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2013 Toyota RAV4 Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are countless possible causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are copious normal causes including something as straightforward as a loose gas cap. Diverse normal reasons for a Check Engine Light are a malfunction with the fuel injection system, damaged oxygen sensor, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, or defective spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Toyota Certified Mechanics and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as basic to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Toyota issue was fixed.

Every 2013 Toyota RAV4 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the automobile on its awesome 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 flashes telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what precisely is culpable nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Nalley Toyota Stonecrest 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.

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 precarious failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it awesome to get the achievable code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is frequently between $88 and $111. The awesome news, Nalley Toyota Stonecrest offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help select the cause of your check engine light.

Check Engine Light Service 2013 Toyota RAV4

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Toyota RAV4 and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Toyota 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 2013 Toyota RAV4 checked as soon as applicable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to pricey engine components.

When your 2013 Toyota RAV4's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t noble, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is typically labeled ā€œcheck engineā€ or ā€œservice engine soonā€, or the light may be nothing more than a picture of an engine, or a picture of the engine with the word ā€œcheck.ā€

When the light turns on, the ECM stores an engine code or ā€œtrouble codeā€ 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 audit tool that is used by our Toyota auto repair mechanics at Nalley Toyota Stonecrest. 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 adequate expert to select the issue and repair it.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2013 Toyota RAV4?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as commonplace as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a unhealthy problem that could cause unhealthy damage to your engine and come with a generous repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady glow continually means something less unhealthy but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in unhealthy trouble and service is imperative today. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2013 Toyota RAV4, we highly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Toyota service today. Below is a list of the most prevalent reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replenished. The Oxygen sensor, known as the O2 sensor, measures the reward of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be less dependable 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 2013 Toyota RAV4's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to choose the right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A damaging O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
  • Your 2013 Toyota RAV4 has a vacuum leak. Every Toyota RAV4 has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety 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 dry out and crack, especially if they’re exposed to important heat or extreme chilled.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2013 Toyota RAV4 is every easy. 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 value of a new one depends on the type of Toyota you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replenished. The mass airflow sensor in your Toyota RAV4 is what determines how much fuel is paramount to run your engine efficiently by measuring the reward of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to attentive changes, like altitude. If your Toyota RAV4 is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a hasty change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a damaging mass airflow sensor.
  • Issues with each aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or added item can wreak havoc on your 2013 Toyota RAV4 if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket components and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even avert the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound aware, bring your RAV4 to Toyota and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing each issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM components original place might cost a scant bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • One of the most normal and countless cause is that your 2013 Toyota RAV4 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2013 Toyota RAV4 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 damaging fuel cap? If your gas cap is erstwhile 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 hastily after you put gas in your 2013 Toyota RAV4, original thing you should check is to make courageous the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are paramount for your 2013 Toyota RAV4. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel mixture 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 damaging or erstwhile, 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, leading to more expensive repairs.
  • Your catalytic converter is damaging or going damaging. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2013 Toyota RAV4’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 ordinarily caused by neglected maintenance, which is why Nalley Toyota Stonecrest offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Toyota service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it serviced, your 2013 Toyota RAV4 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 added problems from overheating.

2013 Toyota RAV4 Check Engine Light

If the check engine light in your 2013 Toyota RAV4 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs brisk attention and your Toyota should be brought in expeditiously. A flashing light indicates that the problem is hazardous and if not taken care of expeditiously may result in major wear and tear to the vehicle. This blinking light ordinarily indicates a exacting engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be deposited into the exhaust system. There it can instantly enhance the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is attainable, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can entirely be the cause. A bad, historic or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. 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 very expensive repair. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Nalley Toyota Stonecrest immediately by calling 7706290279.

2013 Toyota RAV4 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 RAV4. There are hundreds of personal codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling paramount diagnostics will give you favorable knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is genuinely supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, distinctive and helpful vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of persuasive OBD codes, there are also hundreds of persuasive reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is decisive for someone who does not have assorted of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a serious concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away. Call Nalley Toyota Stonecrest at 7706290279 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out immediately by a certified Toyota mechanic.

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 replenished. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. If you check engine light is flashing, we endorse that you pull over and contact Nalley Toyota Stonecrest to help mean if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we endorse a tow truck. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is laborious to predict how bountiful miles you can drive with the warning light on.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2013 Toyota RAV4 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in various 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 2013 Toyota RAV4. Some of these include ignition timing, controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a class of distinct things. It can be as easy as your gas cap being loose or as effective as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2013 Toyota RAV4, contact Nalley Toyota Stonecrest. Our Toyota service department can help you read what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing. Contact Nalley Toyota Stonecrest today!

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2013 Toyota RAV4 will usually shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is serviced. 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 cooperative, 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 Toyota RAV4 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 deliver it in to Nalley Toyota Stonecrest so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

Is it safe to drive your 2013 Toyota RAV4 with the check engine light on?

This question is not particularly distinguishable 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 commute. This is frequently indicated by a steady glow of the check engine light. If you notice a difference in the performance of the vehicle, it could be an indication of a more exacting problem. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a exacting issue and it is recommended to service your Toyota RAV4 urgently. Call the mentors at Nalley Toyota Stonecrest by dialing 7706290279 so you can describe the issues. Or lower your speed and bring your 2013 Toyota to our certified mechanics as soon as functional.