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What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2014 BMW X5?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as noteworthy as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a unhealthy problem that could cause unhealthy damage to your engine and come with a big repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow typically means something less unhealthy but a flashing check engine light illustrates that your vehicle’s engine is in unhealthy trouble and service is needed instantly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2014 BMW X5, we excessively suggest not to commute the vehicle and schedule BMW service today. Below is a list of the most noteworthy reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or alternative item can wreak havoc on your 2014 BMW X5 if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can deposit the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound cognizant, bring your X5 to BMW and have our squad of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed properly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a slight bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • 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 mandatory to run your engine efficiently by measuring the sum of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to accurate 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 harmful mass airflow sensor.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are mandatory for your 2014 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 harmful or departed, 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 lavish repairs.
  • One of the most normal and bountiful cause is that your 2014 BMW X5 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2014 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 harmful fuel cap? If your gas cap is departed 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 immediately after you put gas in your 2014 BMW X5, 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 catalytic converter is harmful or going harmful. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2014 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 ordinarily 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 2014 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 alternative problems from overheating.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, known as the O2 sensor, measures the sum of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be less authentic 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 2014 BMW X5's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A harmful O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
  • Your 2014 BMW X5 has a vacuum leak. Every BMW X5 has a vacuum system that performs a expanded mixture of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower detrimental 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 agreeable.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2014 BMW X5 is every crucial. 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 commute, but check our commonplace service coupons and specials.

Check Engine Light Service 2014 BMW X5

What do you do when you’re driving along in your BMW X5 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 imply 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 2014 BMW X5 checked as soon as probable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine parts.

When your 2014 BMW X5's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the mechanical control system that it can’t natural, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is commonly 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 investigate tool that is used by our BMW auto repair mechanics at Richmond BMW. There are also a number of rather miniature 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 experienced trained to determine the issue and repair it.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2014 BMW X5 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few conspicuous 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 mixture of things for your 2014 BMW X5. Some of these include controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can indicate a variety of divergent things. It can be as plain as your gas cap being loose or as rigid as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2014 BMW X5, 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 inspect why your check engine light is glaring.

Is it safe to drive your 2014 BMW X5 with the check engine light on?

This question is not excessively straightforward 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 mostly 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. If the check engine light is glaring, this means that there is a harsh issue and it is recommended to service your BMW X5 quickly. Call the consultants at Richmond BMW by dialing 8042074692 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2014 BMW to our certified mechanics as soon as good.

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

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2014 BMW X5 will normally shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is serviced. 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 factual, 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 2014 BMW X5 light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that fee 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.

2014 BMW X5 Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that meager light on your vehicle’s dashboard rapidly 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 distinctive codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a meager patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you factual knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is totally supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, discernible and factual vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of likely OBD codes, there are also hundreds of likely reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is necessary 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 promptly by a certified BMW mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a hazardous concern, you risk damaging your car added by not repairing the issue right away. Call Richmond BMW at 8042074692 now or schedule your check engine light service online today!

2014 BMW X5 Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2014 BMW X5 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your BMW should be brought in shortly. A flashing light indicates that the problem is draconian and if not taken care of shortly may result in large wear and tear to the vehicle. This blinking light usually indicates a scrupulous engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can quickly enhance the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is conceivable, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can genuinely be the cause. A damaging, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our company of automotive experts at Richmond BMW rapidly by calling 8042074692. 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 exceedingly expensive repair.

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. If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Richmond BMW to help represent if your vehicle is dependable to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is rigorous 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 changed.

2014 BMW X5 Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are countless possible causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are countless accepted causes including something as accessible as a loose gas cap. Further accepted reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty head gasket, 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 BMW Certified Mechanics 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 revamped.

Every 2014 BMW X5 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its paramount 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 flashes telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what definitely is mistaken 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 Highly Qualified Service trained.