Hyundai Sonata Check Engine Light
A flashing light signifies that the problem is very serious and if not taken care of immediately may result in major and serious damage to the car. If the check engine light in your Hyundai Sonata starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention immediately and your Hyundai should be brought in instantly. This blinking light usually signifies a severe 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 likely, requiring an expensive and considerable repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can explicitly be the cause. A defective, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is consistently flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Arapahoe Hyundai expeditiously by calling 7207281868. If the problem is entirely 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 pricey repair.
What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most usually misunderstood lights or indicators in your Hyundai Sonata is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the important onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a wide range of 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 car. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored car performance since the 80s and do a wide range of things for your Hyundai Sonata. Some of these essential duties include ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, and implementing cohesion control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean an assortment of different things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as unpredictable as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Hyundai Sonata, contact Arapahoe Hyundai. Contact Arapahoe Hyundai today! Our Hyundai 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.
Hyundai Sonata Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating, exceptionally to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly illuminate, 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 Sonata. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can correctly represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you helpful knowledge about your car and will also allow that essential Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, evident and useful car symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of potential OBD codes, there are also hundreds of potential reasons for the light, including:
- O2 Sensor
- Ignition system faults
- Transmission issues
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Old Battery
- Emissions controls issues
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Computer output circuit issues
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
This is why it is essential for someone who does not have a lot of prevailing automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out immediately by a skillful certified Hyundai mechanic. Call Arapahoe Hyundai at 7207281868 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! If the engine light comes on due to a serious concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away.
Check Engine Light Service Hyundai Sonata
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Hyundai Sonata and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Hyundai owners, your heart sinks exceptionally because you may have specifically 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, calm 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 suggested that you get your Hyundai Sonata checked instantly. Ignoring that warning could end up causing significant, considerable damage to costly engine components.
When your Hyundai Sonata's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t right, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is ordinarily 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 can expeditiously identify 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 Hyundai auto repair mechanics at Arapahoe Hyundai. There are again a number of essentially inexpensive 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 experienced professional to determine the absolutely right issue and repair it.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a Hyundai Sonata?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as simple as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Still, the check engine light could again be a warning of a meaningful problem that could cause serious damage to your engine and come with a hefty and expensive repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady and continuous glow generally means something less serious but a flashing check engine light signifies that your vehicle’s engine is in significant trouble and helpful service is needed promptly. If your check engine light is flashing in your Hyundai Sonata, we remarkably endorse not to drive the vehicle and schedule Hyundai service today. Below is a list of the most typical reasons your check engine light can come on:
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Hyundai Sonata is what determines how much fuel is necessary 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 Hyundai Sonata is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a sudden fast change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a crucial sign of a broken mass airflow sensor.
- Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Hyundai Sonata’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 regularly neglected maintenance, which is why Arapahoe Hyundai offers a complimentary multi-point examination with each Hyundai service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your Hyundai Sonata will not pass an emissions test, show a lack of engine performance and will negatively affect your fuel economy. Your vehicle may run at a higher temperature, too, which can cause other perilous problems from overheating.
- One of the most common and frequent cause is that your Hyundai Sonata gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Hyundai Sonata serves numerous purposes. It prevents unpredictable gas fumes from being released when you aren't driving, it seals the fuel system and helps control pressure within the fuel tank. What results if you have a broken 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 and be more pricey. Luckily, to replace a gas cap isn't expensive. If your check engine light turns on immediately after you put gas in your Hyundai Sonata, first 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 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 more immediately and your vehicle will be less efficient when it comes to fuel economy. So what results if I don’t replace your O2 sensor? A broken sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause serious damage to your catalytic converter and your Hyundai Sonata's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the absolutely right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A broken O2 sensor can still cause a vehicle to fail an emissions test.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Hyundai Sonata is each vital. Without a vehicle battery, your vehicle won’t start, light up the road ahead, play the radio or charge your phone. Today’s vehicle batteries last much longer than they did a few decades ago, and they don't genuinely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Hyundai you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak extreme havoc on your Hyundai Sonata if it’s not installed perfectly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even limit the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound familiar, bring your Sonata to Hyundai and have our team of skilled certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a little bit more but could support you save substantially from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
- Your Hyundai Sonata has a vacuum leak. Each Hyundai Sonata has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system still helps lower adverse 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 cold.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are necessary for your Hyundai Sonata. 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 smooth. 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 a noticeable poor performance and decreased power. In some extreme cases, your engine will have trouble starting or continuing to run. Worn spark plugs and plug wires can cause obstructed catalytic converter or damage to ignition coils and O2 sensors, leading to more expensive repairs.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your Hyundai Sonata will frequently shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is fixed. For instance, if the cause of your check engine light coming on was a loose gas cap, if it's tightened, the light will swiftly turn itself off. Also, if your catalytic converter is working correctly, 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 Hyundai Sonata 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 Arapahoe Hyundai so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.
Is it safe to drive your Hyundai Sonata with the check engine light on?
This question is not very simple 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 ordinarily 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 serious problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a serious issue and it is advised to service your Hyundai Sonata immediately. Call the experts at Arapahoe Hyundai by dialing 7207281868 so you can describe the issues. Or lessen your speed and bring your Hyundai to our certified mechanics as soon as possible.
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 serious failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it good to get the proper code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is generally between $88 and $111. The good news, Arapahoe Hyundai offers completely complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to assist determine the cause of your check engine light.
How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is usually difficult to predict how multiple miles you can be secure in driving with the warning light on. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. If you check engine light is flashing, we advocate that you pull over and contact Arapahoe Hyundai to support determine if your car is secure to drive in or if we advocate a tow truck. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced.
Hyundai Sonata 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 different common causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other usually common reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty head gasket, broken oxygen sensor, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, or broken spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Hyundai Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and completely repair it as required to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Hyundai issue was completely fixed.
Every Hyundai Sonata was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the car on its crucial systems. The rapid sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending essential 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. Yet, unfortunately that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what definitely is wrong nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Arapahoe Hyundai 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 professional.
