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What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most typically misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2017 Honda Ridgeline is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few definitive 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 Ridgeline. 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 represent a variety of back-up things. It can be as accepted as your gas cap being loose or as rigid as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2017 Honda Ridgeline, contact Nalley Honda. Contact Nalley Honda today! Our Honda service department can aid you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or probe why your check engine light is flashing.

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

Since all check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult 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 replaced. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy appropriately. If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Nalley Honda to help choose if your car is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck.

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

This question is not incredibly simple because it each depends on the severity of the issue. If the cause is a minor issue, such as a loose gas cap, it should be protected to drive. This is consistently 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 relentless problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a relentless issue and it is recommended to service your Honda Ridgeline instantly. 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 capacity.

2017 Honda Ridgeline Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are countless conceivable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are frequent effective causes encompassing something as commonplace as a loose gas cap. Added effective reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, dirty mass airflow sensor, or defective spark plugs to name various. 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 essential 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 Ridgeline was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its big systems. The sensors are ordinarily detecting conditions while sending data to the electrical control unit. If the electrical 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 specifically is incorrect 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 Particularly Qualified Service professional.

2017 Honda Ridgeline Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that slight light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly 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 Ridgeline. There are hundreds of apparent codes that your check engine light can opt for. While that sounds daunting, with a slight patience, tackling primary diagnostics will give you favorable knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is absolutely supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, cogent and exquisite vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of achievable OBD codes, there are also hundreds of achievable reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is plausible 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 swiftly by a certified Honda mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a hazardous concern, you risk damaging your car extra by not repairing the issue right away. Call Nalley Honda at 7707568717 now or schedule your check engine light service online today!

2017 Honda Ridgeline Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2017 Honda Ridgeline starts flashing, that means that the problem needs abrupt attention and your Honda should be brought in rapidly. A flashing light indicates that the problem is precarious and if not taken care of rapidly may result in enormous damage to the automobile. This shining light ordinarily suggests a scrupulous engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be ejected into the exhaust system. There it can hastily raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an pricey repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can strictly be the cause. A bad, departed or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is shining, please contact our team of automotive experts at Nalley Honda now by calling 7707568717. 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 incredibly expensive repair.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2017 Honda Ridgeline 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 consistent, 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 Ridgeline 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 Nalley Honda so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

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

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as simple 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 astonishing repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A dependable glow typically means something less precarious but a shining check engine light expresses that your vehicle’s engine is in precarious trouble and service is paramount quickly. If your check engine light is shining in your 2017 Honda Ridgeline, we highly recommend not to drive the car and schedule Honda service at this moment. Below is a list of the most simple reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2017 Honda Ridgeline’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 frequently 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 Ridgeline will not pass an emissions test, show a lack of engine performance and will negatively affect your fuel economy. Your automobile may run at a higher temperature, too, which can cause additional problems from overheating.
  • Your 2017 Honda Ridgeline has a vacuum leak. Every Honda Ridgeline has a vacuum system that performs a wide class of functions. The vacuum system also helps cut harmful 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 great heat or extreme bleak.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are crucial for your 2017 Honda Ridgeline. 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 bad or historic, 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, essential to more expensive repairs.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2017 Honda Ridgeline is every normal. Without a automobile battery, your automobile won’t start, light up the road ahead, play the radio or charge your phone. Today’s automobile batteries last much longer than they did a few decades ago, and they don't actually require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Honda you drive, but check our contemporary service coupons and specials.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replenished. The mass airflow sensor in your Honda Ridgeline 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 explicit changes, like altitude. If your Honda Ridgeline 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 bad mass airflow sensor.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replenished. 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 likely 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 Ridgeline's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to opt for the right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A bad O2 sensor can also cause a automobile to fail an emissions test.
  • One of the most prevailing and copious cause is that your 2017 Honda Ridgeline gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2017 Honda Ridgeline 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 bad fuel cap? If your gas cap is historic 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 immediately after you put gas in your 2017 Honda Ridgeline, 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.
  • Issues with all aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or additional item can wreak havoc on your 2017 Honda Ridgeline if it’s not installed accurately. These aftermarket parts and accessories can discard the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even impede the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound attentive, bring your Ridgeline to Honda and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed accurately and aren't causing all issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might estimate a meager bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.

Check Engine Light Service 2017 Honda Ridgeline

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Honda Ridgeline and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Honda owners, your heart sinks a slight because you have slight 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 2017 Honda Ridgeline checked as soon as practical. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to fancy engine components.

When your 2017 Honda Ridgeline's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t enthusiastic, 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 scan tool that is used by our Honda auto repair mechanics at Nalley Honda. There are also a number of relatively low-priced 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 ingenious technical to mean the issue and repair it.

How much does it cost to get the engine light checked?

The intermediate cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is mostly between $88 and $111. The exquisite news, Nalley Honda offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help designate the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not perfectly tightened to a more important failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it exquisite to get the positive code reading and diagnosis.