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What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2012 BMW X3?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as authentic as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a exacting problem that could cause exacting damage to your engine and come with a huge repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A persistent glow often means something less exacting but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in exacting trouble and service is needed hastily. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2012 BMW X3, we immensely advise not to drive the car and schedule BMW service straightaway. Below is a list of the most authentic 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 BMW X3 if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can ditch the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound accepted, bring your X3 to BMW and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might price a little bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • One of the most traditional and bountiful cause is that your 2012 BMW X3 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2012 BMW X3 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 expensive. If your check engine light turns on instantly after you put gas in your 2012 BMW X3, first thing you should check is to make courageous 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, traditional 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 sane 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 2012 BMW X3's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to opt for the right variety 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.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2012 BMW X3’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 naturally caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Richmond 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 2012 BMW X3 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 basic for your 2012 BMW X3. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel variety 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 old, 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, major to more expensive repairs.
  • Your 2012 BMW X3 has a vacuum leak. Every BMW X3 has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety 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 barren out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to thrilling heat or extreme cold.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2012 BMW X3 is every climactic. 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 absolutely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of BMW you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your BMW X3 is what determines how much fuel is basic 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 actual changes, like altitude. If your BMW X3 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.

Is it safe to drive your 2012 BMW X3 with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a strict issue and it is recommended to service your BMW X3 immediately. This question is not very 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 dependable to drive. This is naturally 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 harsh problem. Call the experts at Richmond BMW by dialing 8042074692 so you can describe the issues. Or lessen your speed and bring your 2012 BMW to our certified mechanics as soon as useful.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2012 BMW X3 will usually shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is revamped. 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 fair, and you did assorted 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 BMW X3 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 Richmond BMW so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

2012 BMW X3 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 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 acknowledged as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your X3. There are hundreds of discrete codes that your check engine light can mean. While that sounds daunting, with a miniature patience, tackling primary diagnostics will give you accessible 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, conspicuous and marvelous 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:

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

This is why it is main for someone who does not have assorted 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 BMW mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a hazardous concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away. Call Richmond BMW at 8042074692 hastily or schedule your check engine light service online today!

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

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

Check Engine Light Service 2012 BMW X3

What do you do when you’re driving along in your BMW X3 and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates 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 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 2012 BMW X3 checked as soon as functional. Ignoring that warning could end up causing huge break to expensive engine elements.

When your 2012 BMW X3's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t prudent, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is generally 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 pick with an computerized diagnose tool that is used by our BMW auto repair mechanics at Richmond BMW. There are also a number of relatively bargain 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 experienced to pick the issue and repair it.

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 hazardous failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it great to get the accessible code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is generally between $88 and $111. The great news, Richmond BMW offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help indicate the cause of your check engine light.

2012 BMW X3 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 several simple causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Back-up simple reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty emissions control part, faulty head gasket, damaged oxygen sensor, 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 BMW 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 BMW issue was fixed.

Every 2012 BMW X3 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the automobile on its important 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 precisely is awry nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Richmond 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 Extraordinarily Qualified Service licensed.

2012 BMW X3 Check Engine Light

A shining light indicates that the problem is active and if not taken care of immediately may result in great damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2012 BMW X3 starts shining, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your BMW should be brought in immediately. This glaring light generally illustrates a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be discarded into the exhaust system. There it can quickly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is viable, requiring an lavish repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can absolutely be the cause. A destructive, aged or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is blinking, please contact our team of automotive experts at Richmond BMW immediately by calling 8042074692. 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 exceedingly lavish repair.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2012 BMW X3 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few 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 variety of things for your 2012 BMW X3. Some of these include shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can represent a variety of various things. It can be as straightforward as your gas cap being loose or as perilous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2012 BMW X3, contact Richmond BMW. Contact Richmond BMW today! Our BMW service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or investigate why your check engine light is blinking.