Chevrolet Malibu Check Engine Light

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 good news, Larry H. Miller Chevrolet Murray offers completely free multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help determine 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 serious failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it good to get the appropriate code reading and diagnosis.

Check Engine Light Service Chevrolet Malibu

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Chevrolet Malibu and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Chevrolet owners, your heart sinks extremely because you may have explicitly 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, tranquil 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 advised that you get your Chevrolet Malibu checked promptly. Ignoring that warning could end up causing considerable, major damage to pricey engine parts.

When your Chevrolet Malibu's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t right, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is ordinarily 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 can promptly identify 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 Chevrolet auto repair mechanics at Larry H. Miller Chevrolet Murray. There are still a number of essentially inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you pick that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to determine the exactly appropriate issue and repair it.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a Chevrolet Malibu?

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 likewise be a warning of a significant problem that could cause serious damage to your engine and come with a hefty and pricey repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady and continuous glow usually means something less serious but a flashing check engine light reveals that your vehicle’s engine is in serious trouble and helpful service is required immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your Chevrolet Malibu, we very endorse not to drive the vehicle and schedule Chevrolet service today. Below is a list of the most regular reasons your check engine light can come on:

• Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, known as the O2 sensor, measures the amount of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns more expeditiously and your vehicle will be less efficient when it comes to fuel economy. So what occurs if I don’t replace your O2 sensor? A faulty sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause serious damage to your catalytic converter and your Chevrolet Malibu's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the exactly right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A faulty O2 sensor can still cause a car to fail an emissions test.
• Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Chevrolet Malibu’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter's function is to turn the carbon monoxide created by the combustion process into carbon dioxide. A broken catalytic converter is ordinarily caused by regularly neglected maintenance, which is why Larry H. Miller Chevrolet Murray offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with each Chevrolet service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your Chevrolet Malibu 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 delicate problems from overheating.
• Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Chevrolet Malibu is what determines how much fuel is needed 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 certain changes, like altitude. If your Chevrolet Malibu is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a sudden rapid replace in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a critical sign of a faulty mass airflow sensor.
• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak extreme havoc on your Chevrolet Malibu if it’s not installed perfectly. 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 familiar, bring your Malibu to Chevrolet and have our team of gifted certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed properly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a little bit more but could assist you save substantially from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your Chevrolet Malibu. 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 smooth. 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 go through a noticeable poor performance and decreased power. In some extreme cases, your engine will have trouble starting or continuing to run. Worn spark plugs and plug wires can cause blocked catalytic converter or damage to ignition coils and O2 sensors, leading to more costly repairs.
• The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Chevrolet Malibu is each important. 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 Chevrolet you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
• Your Chevrolet Malibu has a vacuum leak. Each Chevrolet Malibu has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system still helps lower adverse 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 intense heat or extreme cold.
• One of the most typical and frequent cause is that your Chevrolet Malibu gas cap is loose, broken or missing. The gas cap for your Chevrolet Malibu serves multiple purposes. It prevents dangerous gas fumes from being released when you aren't driving, it seals the fuel system and helps maintain pressure within the fuel tank. What occurs if you have a faulty 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 and be more expensive. Luckily, to replace a gas cap isn't costly. If your check engine light turns on expeditiously after you put gas in your Chevrolet Malibu, 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.

Chevrolet Malibu Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are countless potential causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are many common causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other usually common reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, broken head gasket, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, damaged oxygen sensor, broken emissions control part, or faulty spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Chevrolet Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and absolutely repair it as necessary to restore factory specifications. When this hits, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Chevrolet issue was totally fixed.

Every Chevrolet Malibu was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its critical systems. The rapid sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending essential 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, sadly that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what definitely is wrong nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Larry H. Miller Chevrolet Murray provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Immensely Certified Service professional.

Chevrolet Malibu Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating, especially to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly illuminate, 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, likewise known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Malibu. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can correctly represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you helpful knowledge about your car and will likewise allow that vital Check Engine Light to do what it is genuinely supposed to do: be your guide. Sadly, evident and helpful car symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of likely OBD codes, there are likewise hundreds of likely reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is vital for someone who does not have a lot of predominant 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 proficient certified Chevrolet mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a serious concern, you risk damaging your vehicle further by not repairing the issue right away. Call Larry H. Miller Chevrolet Murray at 3854856856 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!

Chevrolet Malibu Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is very serious and if not taken care of swiftly may result in significant and serious damage to the car. If the check engine light in your Chevrolet Malibu starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention swiftly and your Chevrolet should be brought in immediately. This blinking light normally indicates a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can rapidly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an pricey and major repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can absolutely be the cause. A damaged, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is invariably flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Larry H. Miller Chevrolet Murray swiftly by calling 3854856856. If the problem is entirely 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 costly repair.

Is it safe to drive your Chevrolet Malibu with the check engine light on?

This question is not very simple 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 secure to drive. This is generally 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 serious problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a serious issue and it is advised to service your Chevrolet Malibu instantly. Call the experts at Larry H. Miller Chevrolet Murray by dialing 3854856856 so you can describe the issues. Or lessen your speed and bring your Chevrolet to our certified mechanics as soon as likely.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Chevrolet Malibu 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 expeditiously turn itself off. Still, if your catalytic converter is working properly, 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 Chevrolet Malibu 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 Larry H. Miller Chevrolet Murray so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

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. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is typically difficult to predict how numerous miles you can be secure in driving with the warning light on. If you check engine light is flashing, we suggest that you pull over and contact Larry H. Miller Chevrolet Murray to support determine if your vehicle is secure to drive in or if we suggest a tow truck.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your Chevrolet Malibu is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the vital onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a wide range of 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 car. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored car performance since the 80s and do a wide range of things for your Chevrolet Malibu. Some of these essential duties include controlling engine speed, ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions and implementing cohesion 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 simple as your gas cap being loose or as dangerous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Chevrolet Malibu, contact Larry H. Miller Chevrolet Murray . Contact Larry H. Miller Chevrolet Murray today! Our Chevrolet 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.