Mercedes-Benz S-Class Check Engine Light

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating, exceptionally 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, again known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your S-Class. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can properly represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you helpful knowledge about your car and will again allow that vital Check Engine Light to do what it is genuinely supposed to do: be your guide. Sadly, obvious and useful car symptoms do not repeatedly accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of conceivable OBD codes, there are again hundreds of conceivable reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is important 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 expeditiously by a talented certified Mercedes-Benz 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 Mercedes-Benz of Draper at 3854255461 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!

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

The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is usually between $88 and $111. The good news, Mercedes-Benz of Draper offers completely complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to support determine the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not accurately 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 proper code reading and diagnosis.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the essential onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a variety 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 vehicle. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored vehicle performance since the 80s and do a variety of things for your Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Some of these essential duties include ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean an assortment of different things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as unpredictable as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Mercedes-Benz S-Class, contact Mercedes-Benz of Draper. Our Mercedes-Benz service department can support you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Mercedes-Benz of Draper today!

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

Since every check engine code has its own level of severity, it is ordinarily difficult to predict how many miles you can be secure in driving 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 endorse that you pull over and contact Mercedes-Benz of Draper to assist determine if your car is secure to drive in or if we endorse a tow truck. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly.

Check Engine Light Service Mercedes-Benz S-Class

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Mercedes-Benz S-Class and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Mercedes-Benz 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, calm 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 Mercedes-Benz S-Class checked expeditiously. Ignoring that warning could end up causing extensive, considerable damage to costly engine components.

When your Mercedes-Benz S-Class'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 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 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 Mercedes-Benz auto repair mechanics at Mercedes-Benz of Draper. There are again a number of relatively inexpensive 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 experienced professional to determine the definitely appropriate issue and repair it.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your Mercedes-Benz S-Class starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention instantly and your Mercedes-Benz should be brought in immediately. A flashing light reveals that the problem is very serious and if not taken care of instantly may result in extensive and meaningful damage to the vehicle. This blinking light usually reveals 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 extensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can definitely be the cause. A defective, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is regularly flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Mercedes-Benz of Draper expeditiously by calling 3854255461. 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 pricey repair.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class 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 different common causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other often common reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, defective head gasket, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, defective emissions control part, damaged oxygen sensor, or defective spark plugs to name a few. 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 totally repair it as required to restore factory specifications. When this hits, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Mercedes-Benz issue was totally fixed.

Every Mercedes-Benz S-Class 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 speedy sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending important 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 absolutely is wrong nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Mercedes-Benz of Draper provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Exceptionally Qualified Service professional.

Is it safe to drive your Mercedes-Benz S-Class 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 safe to drive. This is ordinarily 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 serious problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a serious issue and it is recommended to service your Mercedes-Benz S-Class instantly. Call the experts at Mercedes-Benz of Draper by dialing 3854255461 so you can describe the issues. Or decrease your speed and bring your Mercedes-Benz to our certified mechanics as soon as imaginable.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Mercedes-Benz S-Class will usually shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is fixed. For instance, if the cause of your check engine light coming on was a loose gas cap, if it's tightened, the light will instantly turn itself off. Again, 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 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 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 Mercedes-Benz of Draper so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

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

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as simple as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Also, the check engine light could again be a warning of a meaningful problem that could cause serious damage to your engine and come with a hefty and expensive repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady and continuous glow typically means something less serious but a flashing check engine light reveals that your vehicle’s engine is in significant trouble and helpful service is needed quickly. If your check engine light is flashing in your Mercedes-Benz S-Class, we remarkably advise not to drive the car and schedule Mercedes-Benz service today. Below is a list of the most common reasons your check engine light can come on:

• The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Mercedes-Benz S-Class is each important. 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 few decades ago, and they don't genuinely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Mercedes-Benz you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
• Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your Mercedes-Benz S-Class’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 usually caused by invariably neglected maintenance, which is why Mercedes-Benz of Draper offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with each Mercedes-Benz service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your Mercedes-Benz S-Class 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 other dangerous problems from overheating.
• Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Mercedes-Benz S-Class is what determines how much fuel is necessary 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 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a sudden fast change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a vital sign of a damaged mass airflow sensor.
• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak extreme havoc on your Mercedes-Benz S-Class if it’s not installed accurately. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even impede the car from starting. If these issues sound familiar, bring your S-Class to Mercedes-Benz and have our team of talented certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed properly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or utilizing OEM parts first place might cost a little bit more but could help you save considerably from having to get poor work and damage 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 amount of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns more promptly and your car will be less efficient when it comes to fuel economy. So what happens if I don’t change your O2 sensor? A damaged sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause serious damage to your catalytic converter and your Mercedes-Benz S-Class's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the precisely appropriate mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A damaged O2 sensor can again cause a vehicle to fail an emissions test.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are necessary for your Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of your car. 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 conspicuous 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 pricey repairs.
• One of the most regular and frequent cause is that your Mercedes-Benz S-Class gas cap is loose, broken or missing. The gas cap for your Mercedes-Benz S-Class serves different purposes. It prevents hazardous gas fumes from being released when you aren't driving, it seals the fuel system and helps manage pressure within the fuel tank. What happens if you have a damaged 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 change a gas cap isn't pricey. If your check engine light turns on promptly after you put gas in your Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 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.
• Your Mercedes-Benz S-Class has a vacuum leak. Each Mercedes-Benz S-Class has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system again helps lower unhealthy 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.