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Check Engine Light Service 2012 Honda Accord

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Honda Accord and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Honda 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 2012 Honda Accord checked as soon as forceful. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.

When your 2012 Honda Accord's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t accessible, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is generally 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 audit tool that is used by our Honda auto repair mechanics at Nalley Honda. There are also a number of relatively honorable code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you elect for that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an professional professional to opt for the issue and repair it.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2012 Honda Accord will frequently 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 functional, 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 2012 Honda Accord light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you commute over that amount and the light is still on, you will need to bring it in to Nalley Honda so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

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

Since any check engine code has its own level of severity, it is hard to predict how bountiful miles you can drive with the warning light on. If you check engine light is flashing, we endorse that you pull over and contact Nalley Honda to help imply if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we endorse a tow truck. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly.

Is it safe to drive your 2012 Honda Accord with the check engine light on?

This question is not very common 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 often 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 unstable problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a unstable issue and it is recommended to service your Honda Accord instantly. Call the mentors at Nalley Honda by dialing 7707568717 so you can describe the issues. Or cut your speed and transport your 2012 Honda to our certified mechanics as soon as adequate.

2012 Honda Accord Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that slight light on your vehicle’s dashboard quickly brightens, 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 current as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Accord. There are hundreds of specific codes that your check engine light can imply. While that sounds daunting, with a slight patience, tackling cooperative diagnostics will give you cooperative knowledge about your car and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is actually supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, different and practical car symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of attainable OBD codes, there are also hundreds of attainable reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is practical 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 quickly by a certified Honda 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. Call Nalley Honda at 7707568717 now or schedule your check engine light service online today!

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 properly tightened to a more unhealthy failure like a harmful catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it exciting to get the fair code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is typically between $88 and $111. The exciting news, Nalley Honda offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to aid designate the cause of your check engine light.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2012 Honda Accord?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as straightforward as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a precarious problem that could cause precarious damage to your engine and come with a extensive repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A logical glow typically means something fewer precarious but a flashing check engine light illustrates that your vehicle’s engine is in precarious trouble and service is necessary abruptly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2012 Honda Accord, we highly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Honda service today. Below is a list of the most current reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are crucial for your 2012 Honda Accord. 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 damaging or long-established, 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, large to more expensive repairs.
  • Your catalytic converter is damaging or going damaging. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2012 Honda Accord’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 Nalley Honda offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Honda service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2012 Honda Accord 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.
  • One of the most attentive and copious cause is that your 2012 Honda Accord gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2012 Honda Accord 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 damaging fuel cap? If your gas cap is long-established 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 expensive. If your check engine light turns on urgently after you put gas in your 2012 Honda Accord, 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, attentive 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 suitable 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 2012 Honda Accord's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to pick the right variety of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A damaging O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2012 Honda Accord is every basic. 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 assorted decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Honda you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Honda Accord is what determines how much fuel is crucial 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 genuine changes, like altitude. If your Honda Accord is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a rapid change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a damaging mass airflow sensor.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or alternative item can wreak havoc on your 2012 Honda Accord if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even hinder the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound attentive, bring your Accord to Honda and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed accurately and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, notably aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a little bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • Your 2012 Honda Accord has a vacuum leak. Every Honda Accord has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower damaging 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, notably if they’re exposed to climactic heat or extreme freezing.

2012 Honda Accord Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is unhealthy and if not taken care of quickly may result in numerous damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2012 Honda Accord starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Honda should be transported in quickly. This shining light usually indicates a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be ejected into the exhaust system. There it can quickly surge the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can precisely be the cause. A bad, old 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 twinkling, please contact our team of automotive consultants at Nalley Honda expeditiously by calling 7707568717.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most usually misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2012 Honda Accord is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few divergent 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 2012 Honda Accord. Some of these include shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can hint a variety of diversified things. It can be as easy as your gas cap being loose or as relentless as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2012 Honda Accord, contact Nalley Honda. Our Honda service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or analyze why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Nalley Honda today!

2012 Honda Accord Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are frequent potential causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several established causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Added established reasons for a Check Engine Light are a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty emissions control part, faulty head gasket, damaged oxygen sensor, dirty mass airflow sensor, or defective spark plugs to name assorted. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Honda Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as mandatory to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Honda issue was fixed.

Every 2012 Honda Accord was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the car on its exciting systems. The sensors are usually detecting conditions while sending data to the electronic control department. If the electronic control department 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 amiss nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Nalley Honda 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 experienced.