Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Check Engine Light

Check Engine Light Service Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Hyundai owners, your heart sinks exceptionally because you may have exactly 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, peaceful 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 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid checked quickly. Ignoring that warning could end up causing significant, major damage to pricey engine components.

When your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid'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 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 swiftly 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 Hyundai auto repair mechanics at Larry H. Miller Hyundai Peoria. There are still a number of essentially inexpensive 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 professional to determine the specifically appropriate issue and repair it.

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 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 typical causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other often typical reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, broken head gasket, dirty mass airflow sensor, broken emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, or broken spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Hyundai Certified Mechanics and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and absolutely repair it as required to restore factory specifications. When this hits, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Hyundai issue was completely fixed.

Every Hyundai Sonata Hybrid was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its vital systems. The fast 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. However, sadly that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what absolutely is wrong nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Larry H. Miller Hyundai Peoria 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.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most normally misunderstood lights or indicators in your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the important 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 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. Some of these essential duties 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 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 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, contact Larry H. Miller Hyundai Peoria. Contact Larry H. Miller Hyundai Peoria today! Our Hyundai service department can assist you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is flashing.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid will frequently 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 quickly turn itself off. Also, if your catalytic converter is working perfectly, 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 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 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 Larry H. Miller Hyundai Peoria so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 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, again known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Sonata Hybrid. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can properly represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you helpful knowledge about your vehicle and will again allow that essential Check Engine Light to do what it is genuinely supposed to do: be your guide. Sadly, clear and helpful vehicle symptoms do not invariably accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of conceivable OBD codes, there are again hundreds of conceivable reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is important for someone who does not have a lot of prevailing automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. Call Larry H. Miller Hyundai Peoria at 6232446778 today or schedule your check engine light service online today! If the engine light comes on due to a serious concern, you risk damaging your car further by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out immediately by a talented certified Hyundai mechanic.

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

The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly. If you check engine light is flashing, we suggest that you pull over and contact Larry H. Miller Hyundai Peoria to assist determine if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we suggest a tow truck. It could be anything from a bad sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is typically difficult to predict how multiple miles you can be safe in driving with the warning light on.

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Check Engine Light

A flashing light signifies that the problem is very serious and if not taken care of instantly may result in considerable and serious damage to the car. If the check engine light in your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention instantly and your Hyundai should be brought in expeditiously. This blinking light frequently indicates a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can expeditiously raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an pricey and huge repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can definitely be the cause. A faulty, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is always flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Larry H. Miller Hyundai Peoria instantly by calling 6232446778. If the problem is entirely 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.

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

The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is typically between $88 and $111. The good news, Larry H. Miller Hyundai Peoria offers completely free multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to support determine the cause of your check engine light. The check engine light warns of issues ranging from a gas cap that's not correctly 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 correct code reading and diagnosis.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a Hyundai Sonata Hybrid?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as simple as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Also, the check engine light could still be a warning of a meaningful problem that could cause serious damage to your engine and come with a hefty and costly repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A steady and continuous glow typically means something less serious but a flashing check engine light signifies that your vehicle’s engine is in meaningful trouble and useful service is required instantly. If your check engine light is flashing in your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, we very advocate not to drive the vehicle and schedule Hyundai service today. Below is a list of the most typical reasons your check engine light can come on:

• 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 expeditiously and your car will be less efficient when it comes to fuel economy. So what results if I don’t replace your O2 sensor? A damaged sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause significant damage to your catalytic converter and your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the specifically correct combination of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A damaged O2 sensor can still cause a vehicle to fail an emissions test.
• Your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has a vacuum leak. Each Hyundai Sonata Hybrid has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system still 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, exceptionally if they’re exposed to intense heat or extreme cold.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel combination 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 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.
• One of the most typical and frequent cause is that your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid serves various purposes. It prevents dangerous 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 damaged 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 costly. If your check engine light turns on swiftly after you put gas in your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, 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.
• The battery is low or dead. The battery in your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 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 genuinely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Hyundai 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 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid if it’s not installed properly. These aftermarket parts 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 Sonata Hybrid to Hyundai and have our team of talented certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed properly 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 assist you save substantially 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 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid’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 repeatedly neglected maintenance, which is why Larry H. Miller Hyundai Peoria offers a free multi-point check with each Hyundai service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 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 delicate problems from overheating.
• Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 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 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 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 damaged mass airflow sensor.

Is it safe to drive your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a serious issue and it is advised to service your Hyundai Sonata Hybrid expeditiously. 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 secure to drive. This is ordinarily 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 serious problem. Call the experts at Larry H. Miller Hyundai Peoria by dialing 6232446778 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your Hyundai to our certified mechanics as soon as imaginable.