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What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most frequently misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2016 Toyota Avalon is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few 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 automobile. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored automobile performance since the 80s and do a variety of things for your 2016 Toyota Avalon. Some of these include shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name apparent. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of discrete things. It can be as straightforward as your gas cap being loose or as powerful as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2016 Toyota Avalon, contact Nalley Toyota of Roswell. Contact Nalley Toyota of Roswell today! Our Toyota 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.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2016 Toyota Avalon?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as straightforward as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a relentless problem that could cause relentless wear and tear 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 consistently means something less relentless but a blinking check engine light illustrates that your vehicle’s engine is in relentless trouble and service is essential shortly. If your check engine light is blinking in your 2016 Toyota Avalon, we incredibly suggest not to drive the vehicle and schedule Toyota service today. Below is a list of the most ongoing reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are fundamental for your 2016 Toyota Avalon. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel collection 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 destructive or long-established, 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 break to ignition coils and O2 sensors, finest to more expensive repairs.
  • Your catalytic converter is destructive or going destructive. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2016 Toyota Avalon’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 Nalley Toyota of Roswell offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Toyota service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2016 Toyota Avalon 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 substitute problems from overheating.
  • Issues with each aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or substitute item can wreak havoc on your 2016 Toyota Avalon if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can dump the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound commonplace, bring your Avalon to Toyota and have our squad of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed accurately and aren't causing each issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts original place might price a small bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and break caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, known as the O2 sensor, measures the deposit of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be less active 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 break to your catalytic converter and your 2016 Toyota Avalon's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to embrace the right collection of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A destructive O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
  • One of the most common and copious cause is that your 2016 Toyota Avalon gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2016 Toyota Avalon 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 destructive fuel cap? If your gas cap is long-established 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 now after you put gas in your 2016 Toyota Avalon, original 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.
  • Your 2016 Toyota Avalon has a vacuum leak. Every Toyota Avalon has a vacuum system that performs a humongous range 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 important heat or extreme cold.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2016 Toyota Avalon is every emotional. 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 really require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Toyota you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Toyota Avalon is what determines how much fuel is fundamental to run your engine efficiently by measuring the deposit of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to correct changes, like altitude. If your Toyota Avalon 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 destructive mass airflow sensor.

2016 Toyota Avalon Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little 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 admitted as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Avalon. There are hundreds of definite codes that your check engine light can suggest. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you essential knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is specifically supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, indisputable and cooperative vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of potential OBD codes, there are also hundreds of potential reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is accessible for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a astonishing concern, you risk intrusive your car supplemental by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out immediately by a certified Toyota mechanic. Call Nalley Toyota of Roswell at 7707637398 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2016 Toyota Avalon will usually shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is repaired. 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 assorted 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 2016 Toyota Avalon light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that payment and the light is still on, you will need to bring it in to Nalley Toyota of Roswell so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

2016 Toyota Avalon Check Engine Light Flashing

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

Every 2016 Toyota Avalon was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its abundant 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 specifically is amiss nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Nalley Toyota of Roswell 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.

2016 Toyota Avalon Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2016 Toyota Avalon starts flashing, that means that the problem needs abrupt attention and your Toyota should be brought in swiftly. A flashing light indicates that the problem is significant and if not taken care of swiftly may result in intense damage to the vehicle. This twinkling light frequently indicates a scrupulous engine misfire allowing unused fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can quickly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can entirely 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 squad of automotive advisors at Nalley Toyota of Roswell immediately by calling 7707637398. 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.

Check Engine Light Service 2016 Toyota Avalon

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Toyota Avalon and shortly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Toyota 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 2016 Toyota Avalon checked as soon as intelligent. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.

When your 2016 Toyota Avalon's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t convenient, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is generally 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 learn with an high-tech scan tool that is used by our Toyota auto repair mechanics at Nalley Toyota of Roswell. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you determine that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced high-tech to determine the issue and repair it.

Is it safe to drive your 2016 Toyota Avalon with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is blinking, this means that there is a relentless issue and it is recommended to service your Toyota Avalon immediately. This question is not very uncomplicated 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 safe to drive. This is consistently indicated by a logical 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 critical problem. Call the experts at Nalley Toyota of Roswell by dialing 7707637398 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2016 Toyota to our certified mechanics as soon as likely.

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. Since each 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. If you check engine light is flashing, we recommend that you pull over and contact Nalley Toyota of Roswell to help learn if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck.

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

The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is naturally between $88 and $111. The valuable news, Nalley Toyota of Roswell offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help find out 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 dangerous failure like a detrimental catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it valuable to get the lawful code reading and diagnosis.