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What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most typically misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few diverse ways. It can say "Check Engine", it can be a symbol of an engine, it can even be a combination of both. This light brightens 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 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550. 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 advocate a variety of different things. It can be as classic as your gas cap being loose or as unhealthy as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550, contact Mercedes-Benz of Tampa. Contact Mercedes-Benz of Tampa today! Our Mercedes-Benz service department can assist you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or probe why your check engine light is flashing.

Is it safe to drive your 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550 with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a draconian issue and it is recommended to service your Mercedes-Benz S 550 instantly. 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 drive. This is commonly indicated by a common 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 harsh problem. Call the advisors at Mercedes-Benz of Tampa by dialing 8135438419 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2021 Mercedes-Benz to our certified technicians as soon as accessible.

2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550 Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that scant 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 prevalent as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your S 550. There are hundreds of plentiful codes that your check engine light can mean. While that sounds daunting, with a scant patience, tackling imposing diagnostics will give you admirable knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is exclusively supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, distinct and admirable 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:

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

This is why it is imposing for someone who does not have assorted 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 Mercedes-Benz mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a strict concern, you risk detrimental your car further by not repairing the issue right away. Call Mercedes-Benz of Tampa at 8135438419 now or schedule your check engine light service online today!

2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550 Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are copious likely causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are a few commonplace causes including something as apparent as a loose gas cap. Alternative commonplace reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, damaged oxygen sensor, dirty mass airflow sensor, or defective spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Mercedes-Benz Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as imperative 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 repaired.

Every 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its crucial 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 exactly is amiss 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 Greatly Qualified Service skilled.

Check Engine Light Service 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Mercedes-Benz S 550 and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Mercedes-Benz 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 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550 checked as soon as feasible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing basic wear and tear to expensive engine elements.

When your 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t low-cost, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is normally 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 Mercedes-Benz auto repair technicians at Mercedes-Benz of Tampa. 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 licensed professional to select the issue and repair it.

2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550 Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is risky and if not taken care of immediately may result in awesome damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Mercedes-Benz should be brought in immediately. This blinking light generally implies a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be deposited into the exhaust system. There it can swiftly surge the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is viable, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can completely be the cause. A bad, popular 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 immediately 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 chiefly expensive repair.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550 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 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550 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.

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

If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Mercedes-Benz of Tampa to help imply 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. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how bountiful miles you can drive with the warning light on.

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

The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is ordinarily between $88 and $111. The acceptable news, Mercedes-Benz of Tampa offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help select the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not properly tightened to a more creative failure like a detrimental catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it acceptable to get the fair code reading and diagnosis.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as pure as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a serious problem that could cause serious damage to your engine and come with a exceptional repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow typically means something less serious but a flashing check engine light expresses that your vehicle’s engine is in serious trouble and service is imperative immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550, we notably 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 S 550 is what determines how much fuel is imperative to run your engine efficiently by measuring the dump of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to necessary changes, like altitude. If your Mercedes-Benz S 550 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.
  • One of the most daily and countless cause is that your 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550 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 fancy. If your check engine light turns on now after you put gas in your 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550, 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 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550 has a vacuum leak. Each Mercedes-Benz S 550 has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower 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, particularly if they’re exposed to important heat or extreme bitter.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550 is each breathtaking. 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 a few decades ago, and they don't genuinely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Mercedes-Benz you drive, but check our contemporary service coupons and specials.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or additional item can wreak havoc on your 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550 if it’s not installed accurately. These aftermarket parts and accessories can discharge the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even hinder the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound daily, deliver your S 550 to Mercedes-Benz and have our squad of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed perfectly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, particularly aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a slight 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 bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550’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 Mercedes-Benz of Tampa offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with each Mercedes-Benz service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550 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 additional problems from overheating.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are imperative for your 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel assortment 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 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, leading to more fancy repairs.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, known as the O2 sensor, measures the dump of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be less compelling 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 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 550's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to advocate the right assortment 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.