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What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?
One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2020 Subaru Forester 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 vehicle. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored vehicle performance since the 80s and do a variety of things for your 2020 Subaru Forester. Some of these include shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, controlling engine speed, 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 simple as your gas cap being loose or as serious as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2020 Subaru Forester, contact Mike Shaw Subaru. Our Subaru 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 Mike Shaw Subaru 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 attentive failure same a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it courageous to get the apprehensive code reading and diagnosis. The average estimate for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is continuously between $88 and $111. The courageous news, Mike Shaw Subaru offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help determine the cause of your check engine light.
2020 Subaru Forester 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 known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Forester. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you useful knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, obvious and helpful vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of possible OBD codes, there are also hundreds of possible reasons for the light, including:
- Ignition system faults
- Fuel and air metering systems problems
- Computer output circuit issues
- Bad Spark Plugs
- Loose Gas Cap or Missing Gas Cap
- Emissions controls issues
- Old Battery
- O2 Sensor
- Transmission issues
2020 Subaru Forester Check Engine Light
A flashing light indicates that the problem is acceptable and if not taken care of shortly may result in consequential damage to the automobile. If the check engine light in your 2020 Subaru Forester starts flashing, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Subaru should be brought in shortly. This blinking light usually indicates a severe engine misfire allowing unburned 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 absolutely 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 department of automotive experts at Mike Shaw Subaru immediately by calling 7207249280. 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 excessively expensive repair.
Will the check engine light reset itself?
The check engine light on your 2020 Subaru Forester 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 2020 Subaru Forester 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 Mike Shaw Subaru so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.
Is it safe to drive your 2020 Subaru Forester with the check engine light on?
If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a genuine issue and it is recommended to service your Subaru Forester instantly. This question is not immensely adequate 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 mostly indicated by a persistent glow of the check engine light. If you notice a array in the performance of the vehicle, it could be an indication of a more certain problem. Call the experts at Mike Shaw Subaru by dialing 7207249280 so you can describe the issues. Or lessen your speed and bring your 2020 Subaru to our certified mechanics as soon as achievable.
How many miles can you drive with the check engine light?
Since each check engine code has its have level of severity, it is difficult to predict how several miles you can drive with the warning light on. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy subsequently. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. If you check engine light is glaring, we recommend that you pull over and contact Mike Shaw Subaru to help opt for if your vehicle is protected to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck.
2020 Subaru Forester 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 several common causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other common reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen sensor, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty head gasket, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, or defective spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Subaru Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as needed to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Subaru issue was fixed.
Every 2020 Subaru Forester 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 wrong nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Mike Shaw Subaru provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Highly Qualified Service professional.
What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2020 Subaru Forester?
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 also be a warning of a serious problem that could cause serious damage to your engine and come with a hefty 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 indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in serious trouble and service is needed immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2020 Subaru Forester, we highly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Subaru service today. Below is a list of the most common reasons your check engine light can come on:
- Your 2020 Subaru Forester has a vacuum leak. Every Subaru Forester has a vacuum system that performs a wide range 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 barren out and crack, highly if they’re exposed to astonishing heat or extreme freezing.
- One of the most modern and innumerable cause is that your 2020 Subaru Forester gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2020 Subaru Forester 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 retain 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 lavish. If your check engine light turns on quickly after you put gas in your 2020 Subaru Forester, authentic 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.
- Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or innumerable item can wreak havoc on your 2020 Subaru Forester if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket elements and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even hinder the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound prevalent, bring your Forester to Subaru and retain our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, highly aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM elements authentic place might cost a miniscule bit more but could save you money from having to get limited work and break caused by limited installation work corrected.
- The battery is low or dead. The battery in you 2020 Subaru Forester every evident. Without a vehicle battery, your vehicle won’t start, light up the road ahead, play the radio or charge your phone. Today’s vehicle batteries last much longer than they did a bit decades ago, and they don't really require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Subaru you drive, but check our contemporary service coupons and specials. 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 2020 Subaru Forester's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to influence the decent variety of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A bad O2 sensor can also cause a vehicle to fail an emissions test.
- 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 faster and your vehicle will be less possible when it comes to fuel economy.
- Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2020 Subaru Forester’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 Mike Shaw Subaru offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Subaru service. If you retain an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2020 Subaru Forester will not pass an emissions test, show a lack of engine performance and will negatively affect your fuel economy. Your vehicle may run at a higher temperature, too, which can cause innumerable problems from overheating.
- Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Subaru Forester is what determines how much fuel is fundamental 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 definite changes, like altitude. If your Subaru Forester 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.
- New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are fundamental for your 2020 Subaru Forester. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel variety 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 you're spark plugs or spark plug wires are bad or old, you will experience limited performance and reduced power. In some extreme cases, your engine will retain 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, best to more lavish repairs.
Check Engine Light Service 2020 Subaru Forester
What do you do when you’re driving along in your Subaru Forester and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Subaru 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 2020 Subaru Forester checked as soon as possible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.
When your 2020 Subaru Forester's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t correct, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is typically 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 scan tool that is used by our Subaru auto repair mechanics at Mike Shaw Subaru. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you choose 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 issue and repair it.
