Please wait while the page loads...

Is it safe to drive your Lexus RC 350 with the check engine light on?

This question is not very evident 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 dependable to drive. This is continually indicated by a steady glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the automobile, it could be an indication of a more unhealthy problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a unhealthy issue and it is recommended to service your Lexus RC 350 shortly. Call the mentors at Nalley Lexus Roswell by dialing 7702848580 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your Lexus to our certified mechanics as soon as usable.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your Lexus RC 350 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 brightens 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 range of things for your Lexus RC 350. Some of these 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 a variety of odd things. It can be as proper as your gas cap being loose or as active as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your Lexus RC 350, contact Nalley Lexus Roswell. Contact Nalley Lexus Roswell today! Our Lexus service department can help you read what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing.

Lexus RC 350 Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that small 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 affable as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your RC 350. There are hundreds of further codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a small patience, tackling gigantic diagnostics will give you acceptable 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, engaging and exact vehicle 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:

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

This is why it is broad for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. Call Nalley Lexus Roswell at 7702848580 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! If the engine light comes on due to a scrupulous concern, you risk damaging your car distinctive by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out abruptly by a certified Lexus mechanic.

Lexus RC 350 Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are countless ability causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are assorted prevalent causes encompassing something as straightforward as a loose gas cap. Extra prevalent reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, damaged oxygen sensor, 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 Lexus Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as fundamental to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Lexus issue was fixed.

Every Lexus RC 350 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its hard systems. The sensors are continuously 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 definitely is mistaken nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Nalley Lexus 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 Highly Qualified Service adequate.

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

The middle cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is continually between $88 and $111. The accomplished news, Nalley Lexus Roswell offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help suggest 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 relentless failure like a damaging catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it accomplished to get the handy code reading and diagnosis.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Lexus RC 350 will commonly 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 natural, 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 Lexus RC 350 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 transport it in to Nalley Lexus Roswell so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

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

It could be anything from a harmful sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. If you check engine light is glaring, we recommend that you pull over and contact Nalley Lexus Roswell to help choose if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. Since any check engine code has its own level of severity, it is vital to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on.

Check Engine Light Service Lexus RC 350

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Lexus RC 350 and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Lexus owners, your heart sinks a small because you have small 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 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 Lexus RC 350 checked as soon as functional. Ignoring that warning could end up causing large damage to expensive engine components.

When your Lexus RC 350's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electrical control system that it can’t decent, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is normally 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 Lexus auto repair mechanics at Nalley Lexus Roswell. There are also a number of relatively low-priced 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 mechanical to select the issue and repair it.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a Lexus RC 350?

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 hazardous problem that could cause hazardous damage to your engine and come with a exemplary repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow typically means something less hazardous but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in hazardous trouble and service is needed expeditiously. If your check engine light is flashing in your Lexus RC 350, we exceedingly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Lexus service today. Below is a list of the most routine reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your catalytic converter is detrimental or going detrimental. The catalytic converter is a part of your Lexus RC 350’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 Lexus Roswell offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Lexus service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your Lexus RC 350 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 additional problems from overheating.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are essential for your Lexus RC 350. 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 your spark plugs or spark plug wires are detrimental or aged, 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, extensive to more expensive repairs.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, normal as the O2 sensor, measures the ditch of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be fewer pragmatic 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 Lexus RC 350's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to opt for the right variety of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A detrimental O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or additional item can wreak havoc on your Lexus RC 350 if it’s not installed well. These aftermarket components and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound classic, transport your RC 350 to Lexus 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 components 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 Lexus RC 350 is what determines how much fuel is essential to run your engine efficiently by measuring the ditch of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to distinguishable changes, like altitude. If your Lexus RC 350 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 detrimental mass airflow sensor.
  • One of the most normal and frequent cause is that your Lexus RC 350 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Lexus RC 350 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 detrimental fuel cap? If your gas cap is aged 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 suddenly after you put gas in your Lexus RC 350, 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.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Lexus RC 350 is every climactic. 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 Lexus you drive, but check our refined service coupons and specials.
  • Your Lexus RC 350 has a vacuum leak. Every Lexus RC 350 has a vacuum system that performs a giant range of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower detrimental 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, especially if they’re exposed to intense heat or extreme chilled.

Lexus RC 350 Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your Lexus RC 350 starts twinkling, that means that the problem needs prompt attention and your Lexus should be brought in shortly. A twinkling light indicates that the problem is relentless and if not taken care of shortly may result in main damage to the vehicle. This blinking light frequently indicates a exacting engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can straightaway hike the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is achievable, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can precisely be the cause. A bad, long-established or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is shining, please contact our team of automotive experts at Nalley Lexus Roswell instantly by calling 7702848580. 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 very expensive repair.