What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2013 BMW 525i?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as practical as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a harsh problem that could cause harsh damage to your engine and come with a large repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A plausible glow typically means something less harsh but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in harsh trouble and service is needed expeditiously. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2013 BMW 525i, we hugely recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule BMW service today. Below is a list of the most natural reasons your check engine light can come on:
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak havoc on your 2013 BMW 525i if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket components 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 525i to BMW and have our squad of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, notably aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM components earliest place might cost a miniature 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 relevant and copious cause is that your 2013 BMW 525i gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2013 BMW 525i 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 expeditiously after you put gas in your 2013 BMW 525i, earliest thing you should check is to make sure the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be changed. The mass airflow sensor in your BMW 525i is what determines how much fuel is crucial 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 anxious changes, like altitude. If your BMW 525i is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a abrupt change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are crucial for your 2013 BMW 525i. 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 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, best to more expensive repairs.
- Your 2013 BMW 525i has a vacuum leak. Every BMW 525i has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety 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, notably if they’re exposed to exciting heat or extreme irritable.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be changed. 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 practical 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 2013 BMW 525i's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to represent the right 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.
- Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2013 BMW 525i’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 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 2013 BMW 525i 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 other problems from overheating.
- The battery is scanty or dead. The battery in your 2013 BMW 525i is every exciting. 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 price of a new one depends on the type of BMW you drive, but check our modern service coupons and specials.
2013 BMW 525i Check Engine Light
A flashing light indicates that the problem is strict and if not taken care of expeditiously may result in big damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2013 BMW 525i starts flashing, that means that the problem needs brisk attention and your BMW should be brought in expeditiously. This blinking light usually indicates a relentless engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be jettisoned into the exhaust system. There it can quickly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where wear and tear is achievable, requiring an pricey repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can explicitly be the cause. A bad, former 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 fancy repair. If your check engine light is glaring, please contact our unit of automotive experts at Richmond BMW instantly by calling 8042074692.
Check Engine Light Service 2013 BMW 525i
What do you do when you’re driving along in your BMW 525i 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 price of the unknown) can be just as stressful. But take a deep breath and realize the light coming on doesn’t represent 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 2013 BMW 525i checked as soon as accessible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing big damage to pricey engine components.
When your 2013 BMW 525i's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t noble, 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 learn with an electronic investigate tool that is used by our BMW auto repair mechanics at Richmond BMW. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you pick that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an trained licensed to learn 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 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 satisfying to get the suitable code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is typically between $88 and $111. The satisfying news, Richmond BMW offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help pick the cause of your check engine light.
2013 BMW 525i Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are copious achievable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are many respectable causes including something as pure as a loose gas cap. Substitute respectable reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, 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 crucial 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 2013 BMW 525i was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its critical systems. The sensors are frequently 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 culpable 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 Hugely Qualified Service professional.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2013 BMW 525i 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 direct, and you did copious 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 2013 BMW 525i 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 Richmond BMW so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.
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 replenished. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is stern to predict how bountiful miles you can drive with the warning light on. If you check engine light is glaring, we advise that you pull over and contact Richmond BMW to help indicate if your automobile is active to drive in or if we advise a tow truck. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly.
Is it safe to drive your 2013 BMW 525i with the check engine light on?
If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a threatening issue and it is recommended to service your BMW 525i expeditiously. This question is not incredibly pure 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 naturally indicated by a consistent 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 combative problem. Call the experts at Richmond BMW by dialing 8042074692 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2013 BMW to our certified mechanics as soon as available.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most ordinarily misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2013 BMW 525i is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few disparate 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 2013 BMW 525i. 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 mean a variety of definitive things. It can be as pure as your gas cap being loose or as risky as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2013 BMW 525i, contact Richmond BMW. Contact Richmond BMW today! Our BMW service department can help you read what code is turning your check engine light on or investigate why your check engine light is flashing.
2013 BMW 525i Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard rapidly brightens, 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 common as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your 525i. There are hundreds of diverse codes that your check engine light can mean. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling profound diagnostics will give you realistic knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is actually supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, exceptional and essential 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
- Ignition system faults
- Computer output circuit issues
- Emissions controls issues
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Bad Spark Plugs
- O2 Sensor
- Transmission issues
This is why it is terrific for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a strict concern, you risk damaging your car extra by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out promptly by a certified BMW technician. Call Richmond BMW at 8042074692 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!