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

The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is typically between $88 and $111. The favorable news, Mercedes-Benz of Tampa offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help indicate 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 unhealthy failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it favorable to get the accurate code reading and diagnosis.

Check Engine Light Service Mercedes-Benz E 350

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Mercedes-Benz E 350 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 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 value 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 vehicle over to the side of the road and call a tow truck, but it is recommended that you get your Mercedes-Benz E 350 checked as soon as potential. Ignoring that warning could end up causing dynamic damage to expensive engine components.

When your Mercedes-Benz E 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 significant, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is naturally 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 probe tool that is used by our Mercedes-Benz auto repair mechanics at Mercedes-Benz of Tampa. There are also a number of comparably cheap code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you embrace that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced experienced to express the issue and repair it.

Mercedes-Benz E 350 Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are several achievable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are several commonplace causes including something as easy as a loose gas cap. Added commonplace reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty head gasket, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen 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 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 Mercedes-Benz issue was fixed.

Every Mercedes-Benz E 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 needed 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 flashes telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what strictly is wrong 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 Exceedingly Qualified Service trained.

Mercedes-Benz E 350 Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your Mercedes-Benz E 350 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Mercedes-Benz should be brought in rapidly. A flashing light indicates that the problem is unhealthy and if not taken care of rapidly may result in substantial break to the vehicle. This flashing light commonly illustrates a rigid engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can rapidly expand the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is achievable, 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 your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Mercedes-Benz of Tampa instantly 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.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Mercedes-Benz E 350 will usually 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 Mercedes-Benz E 350 light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that sum 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.

Mercedes-Benz E 350 Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that small light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly illuminates, but in reality, it is not something that should cause you to shut down in fear correct 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 E 350. There are hundreds of alternative codes that your check engine light can mean. While that sounds daunting, with a small patience, tackling critical diagnostics will give you agreeable 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, noticeable and cooperative vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of alive OBD codes, there are also hundreds of alive reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is big 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 Mercedes-Benz mechanic. Call Mercedes-Benz of Tampa at 8135438419 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! If the engine light comes on due to a unhealthy concern, you risk damaging your car extra by not repairing the issue honest away.

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

If you check engine light is blinking, we advise that you pull over and contact Mercedes-Benz of Tampa to aid determine if your vehicle is firm to drive in or if we advise a tow truck. Since each 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. 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 Mercedes-Benz E 350 with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is shining, this means that there is a compatible issue and it is recommended to service your Mercedes-Benz E 350 immediately. This question is not excessively possible because it any 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 continuously 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 applicable problem. Call the experts at Mercedes-Benz of Tampa by dialing 8135438419 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your Mercedes-Benz to our certified mechanics as soon as attainable.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a Mercedes-Benz E 350?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as classic 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 adequate repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow consistently means something less perilous but a blinking check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in perilous trouble and service is mandatory abruptly. If your check engine light is blinking in your Mercedes-Benz E 350, we highly endorse not to drive the vehicle and schedule Mercedes-Benz service at this moment. Below is a list of the most accepted reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Mercedes-Benz E 350’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 every Mercedes-Benz service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your Mercedes-Benz E 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 distinctive problems from overheating.
  • One of the most sufficient and many cause is that your Mercedes-Benz E 350 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Mercedes-Benz E 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 erstwhile 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 shortly after you put gas in your Mercedes-Benz E 350, first thing you should check is to make positive the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Mercedes-Benz E 350 is every necessary. 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 little decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Mercedes-Benz you commute, but check our modern service coupons and specials.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or distinctive item can wreak havoc on your Mercedes-Benz E 350 if it’s not installed subsequently. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound receptive, bring your E 350 to Mercedes-Benz and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed subsequently and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, exceptionally aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might rate a little bit more but could save you money from having to get low work and damage caused by low installation work corrected.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Mercedes-Benz E 350 is what determines how much fuel is essential 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 accessible changes, like altitude. If your Mercedes-Benz E 350 is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a quick change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are essential for your Mercedes-Benz E 350. 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 transport the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If your spark plugs or spark plug wires are bad or erstwhile, you will experience low 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.
  • Your Mercedes-Benz E 350 has a vacuum leak. Every Mercedes-Benz E 350 has a vacuum system that performs a gigantic 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 parched out and crack, exceptionally if they’re exposed to imposing heat or extreme fast.
  • 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 vehicle will be less convenient 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 Mercedes-Benz E 350's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to learn the honest mixture 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.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your Mercedes-Benz E 350 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a bit different 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 Mercedes-Benz E 350. 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 mean a variety of different things. It can be as straightforward as your gas cap being loose or as relentless as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Mercedes-Benz E 350, contact Mercedes-Benz of Tampa. Contact Mercedes-Benz of Tampa today! Our Mercedes-Benz service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing.