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

If you check engine light is flashing, we advocate that you pull over and contact Richmond BMW to help pick if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we advocate a tow truck. 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 difficult to predict how many 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 correctly tightened to a more perilous failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it good to get the correct code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is commonly between $88 and $111. The good news, Richmond BMW offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to assist pick the cause of your check engine light.

2013 BMW X5 Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are several feasible causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are a lot prevailing causes including something as contrasting as a loose gas cap. Other prevailing reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty head gasket, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen sensor, 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 essential 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 X5 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the automobile on its hard systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the electrical control unit. If the electrical 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 incorrect 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 Tremendously Qualified Service professional.

Check Engine Light Service 2013 BMW X5

What do you do when you’re driving along in your BMW X5 and suddenly, a yellow light brightens 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 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 X5 checked as soon as achievable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.

When your 2013 BMW X5'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 constantly 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 electrical observe tool that is used by our BMW auto repair mechanics at Richmond BMW. There are also a number of comparatively low-priced 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 trained professional to determine the issue and repair it.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2013 BMW X5 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 practical, 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 2013 BMW X5 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 transport it in to Richmond BMW so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most ordinarily misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2013 BMW X5 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 2013 BMW X5. Some of these include ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can represent a variety of back-up things. It can be as plain as your gas cap being loose or as unhealthy as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2013 BMW X5, contact Richmond BMW. Contact Richmond BMW today! Our BMW service department can aid you learn what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is glaring.

Is it safe to drive your 2013 BMW X5 with the check engine light on?

This question is not exceedingly detectable 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 secure to drive. This is typically 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 feasible problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a feasible issue and it is recommended to service your BMW X5 shortly. Call the consultants 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 probable.

2013 BMW X5 Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2013 BMW X5 starts twinkling, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your BMW should be brought in suddenly. A twinkling light indicates that the problem is hazardous and if not taken care of suddenly may result in big damage to the vehicle. This blinking light frequently indicates a rigid engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be drained into the exhaust system. There it can quickly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is viable, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can precisely be the cause. A harmful, classic 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 lavish repair. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Richmond BMW rapidly by calling 8042074692.

2013 BMW X5 Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard promptly 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 X5. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can pick. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling essential diagnostics will give you available 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, precise and helpful vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of conceivable OBD codes, there are also hundreds of conceivable reasons for the light, including:

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

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

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2013 BMW X5?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as reasonable 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 awesome repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A logical glow normally means something less serious but a shining check engine light implies that your vehicle’s engine is in serious trouble and service is essential shortly. If your check engine light is shining in your 2013 BMW X5, we highly advocate not to drive the vehicle and schedule BMW service today. Below is a list of the most aware reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are imperative for your 2013 BMW X5. 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, dominant to more lavish repairs.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. 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 fewer compelling 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 X5'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 mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your BMW X5 is what determines how much fuel is imperative 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 certain changes, like altitude. If your BMW X5 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.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2013 BMW X5 is every rangy. 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 actually require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of BMW you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
  • One of the most respectable and several cause is that your 2013 BMW X5 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2013 BMW X5 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 lavish. If your check engine light turns on abruptly after you put gas in your 2013 BMW X5, original 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 2013 BMW X5 has a vacuum leak. Every BMW X5 has a vacuum system that performs a gigantic 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 arid out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to imposing heat or extreme immediate.
  • Issues with all aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak havoc on your 2013 BMW X5 if it’s not installed correctly. 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 known, bring your X5 to BMW and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing all issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts original place might cost a microscopic bit more but could save you money from having to get poor perform and damage caused by poor installation perform corrected.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2013 BMW X5’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 X5 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.