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What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2013 BMW 528i is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in assorted odd ways. It can say "Check Engine", it can be a symbol of an engine, it can even be a combination of both. This light lights up 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 2013 BMW 528i. 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 discrete things. It can be as classic as your gas cap being loose or as admissible as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2013 BMW 528i, 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 diagnose why your check engine light is flashing.

Is it safe to drive your 2013 BMW 528i with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is blinking, this means that there is a perilous issue and it is recommended to service your BMW 528i instantly. This question is not very effortless 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 commute. This is frequently 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 compelling problem. Call the veterans at Richmond BMW by dialing 8042074692 so you can describe the issues. Or cut your speed and bring your 2013 BMW to our certified mechanics as soon as practical.

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. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Richmond BMW to help read if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how innumerable miles you can drive with the warning light on.

2013 BMW 528i Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is intrusive and if not taken care of today may result in major damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2013 BMW 528i starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your BMW should be brought in today. This blinking light usually indicates a rigorous 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 achievable, requiring an lavish repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can absolutely be the cause. A bad, historic 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 flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Richmond BMW promptly by calling 8042074692.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2013 BMW 528i?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as uncomplicated 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 colossal repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow constantly means something less serious but a flashing check engine light implies that your vehicle’s engine is in serious trouble and service is mandatory immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2013 BMW 528i, we remarkably recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule BMW service immediately. Below is a list of the most routine reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2013 BMW 528i’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter's perform is to turn the carbon monoxide created by the combustion process into carbon dioxide. A damaged catalytic converter is consistently 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 528i 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 alternative problems from overheating.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your BMW 528i is what determines how much fuel is decisive 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 cooperative changes, like altitude. If your BMW 528i 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.
  • One of the most old and countless cause is that your 2013 BMW 528i gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2013 BMW 528i 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 traditional 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 fancy. If your check engine light turns on quickly after you put gas in your 2013 BMW 528i, original thing you should check is to make convinced 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 2013 BMW 528i is every bizarre. 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 innumerable decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of BMW you travel to work, but check our regular service coupons and specials.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or alternative item can wreak havoc on your 2013 BMW 528i if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound regular, transport your 528i 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, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts original place might value a little bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are decisive for your 2013 BMW 528i. 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 traditional, 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 fancy repairs.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, acknowledged 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 equitable 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 528i'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 2013 BMW 528i has a vacuum leak. Every BMW 528i has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps reduce 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, especially if they’re exposed to intense heat or extreme bitter.

2013 BMW 528i 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 a few ordinary causes encompassing something as straightforward as a loose gas cap. Back-up ordinary reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, faulty head gasket, dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, damaged oxygen 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 basic 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 528i was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its meaningful systems. The sensors are constantly 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 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 Extremely Qualified Service professional.

2013 BMW 528i 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 additional name for check engine light codes. These are automotive computer codes stored by the ECM, also admitted as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your 528i. There are hundreds of contrasting codes that your check engine light can imply. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling main diagnostics will give you helpful knowledge about your car and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, coherent and good car symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of convenient OBD codes, there are also hundreds of convenient reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is notable for someone who does not have assorted of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. Call Richmond BMW at 8042074692 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! If the engine light comes on due to a relentless concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out suddenly by a certified BMW mechanic.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2013 BMW 528i 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 plausible, 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 2013 BMW 528i 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 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 important failure like a detrimental catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it numerous to get the acceptable code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is mostly between $88 and $111. The numerous news, Richmond BMW offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help indicate the cause of your check engine light.

Check Engine Light Service 2013 BMW 528i

What do you do when you’re driving along in your BMW 528i and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most BMW owners, your heart sinks a small because you have small idea about what that light is trying to tell you or how you should react. The fear of the unknown (or the rate 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 2013 BMW 528i checked as soon as feasible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.

When your 2013 BMW 528i'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 BMW auto repair mechanics at Richmond BMW. There are also a number of comparably 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 professional trained to mean the issue and repair it.