If you’re a driver of an Acura SUV or car, then you might have seen the check engine warning light come on at some point. This light is actually quite important, and it’s there to let you know that something is wrong with your vehicle. In this article, we’ll tell you what you should do if you see this warning light come on in your car.
What is the Acura Check Engine Light?
The Acura check engine light is a troubling sign for many drivers. This warning light indicates that there is a problem with your vehicle’s emissions system. If you see this light, it’s important to take your car to a qualified technician as soon as possible to have the issue diagnosed and repaired.
See also: Acura dashboard warning lights
While the problem could be something as simple as a loose gas cap, it could also be indicative of a more serious issue like a faulty catalytic converter. If you ignore the warning light and continue to drive your car, you could end up causing further damage to your vehicle. Don’t take chances with your car’s health – if you see the Acura check engine warning light, get your vehicle to a service center right away.
Why is the Acura Check Engine Warning Light on?
- The engine is not running at its optimal temperature.
- The engine oil level is low.
- There is a problem with the emissions control system.
- The fuel level is low.
- The engine is overworking due to heavy loads or towing.
What do I need to do when the Acura Check Engine Warning Light comes on?
The Acura Check Engine Warning Light is an important indicator of the health of your vehicle. When this light comes on, it means that there is a problem with the engine and it needs to be checked out by a mechanic. There are a few things that you can do to troubleshoot the problem before taking it to a mechanic.
- Check the oil level and add oil if necessary
- Check for loose or damaged spark plugs and replace as needed
- Inspect the air filter and clean or replace as necessary
- Have the engine computer scanned for codes to pinpoint the problem
- Fix any issues that are found
- Reset the check engine light
Finally, if these six things do not fix the problem, take the car to a mechanic to have it checked out.
This article has hopefully given you a better understanding of what the Acura check engine warning light means, and what you should do if you see it come on. If the light is flashing, it’s important to take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible to have it checked out. However, if the light is simply solid, there could be a number of reasons why it’s on, so it’s best to consult your owner’s manual or take your car in for service. In either case, don’t ignore the warning light — it could be trying to tell you something important about your car.
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How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
When the check engine light comes on (and remains illuminated), it could be something as minor as a bad sensor or a more serious issue like faulty plug wires. Unfortunately, each code has its own level of severity, so we can’t anticipate how many miles you’ll be able to drive before addressing the situation. But if your warning light is glaring, we recommend that you pull over and contact the authorized service center Acura right away. Our experts will help you figure out what’s wrong and how to move ahead. The safest option is to decipher the code before taking any further steps.
Check Engine Light Service Acura
When you’re out driving in your Acura and suddenly, the Check Engine light on the dashboard illuminates and sends a fear-inducing shiver down your spine, just remember that you don’t need to pull over. The light could signify one of many small glitches or alternatively, it could be a warning about something more serious. Even if it’s not immediately clear what the problem is, get your engine checked as soon as possible. Ignoring the warning could end up causing major damage to pricey engine components.
When your Acura’s ECM finds a problem in the vehicle’s electronics that it can’t correct, a computer turns on the check engine light. This yellow warning light is usually labeled “check engine” or “service engine soon,” but it is not always an amber turn signal like you might see on your dashboard.
If there’s a problem with your Acura engine, the Code Memory Light will come on and store an engine code or “trouble code” in its memory that tells you exactly where the issue is: a sensor or a failing engine part. We use electronic scan tools to read this code when performing an Acura auto repair at Acura’s services. There are also inexpensive code readers designed for do-it-yourselfers, which means you don’t need to leave your car to us. These codes will show you what has been detected but true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to determine the issue and fix it.
Is it safe to drive your Acura with the check engine light on?
Generally, the check engine light will be steady when there is no issue. If the light is flashing, it is more significant and you should call our mechanics at (800) 382-2238 . Or slow down your speed and bring the vehicle to one of our certified mechanics as soon as possible.
Acura Check Engine Light
You may see a blinking or twinkling check engine light in your Acura. This usually indicates an engine misfire that needs attention quickly, or it can cause severe damage to your catalytic converter. If you see any sign of this light, contact Acura’s service by phone at (800) 382-2238 .
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most frustrating things to deal with when driving your Acura is the check engine light and how little it tells you. The generic “Check Engine” light flashes in an amber or red color, and often only has a single digit code accompanying it. The check engine light can have different meanings – from a loose gas cap to serious complications with your car’s performance. When this warning light appears, contact Acura’s service to diagnose the issue or learn more about what’s making it flash. Don’t put up with the frustration of unknown lights! If your Acura is malfunctioning call our experienced service department for help.
Acura Check Engine Light Flashing
Diagnosing an Acura’s Check Engine Light can be challenging given the number of different issues it might present. A loose gas cap is a common root cause of the illuminated light, with other potential causes including dirty mass airflow sensor, defective spark plugs, and faulty oxygen sensor among many others. Regardless of what the root cause may be, our Acura-certified technicians have your back and have been trained to diagnose and remedy any potential issues so that you can leave the service center knowing that your problem was properly taken care of.
Acura’s engineers have installed a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer. This system includes sensors that measure the conditions of every critical system in your Acura. If the data is off, the Check Engine Light illuminates and keeps you informed. But it won’t give you any more insight than that – it simply tells you there’s a problem. Luckily, we can help. Our Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service will isolate the core issue and get you back on track to driving in no time.
Acura Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light provides a helpful warning, so when you see the little light on your dashboard suddenly turn on, resist the urge to panic. It’s not unusual for the engine light to come on for no specific reason and there are hundreds of different lights that can show up. There is no correlation between obvious symptoms and a vehicle’s warning light. As such, it isn’t always easy to determine exactly why your check engine light has come on. Rest assured–help is available by contacting a certified Acura mechanic at Acura’s service at (800) 382-2238 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! If you ignore any potential car problems, you risk further damage and possibly even an accident down the line.
