Call Mike Shaw Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram at 9702364701 straightaway or schedule your check engine light service online today!

Dodge Journey Check Engine Light

A shining light expresses that the problem is deliberate and if not taken care of expeditiously may result in effective damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your Dodge Journey starts shining, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Dodge should be transported in expeditiously. 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 flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Mike Shaw Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram shortly by calling 9702364701. 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 fancy repair.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your Dodge Journey 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 Dodge Journey. Some of these include ignition timing, controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions 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 Dodge Journey, contact Mike Shaw Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Our Dodge service department can help you elect for what code is turning your check engine light on or observe why your check engine light is shining. Contact Mike Shaw Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram today!

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Dodge Journey 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 Dodge Journey 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 Mike Shaw Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

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

If you check engine light is glaring, we endorse that you pull over and contact Mike Shaw Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram to aid represent if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we endorse a tow truck. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. Since every check engine code has its own level of severity, it is troublesome to predict how countless miles you can drive with the warning light on. It could be anything from a bad 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 subsequently tightened to a more risky failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it marvelous to get the handy code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is frequently between $88 and $111. The marvelous news, Mike Shaw Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help favor the cause of your check engine light.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a Dodge Journey?

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 Dodge Journey, we highly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Dodge 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 Dodge Journey is what determines how much fuel is essential 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 thoughtful changes, like altitude. If your Dodge Journey 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 catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Dodge Journey’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 typically caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Mike Shaw Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Dodge service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your Dodge Journey will not pass an emissions test, show a lack of engine performance and will negatively affect your fuel economy. Your vehicle may run at a higher temperature, too, which can cause extra problems from overheating.
• Your Dodge Journey has a vacuum leak. Every Dodge Journey has a vacuum system that performs a admirable mixture of functions. The vacuum system also helps premium 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, exceptionally if they’re exposed to important heat or extreme freezing.
• One of the most effortless and several cause is that your Dodge Journey gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Dodge Journey 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 expensive. If your check engine light turns on at this moment after you put gas in your Dodge Journey, first thing you should check is to make bold the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
• Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, accepted 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 fewer gifted 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 Dodge Journey's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to learn the decent mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A bad O2 sensor can also cause a vehicle to fail an emissions test.
• The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Dodge Journey is every important. Without a vehicle battery, your vehicle won’t start, light up the road ahead, play the radio or charge your phone. Today’s vehicle batteries last much longer than they did a few decades ago, and they don't genuinely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Dodge you drive, but check our contemporary service coupons and specials.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are essential for your Dodge Journey. 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 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, dominant to more expensive repairs.
• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or extra item can wreak havoc on your Dodge Journey if it’s not installed accordingly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even hinder the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound accepted, bring your Journey to Dodge and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, exceptionally aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a tiny bit more but could save you money from having to get poor function and damage caused by poor installation function corrected.

Check Engine Light Service Dodge Journey

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Dodge Journey and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Dodge 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 Dodge Journey checked as soon as possible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.

When your Dodge Journey'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 Dodge auto repair mechanics at Mike Shaw Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. 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.