What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2014 Honda Passport is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few divergent 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 2014 Honda Passport. Some of these include controlling engine speed, ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can choose a variety of diversified things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as strict as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2014 Honda Passport, contact David McDavid Honda of Frisco. Our Honda 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. Contact David McDavid Honda of Frisco today!
Check Engine Light Service 2014 Honda Passport
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Honda Passport and abruptly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Honda 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 value of the unknown) can be just as stressful. But take a deep breath and realize the light coming on doesn’t indicate 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 2014 Honda Passport checked as soon as definite. Ignoring that warning could end up causing effective wear and tear to costly engine components.
When your 2014 Honda Passport's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the high-tech control system that it can’t polite, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is frequently 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 electrical scan tool that is used by our Honda auto repair mechanics at David McDavid Honda of Frisco. There are also a number of relatively impartial 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 read the issue and repair it.
2014 Honda Passport Check Engine Light Codes
The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard swiftly 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 current as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Passport. There are hundreds of chance codes that your check engine light can determine. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you abundant knowledge about your car and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is genuinely supposed to do: be your guide. Sadly, discernable and helpful car symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of exact OBD codes, there are also hundreds of exact reasons for the light, including:
- Old Battery
- Emissions controls issues
- Transmission issues
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Ignition system faults
- Computer output circuit issues
- O2 Sensor
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
This is why it is compelling 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 promptly by a certified Honda mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a compelling concern, you risk damaging your automobile further by not repairing the issue right away. Call David McDavid Honda of Frisco at 4694053754 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!
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 properly tightened to a more noteworthy failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it marvelous to get the correct code reading and diagnosis. The middle cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is typically between $88 and $111. The marvelous news, David McDavid Honda of Frisco offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help recommend the cause of your check engine light.
2014 Honda Passport Check Engine Light Flashing
Although there are countless likely causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are contrasting common causes encompassing something as effortless as a loose gas cap. Contrasting common reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, damaged oxygen sensor, faulty emissions control part, faulty head gasket, or defective spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Honda 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 Honda issue was fixed.
Every 2014 Honda Passport was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the car on its crucial systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the electronic control squad. If the electronic control squad 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 explicitly is sorry nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; David McDavid Honda of Frisco provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Extraordinarily Qualified Service mechanical.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2014 Honda Passport?
When your check engine light comes on, this could be as easy as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a risky problem that could cause risky damage to your engine and come with a considerable repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow typically means something less risky but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in risky trouble and service is needed promptly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2014 Honda Passport, we incredibly endorse not to drive the vehicle and schedule Honda service today. Below is a list of the most routine reasons your check engine light can come on:
- Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2014 Honda Passport’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 David McDavid Honda of Frisco offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Honda service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2014 Honda Passport will not pass an emissions test, show a lack of engine performance and will negatively affect your fuel economy. Your automobile may run at a higher temperature, too, which can cause diverse problems from overheating.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or diverse item can wreak havoc on your 2014 Honda Passport if it’s not installed correctly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can ditch the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the automobile from starting. If these issues sound conscious, bring your Passport to Honda and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly 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 save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Honda Passport is what determines how much fuel is necessary 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 certain changes, like altitude. If your Honda Passport 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 prevalent and copious cause is that your 2014 Honda Passport gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2014 Honda Passport 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 shortly after you put gas in your 2014 Honda Passport, first thing you should check is to make fearless 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 necessary for your 2014 Honda Passport. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel assortment 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, finest to more expensive repairs.
- Your 2014 Honda Passport has a vacuum leak. Every Honda Passport has a vacuum system that performs a giant assortment 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, especially if they’re exposed to notable heat or extreme annoyed.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2014 Honda Passport is every necessary. Without a automobile battery, your automobile won’t start, light up the road ahead, play the radio or charge your phone. Today’s automobile batteries last much longer than they did a few decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The estimate of a new one depends on the type of Honda you drive, but check our existing service coupons and specials.
- Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, known 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 feasible 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 2014 Honda Passport's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to designate the right assortment of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A bad O2 sensor can also cause a automobile to fail an emissions test.
Is it safe to drive your 2014 Honda Passport with the check engine light on?
If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a unhealthy issue and it is recommended to service your Honda Passport suddenly. This question is not very amiable 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 firm to drive. This is typically 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 unhealthy problem. Call the experts at David McDavid Honda of Frisco by dialing 4694053754 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce down your speed and bring your 2014 Honda to our certified mechanics as soon as conceivable.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2014 Honda Passport will ordinarily 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 factual, 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 2014 Honda Passport 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 David McDavid Honda of Frisco so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.
2014 Honda Passport Check Engine Light
If the check engine light in your 2014 Honda Passport starts flashing, that means that the problem needs prompt attention and your Honda should be brought in suddenly. A flashing light indicates that the problem is precarious and if not taken care of suddenly may result in dynamic wear and tear to the vehicle. This glaring light usually illustrates a strict engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can quickly enhance 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 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 team of automotive experts at David McDavid Honda of Frisco immediately by calling 4694053754. If the problem is ignored or you continue to travel to work, this can spread to the spark plug wires, catalytic converter, or ignition coils which can lead to a exceedingly pricey repair.
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 all check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how innumerable 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 David McDavid Honda of Frisco to help imply if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck.