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Is it safe to drive your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a exacting issue and it is recommended to service your Mercedes-Benz ML 350 shortly. This question is not very pure 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 reliable to drive. This is normally indicated by a steady glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the car, it could be an indication of a more strict problem. Call the experts at Mercedes-Benz of Tampa by dialing 8135438419 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and deliver your 2012 Mercedes-Benz to our certified mechanics as soon as feasible.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 will typically shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is serviced. 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 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 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 Mercedes-Benz of Tampa so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are several ability causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are disparate ongoing causes consisting something as classic as a loose gas cap. Further ongoing 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 assorted. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Mercedes-Benz Certified Mechanics 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 Mercedes-Benz issue was serviced.

Every 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its essential 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 lights up 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; Mercedes-Benz of Tampa 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 skilled.

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Mercedes-Benz should be transported in immediately. A flashing light implies that the problem is powerful and if not taken care of immediately may result in major break to the vehicle. This blinking light usually expresses 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 wear and tear is attainable, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can entirely be the cause. A damaging, common or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Mercedes-Benz of Tampa abruptly by calling 8135438419. 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.

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that microscopic light on your vehicle’s dashboard immediately illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear honest 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 ML 350. There are hundreds of distinctive codes that your check engine light can mean. While that sounds daunting, with a microscopic patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you advantageous knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is truly supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, conspicuous and convenient vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of convenient OBD codes, there are also hundreds of convenient reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is essential for someone who does not have various of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a critical concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue decent away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out quickly by a certified Mercedes-Benz mechanic. Call Mercedes-Benz of Tampa at 8135438419 at this moment or schedule your check engine light service online today!

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most consistently misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in plentiful assorted 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 mixture of things for your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350. Some of these include shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, controlling engine speed, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of contrasting things. It can be as honest as your gas cap being loose or as unhealthy as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350, contact Mercedes-Benz of Tampa. Contact Mercedes-Benz of Tampa today! Our Mercedes-Benz service department can help you determine what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing.

Check Engine Light Service 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Mercedes-Benz ML 350 and abruptly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Mercedes-Benz 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 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 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 checked as soon as conceivable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing primary damage to expensive engine parts.

When your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t noble, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is customarily 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 Mercedes-Benz auto repair mechanics at Mercedes-Benz of Tampa. There are also a number of relatively 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 trained to indicate the issue and repair it.

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

Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is scrupulous to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on. If you check engine light is shining, we recommend that you pull over and contact Mercedes-Benz of Tampa to help determine if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. 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.

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 perfectly tightened to a more scrupulous failure like a contentious catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it good to get the solid code reading and diagnosis. The average rate for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is frequently between $88 and $111. The good news, Mercedes-Benz of Tampa 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as common as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a perilous problem that could cause perilous damage 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 frequently means something less perilous but a blinking check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in perilous trouble and service is paramount abruptly. If your check engine light is blinking in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350, we particularly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Mercedes-Benz service now. Below is a list of the most prevalent 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 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 is what determines how much fuel is essential to run your engine efficiently by measuring the reward of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to actual changes, like altitude. If your Mercedes-Benz ML 350 is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a fast change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter's perform is to turn the carbon monoxide created by the combustion process into carbon dioxide. A damaged catalytic converter is typically caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Mercedes-Benz of Tampa offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Mercedes-Benz service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 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 added problems from overheating.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, commonplace as the O2 sensor, measures the reward of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your automobile will be less direct 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 Mercedes-Benz ML 350's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to mean the polite range of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A bad O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
  • Your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 has a vacuum leak. Every Mercedes-Benz ML 350 has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps reduce 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, extraordinarily if they’re exposed to notable heat or extreme bleak.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or added item can wreak havoc on your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 if it’s not installed well. These aftermarket parts and accessories can discard the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the automobile from starting. If these issues sound commonplace, bring your ML 350 to Mercedes-Benz and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed accurately and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, extraordinarily aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts initial place might cost a tiny bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • One of the most favored and plentiful cause is that your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 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 old 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 rapidly after you put gas in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350, initial 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.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are essential for your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel range 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 bad or old, 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, considerable to more expensive repairs.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 is every rare. 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 certainly require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Mercedes-Benz you drive, but check our prevailing service coupons and specials.