- O2 Sensor
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Computer output circuit issues
- Emissions controls issues
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Ignition system faults
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Transmission issues
- Old Battery
How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?
Our multi-point inspections, diagnostic services and complimentary check engine light diagnosis can help get to the bottom of your car’s problem. The check engine light is important because it warns of various issues with your car, ranging from a loose gas cap to bigger problems like bad catalytics converter or an oxygen sensor issue. Don’t wait – if you notice the check engine light on, call us right away so we can access the issue and fix it!
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a Acura?
- Your check engine light could indicate a basic problem, like tight fuel cap, or it could be more serious, like costly damage. The check engine light will come on and blink in different ways depending on your make and model but, generally speaking, they mean the same thing: service is needed. Some of the most common reasons for the check engine light coming on include low gas levels, misfiring spark plugs, clogged air filter and faulty oxygen sensor. If your Acura is flashing its check engine indicator light and you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, we recommend scheduling Acura service as soon as possible.
- Do you want to make sure that your Acura is running as if it were a factory new car? You can do that with OEM parts. Getting parts, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a little bit more but it could save you money in repairs done due to low-quality installation work.
- Your Acura has a vacuum leak, and it could be due to the vacuum system. All Acura vehicles have a vacuum system that performs many functions. One of those is helping lower emissions by routing fumes that are created as gasoline evaporates through the engine. If the RPM climbs on idle or there are hesitations randomly, then you should check for leaks. Over time, your Vacuum hoses will dry out and crack if they’re in contact with intense heat or extremely cold weather.
- The mass airflow sensor in your car is what determines how much fuel is necessary to run the engine efficiently. The MAF measures the amount of air entering the engine, which helps adjustments be made based on certain changes and equal altitudes. If your car starts rough idles or has a sudden change in throttle position, this could be caused by a bad mass airflow sensor.
- New spark plugs and wire sets are absolutely necessary for your Acura. The spark plugs are the part of your vehicle’s engine that ignites the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. This explosion is what moves the pistons and makes your car run. Spark plug wires deliver this spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If you find that your car’s spark plugs or wires are bad, it may cause low performance and reduced power, in some cases even preventing the engine from starting or continuing to run. Badly worn spark plugs and wires can lead to clogged catalytic converters or damage to ignition coils and oxygen sensors – both of which could become more expensive to repair than just replacing a few spark plugs
- If you don’t replace your faulty sensor, it can lead to damage to other components of your Acura. The O2 sensor tells the onboard computer what is the perfect mixture of air and fuel by sending data on what’s coming out of the engine – this will lengthen the life of other parts within your vehicle. If that breaks down, your car might fail an emissions test.
- Your Acura battery is low or dead. Without it, your car won’t start, turning on the lights, playing music, or charging your phone. With today’s vehicle batteries lasting much longer than they did a few decades ago, you really don’t need to maintain them. It all depends on what type of Acura you have – but check our current service coupons and specials!
- If your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) isn’t working, the problems can start to pile up. The Oxygen sensor, also known as the O2 sensor and air/fuel ratio sensor, measures the amount of oxygen in your exhaust. If there’s too much oxygen in your exhaust system, your vehicle will consume fuel more quickly and performance could suffer
- When you have a bad Acura gas cap, you can lose fuel and even your car can stall. One of the most common and cheapest problems is that your gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. It also seals the fuel system and helps maintain pressure in the gas tank, as well as keep gas fumes from escaping when you’re not driving. The next time you have a check engine (or Service Engine Soon) light turn on immediately after you fill up with fuel, here’s what to do: make sure the cap is not loose — or if it has been lost or jammed on top of your vehicle or at the pump.
- If a catalytic converter malfunctions or is improperly repaired, the Acura may not be able to pass an emissions test. There may also be a lack of engine performance and fuel economy will decrease. This could eventually result in your Acura having higher than normal operating temperature, which can contribute to even more problems from overheating.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
If your car’s engine light has come on, it is likely because of one of the following reasons: A loose gas cap, an inefficient catalytic converter, or a faulty EVAP system. However, in most cases, the light will turn off within 20-40 miles. If you continue to drive and the light is still on after those miles, bring your Acura back to Acura’s service so we can diagnose and reset the problem together.
FAQs About Acura Check Engine Warning Light
What is the most common reason for check engine light?
The emissions/exhaust system is often the source of many check engine lights being illuminated. A leak in the exhaust system or an issue with the catalytic converter can be to blame, while the mass airflow sensor (MAF) may also easily trip and fail causing this warning light to come on. It’s important that all parts of your vehicle are checked and maintained regularly for optimal performance.
Is it OK to drive with check engine light on?
Driving with the check engine light illuminated is generally not recommended, as it could indicate a problem within the car’s engine. If you must drive for a few miles, be sure to schedule an inspection of the engine as soon as possible. It is important to remain vigilant if this warning light appears while driving; observe how your vehicle behaves and look for any signs that suggest an issue. Taking prompt action can prevent further damage from occurring and ensure your continued safety on the road.
How serious is a solid check engine light?
A steady check engine light is an indicator of a non-urgent issue, such as a loose gas cap. On the other hand, a flashing check engine light signals that immediate attention is needed to address a more serious problem. To help diagnose the underlying cause of these issues, standardized diagnostic codes are used.
Can you just clear a check engine light?
The on-off method is a reliable way to resolve the issue of a vehicle’s check engine light. It works by restarting the car’s computer system and forcing it to refresh its stored state. To put this into action, drivers should place their key in the ignition and turn it on for 1-2 seconds before turning it off again for an equal amount of time. This process should be repeated three or four times until complete.