2013 Chevrolet Malibu Check Engine Light

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating, especially 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 Malibu. 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 helpful knowledge about your vehicle and will likewise allow that critical Check Engine Light to do what it is absolutely supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, obvious and useful vehicle symptoms do not constantly accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of possible OBD codes, there are likewise hundreds of possible reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is crucial for someone who does not have a lot of prevailing 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 instantly by a proficient certified Chevrolet mechanic. Call Bill Estes Chevy Buick GMC Lebanon at 3178545995 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most frequently misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the essential onboard diagnostics system, and displays in an assortment 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 car. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored car performance since the 80s and do an assortment of things for your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. 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 an assortment of different things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as perilous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, contact Bill Estes Chevy Buick GMC Lebanon. Our Chevrolet 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 Bill Estes Chevy Buick GMC Lebanon today!

Is it safe to drive your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu with the check engine light on?

This question is not immensely 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 secure 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 serious problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a serious issue and it is advised to service your Chevrolet Malibu immediately. Call the experts at Bill Estes Chevy Buick GMC Lebanon by dialing 3178545995 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2013 Chevrolet to our certified mechanics as in the near future as conceivable.

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

Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is ordinarily difficult to predict how many miles you can be safe 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 recommend that you pull over and contact Bill Estes Chevy Buick GMC Lebanon to help determine 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.

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, Bill Estes Chevy Buick GMC Lebanon offers totally free multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help determine the cause of your check engine light.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu 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 many common causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other generally common reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, damaged oxygen sensor, damaged 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 Chevrolet Certified Mechanics and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and absolutely 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 Chevrolet issue was completely fixed.

Every 2013 Chevrolet Malibu was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the car on its essential systems. The rapid sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending crucial 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. Nevertheless, unfortunately that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what explicitly is wrong nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Bill Estes Chevy Buick GMC Lebanon 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 Qualified Service professional.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Check Engine Light

A flashing light signifies that the problem is remarkably serious and if not taken care of instantly may result in major and significant damage to the car. If the check engine light in your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention instantly and your Chevrolet should be brought in promptly. This blinking light frequently 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 and major repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can exactly be the cause. A damaged, 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 Bill Estes Chevy Buick GMC Lebanon promptly by calling 3178545995. 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 exceedingly costly repair.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu 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 rapidly turn itself off. Still, 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 2013 Chevrolet Malibu 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 Bill Estes Chevy Buick GMC Lebanon so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

Check Engine Light Service 2013 Chevrolet Malibu

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Chevrolet Malibu and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Chevrolet owners, your heart sinks drastically because you may have specifically 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 2013 Chevrolet Malibu checked immediately. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major, major damage to expensive engine components.

When your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu'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 usually 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 Chevrolet auto repair mechanics at Bill Estes Chevy Buick GMC Lebanon. 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 specifically correct issue and repair it.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?

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 and pricey repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady and continuous glow ordinarily means something less serious but a flashing check engine light reveals that your vehicle’s engine is in serious trouble and useful service is required rapidly. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, we extremely propose not to drive the car and schedule Chevrolet service today. Below is a list of the most common reasons your check engine light can come on:

• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are required for your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mix 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 experience a evident 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 clogged catalytic converter or damage to ignition coils and O2 sensors, leading to more expensive repairs.
• The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu is each vital. 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 Chevrolet you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
• Your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu has a vacuum leak. Each Chevrolet Malibu has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system likewise 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 dry out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to intense heat or extreme cold.
• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak extreme havoc on your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu if it’s not installed correctly. These aftermarket components and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the car from starting. If these issues sound familiar, bring your Malibu to Chevrolet and have our team of gifted certified mechanics assure that your aftermarket items were installed accurately and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or utilizing OEM components 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.
• Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Chevrolet Malibu is what determines how much fuel is required 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 Chevrolet Malibu is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a sudden rapid change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a vital sign of a faulty mass airflow sensor.
• Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu’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 frequently caused by invariably neglected maintenance, which is why Bill Estes Chevy Buick GMC Lebanon offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with each Chevrolet service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu 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.
• One of the most common and frequent cause is that your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu gas cap is loose, broken or missing. The gas cap for your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu serves different purposes. It prevents hazardous 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 faulty 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 pricey. Luckily, to replace a gas cap isn't expensive. If your check engine light turns on quickly after you put gas in your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, 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 immediately and your car will be less efficient 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 meaningful damage to your catalytic converter and your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the absolutely correct mix of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A faulty O2 sensor can likewise cause a vehicle to fail an emissions test.