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

It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. Since any 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. If you check engine light is flashing, we advise that you pull over and contact Courtesy Nissan of Tampa to assist determine if your vehicle is secure to drive in or if we advise a tow truck. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most normally misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2018 Nissan Armada is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the important 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 2018 Nissan Armada. Some of these essential duties include shifting automatic transmissions controlling engine speed, ignition timing, and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a wide range 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 2018 Nissan Armada, contact Courtesy Nissan of Tampa. Our Nissan 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 Courtesy Nissan of Tampa 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 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. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is typically between $88 and $111. The good news, Courtesy Nissan of Tampa offers completely complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help determine the cause of your check engine light.

2018 Nissan Armada Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating, particularly 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 Armada. 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 advantageous knowledge about your car and will likewise allow that important Check Engine Light to do what it is genuinely supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, apparent and useful car symptoms do not regularly accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of potential OBD codes, there are likewise hundreds of potential reasons for the light, including:

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

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. If the engine light comes on due to a serious concern, you risk damaging your vehicle further by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out rapidly by a proficient certified Nissan mechanic. Call Courtesy Nissan of Tampa at 8138291813 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!

2018 Nissan Armada 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 regular causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other generally regular reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, damaged head gasket, dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, broken oxygen sensor, or faulty spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Nissan Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and utterly repair it as necessary to restore factory specifications. When this results, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Nissan issue was totally fixed.

Every 2018 Nissan Armada 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 speedy sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending vital 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. Yet, unfortunately 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; Courtesy Nissan of Tampa provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Exceedingly Certified Service professional.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2018 Nissan Armada 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 expeditiously turn itself off. Again, if your catalytic converter is working correctly, 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 2018 Nissan Armada 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 Courtesy Nissan of Tampa so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

Is it safe to drive your 2018 Nissan Armada with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a serious issue and it is suggested to service your Nissan Armada promptly. 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 generally 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. Call the experts at Courtesy Nissan of Tampa by dialing 8138291813 so you can describe the issues. Or lessen your speed and bring your 2018 Nissan to our certified mechanics as soon as conceivable.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2018 Nissan Armada?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as simple as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Again, the check engine light could also be a warning of an essential 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 meaningful trouble and useful service is necessary instantly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2018 Nissan Armada, we highly propose not to drive the vehicle and schedule Nissan service today. Below is a list of the most typical reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2018 Nissan Armada is each important. Without a vehicle battery, your vehicle won’t start, light up the road in front, 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 absolutely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Nissan you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak extreme havoc on your 2018 Nissan Armada 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 Armada to Nissan and have our team of skilled certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed perfectly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, exceptionally aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a little bit more but could help you save substantially from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • One of the most regular and frequent cause is that your 2018 Nissan Armada gas cap is loose, broken or missing. The gas cap for your 2018 Nissan Armada serves various purposes. It prevents unpredictable gas fumes from being released when you aren't driving, it seals the fuel system and helps maintain pressure within the fuel tank. What results if you have a defective 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 costly. Luckily, to change a gas cap isn't costly. If your check engine light turns on instantly after you put gas in your 2018 Nissan Armada, 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 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 rapidly and your car will be less efficient when it comes to fuel economy. So what results if I don’t change your O2 sensor? A defective sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause significant damage to your catalytic converter and your 2018 Nissan Armada's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the precisely correct mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A defective O2 sensor can again cause a vehicle to fail an emissions test.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Nissan Armada 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 Nissan Armada is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a sudden rapid change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a crucial sign of a defective mass airflow sensor.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your 2018 Nissan Armada. 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 endure a noticeable 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, leading to more costly repairs.
  • Your 2018 Nissan Armada has a vacuum leak. Each Nissan Armada 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, exceptionally if they’re exposed to intense heat or extreme cold.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2018 Nissan Armada’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 Courtesy Nissan of Tampa offers a complimentary multi-point check with each Nissan service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2018 Nissan Armada 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 perilous problems from overheating.

Check Engine Light Service 2018 Nissan Armada

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Nissan Armada and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Nissan owners, your heart sinks extremely because you may have absolutely 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 suggested that you get your 2018 Nissan Armada checked promptly. Ignoring that warning could end up causing extensive, considerable damage to costly engine components.

When your 2018 Nissan Armada'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 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 can quickly 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 Nissan auto repair mechanics at Courtesy Nissan of Tampa. There are again a number of relatively 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 explicitly correct issue and repair it.

2018 Nissan Armada Check Engine Light

A flashing light signifies that the problem is very serious and if not taken care of instantly may result in extensive and meaningful damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2018 Nissan Armada starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention instantly and your Nissan should be brought in immediately. This blinking light frequently reveals 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 pricey and major repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can explicitly be the cause. A faulty, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is repeatedly flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Courtesy Nissan of Tampa expeditiously by calling 8138291813. If the problem is totally 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.