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Is it safe to drive your 2014 Toyota RAV4 with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a hazardous issue and it is recommended to service your Toyota RAV4 suddenly. This question is not incredibly uncomplicated because it any 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 frequently indicated by a dependable 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 hazardous problem. Call the mentors at Nalley Toyota Stonecrest by dialing 7706290279 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2014 Toyota to our certified mechanics as soon as probable.

2014 Toyota RAV4 Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are frequent attainable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are many normal causes including something as uncomplicated as a loose gas cap. Distinct normal reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty emissions control part, faulty head gasket, 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 Toyota Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as needed 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 2014 Toyota RAV4 was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its main systems. The sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending data to the electrical control squad. If the electrical control squad detects that the data is out of factory specifications, the Check Engine Light brightens telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what specifically is incorrect 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 Tremendously Qualified Service experienced.

Check Engine Light Service 2014 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 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 price 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 2014 Toyota RAV4 checked as soon as probable. Ignoring that warning could end up causing first-rate damage to expensive engine elements.

When your 2014 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 usually 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 scan 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 pick that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an professional professional to indicate the issue and repair it.

2014 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 added codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you essential knowledge about your car and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, discernable and positive car symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of potential OBD codes, there are also hundreds of potential reasons for the light, including:

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

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

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2014 Toyota RAV4?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as easy as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a threatening problem that could cause threatening damage to your engine and come with a considerable repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A convincing glow constantly means something less threatening but a flashing check engine light suggests that your vehicle’s engine is in threatening trouble and service is needed immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2014 Toyota RAV4, we extraordinarily recommend not to drive the automobile and schedule Toyota service at this moment. Below is a list of the most respectable reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • One of the most commonplace and copious cause is that your 2014 Toyota RAV4 gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2014 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 bad 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 immediately after you put gas in your 2014 Toyota RAV4, 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 2014 Toyota RAV4 has a vacuum leak. Every Toyota RAV4 has a vacuum system that performs a wide mixture of functions. The vacuum system also helps lower down 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 arid out and crack, notably if they’re exposed to important heat or extreme freezing.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or extra item can wreak havoc on your 2014 Toyota RAV4 if it’s not installed perfectly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even prevent the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound prevailing, bring your RAV4 to Toyota and have our company of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed properly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, notably aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might value a little bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2014 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 usually 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 2014 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 extra problems from overheating.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2014 Toyota RAV4 is every vital. 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 copious decades ago, and they don't genuinely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Toyota you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
  • Your O2 Sensor (Oxygen Sensor) needs to be replaced. The Oxygen sensor, known as the O2 sensor, measures the payment of oxygen in your exhaust system. If there is excess oxygen in your exhaust system, fuel burns faster and your vehicle will be less forceful 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 2014 Toyota RAV4's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to prefer the right mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A bad O2 sensor can also cause a car to fail an emissions test.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your 2014 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 bad 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, central to more expensive repairs.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Toyota RAV4 is what determines how much fuel is needed to run your engine efficiently by measuring the payment of air entering the engine. As a part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps adjust to pronounced changes, like altitude. If your Toyota RAV4 is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a precipitous change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.

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

The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy appropriately. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how frequent miles you can travel to work 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 twinkling, we advise that you pull over and contact Nalley Toyota Stonecrest to help indicate if your car is active to travel to work in or if we advise a tow truck.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most typically misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2014 Toyota RAV4 is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in assorted contrasting 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 2014 Toyota RAV4. Some of these 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 suggest a collection of disparate things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as noteworthy as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2014 Toyota RAV4, contact Nalley Toyota Stonecrest. Our Toyota service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or investigate why your check engine light is shining. Contact Nalley Toyota Stonecrest today!

2014 Toyota RAV4 Check Engine Light

A flashing light indicates that the problem is treacherous and if not taken care of straightaway may result in big damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2014 Toyota RAV4 starts flashing, that means that the problem needs hasty attention and your Toyota should be brought in straightaway. This blinking light usually indicates a exacting engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can quickly surge the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where wear and tear is attainable, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can genuinely be the cause. A bad, long-established or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our unit of automotive consultants at Nalley Toyota Stonecrest immediately by calling 7706290279. 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.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2014 Toyota RAV4 will commonly shut itself off if the issue or code that caused it to turn on is repaired. 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 functional, and you did a few 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 2014 Toyota RAV4 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 Nalley Toyota Stonecrest so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

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

The average rate for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is regularly between $88 and $111. The acceptable news, Nalley Toyota Stonecrest offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help indicate 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 alarming failure like a damaging catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it acceptable to get the cooperative code reading and diagnosis.