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What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most usually misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2017 Honda Pilot is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few disparate 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 2017 Honda Pilot. Some of these include shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name assorted. With that being said, the check engine light can indicate a mixture of different things. It can be as commonplace as your gas cap being loose or as stringent as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2017 Honda Pilot, contact Nalley Honda. Contact Nalley Honda today! Our Honda service department can help you designate what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing.

Check Engine Light Service 2017 Honda Pilot

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Honda Pilot and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Honda owners, your heart sinks a small because you have small 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 suggest you have to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your 2017 Honda Pilot checked as soon as probable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing imposing damage to fancy engine components.

When your 2017 Honda Pilot's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the mechanical control system that it can’t impartial, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is continuously 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 computerized scan tool that is used by our Honda auto repair mechanics at Nalley Honda. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you select that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced licensed to choose the issue and repair it.

2017 Honda Pilot Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2017 Honda Pilot starts flashing, that means that the problem needs rapid attention and your Honda should be brought in hastily. A flashing light indicates that the problem is hazardous and if not taken care of hastily may result in excellent break to the vehicle. This flashing light usually indicates a stern engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be jettisoned into the exhaust system. There it can quickly enhance 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 exactly be the cause. A harmful, aged 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 flashing, please contact our unit of automotive experts at Nalley Honda urgently by calling 7707568717.

2017 Honda Pilot Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are bountiful achievable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are countless prevailing causes including something as authentic as a loose gas cap. Alternative prevailing reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, faulty emissions control part, dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, or defective spark plugs to name a few. 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 fundamental 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 2017 Honda Pilot was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its innate 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 illuminates telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what explicitly is culpable 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 technological.

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 hazardous failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it exceptional to get the legal code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is naturally between $88 and $111. The exceptional news, Nalley Honda offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help mean the cause of your check engine light.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2017 Honda Pilot?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as authentic as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a strict problem that could cause strict wear and tear 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 generally means something less strict but a twinkling check engine light expresses that your vehicle’s engine is in strict trouble and service is imperative shortly. If your check engine light is twinkling in your 2017 Honda Pilot, we highly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Honda service immediately. Below is a list of the most favorite reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are necessary for your 2017 Honda Pilot. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel variety in the combustion chamber of your automobile. 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 detrimental or former, 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 fancy repairs.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2017 Honda Pilot is every difficult. 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 several 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.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak havoc on your 2017 Honda Pilot if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the automobile from starting. If these issues sound common, bring your Pilot to Honda and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, exceedingly aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts original 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 catalytic converter is detrimental or going detrimental. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2017 Honda Pilot’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 2017 Honda Pilot 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.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, known as the O2 sensor, measures the payment of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your automobile will be less possible 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 2017 Honda Pilot's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to learn the right variety of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A detrimental 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 Honda Pilot is what determines how much fuel is necessary to run your engine efficiently by measuring the payment of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to exact changes, like altitude. If your Honda Pilot 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 detrimental mass airflow sensor.
  • Your 2017 Honda Pilot has a vacuum leak. Every Honda Pilot has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety 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, exceedingly if they’re exposed to important heat or extreme incredulous.
  • One of the most regular and frequent cause is that your 2017 Honda Pilot gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2017 Honda Pilot 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 detrimental fuel cap? If your gas cap is former 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 fancy. If your check engine light turns on instantly after you put gas in your 2017 Honda Pilot, original thing you should check is to make convinced the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2017 Honda Pilot will naturally shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is repaired. 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 instinctive, 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 2017 Honda Pilot light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that payment and the light is still on, you will need to transport it in to Nalley Honda so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

Is it safe to drive your 2017 Honda Pilot with the check engine light on?

This question is not very easy 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 commute. This is often indicated by a steady glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the automobile, it could be an indication of a more stern problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a stern issue and it is recommended to service your Honda Pilot quickly. Call the experts at Nalley Honda by dialing 7707568717 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2017 Honda to our certified mechanics as soon as attainable.

2017 Honda Pilot Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that small light on your vehicle’s dashboard hastily flashes, 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 Pilot. There are hundreds of clear-cut codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a small patience, tackling necessary diagnostics will give you beneficial knowledge about your car and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is totally supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, momentous and helpful car 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:

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

This is why it is important for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a alarming concern, you risk harmful your car added by not repairing the issue right away. Call Nalley Honda at 7707568717 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out immediately by a certified Honda mechanic.

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. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. If you check engine light is blinking, we advise that you pull over and contact Nalley Honda to help indicate if your car is safe to drive in or if we advise a tow truck. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is essential to predict how bountiful miles you can drive with the warning light on.