2013 GMC Sierra Check Engine Light

2013 GMC Sierra Check Engine Light

A flashing light reveals that the problem is immensely serious and if not taken care of rapidly may result in major and serious damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2013 GMC Sierra starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention rapidly and your GMC should be brought in quickly. This blinking light frequently reveals 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 pricey and major repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can exactly be the cause. A faulty, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is invariably flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Coggin Buick/GMC of Orange Park expeditiously by calling 9046829278. 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 immensely costly repair.

2013 GMC Sierra 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 several common causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other mainly common reasons for a Check Engine Light are faulty emissions control part, faulty head gasket, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, dirty mass airflow sensor, broken 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 GMC Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and utterly 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 GMC issue was entirely fixed.

Every 2013 GMC Sierra was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its crucial systems. The fast sensors are continually detecting conditions while sending critical 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. Yet, sadly that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what specifically is wrong nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Coggin Buick/GMC of Orange Park provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Exceptionally Qualified Service professional.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most frequently misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2013 GMC Sierra is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the crucial onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a variety 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 a variety of things for your 2013 GMC Sierra. 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 wide range of different things. It can be as simple as your gas cap being loose or as hazardous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2013 GMC Sierra, contact Coggin Buick/GMC of Orange Park. Our GMC 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 Coggin Buick/GMC of Orange Park today!

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 replaced. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is generally difficult to predict how many miles you can be safe in driving with the warning light on. If you check engine light is flashing, we advise that you pull over and contact Coggin Buick/GMC of Orange Park to help determine if your car is safe to drive in or if we advise a tow truck. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly.

Is it safe to drive your 2013 GMC Sierra with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a serious issue and it is suggested to service your GMC Sierra quickly. This question is not exceedingly 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 safe to drive. This is generally 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 Coggin Buick/GMC of Orange Park by dialing 9046829278 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2013 GMC to our certified mechanics as in the near future as conceivable.

Check Engine Light Service 2013 GMC Sierra

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

When your 2013 GMC Sierra'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 generally 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 quickly 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 GMC auto repair mechanics at Coggin Buick/GMC of Orange Park. There are again a number of essentially 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 experienced professional to determine the definitely correct issue and repair it.

2013 GMC Sierra 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, still known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Sierra. 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 advantageous knowledge about your vehicle and will still allow that important Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Sadly, apparent and useful vehicle symptoms do not regularly accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of possible OBD codes, there are still hundreds of possible reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is critical for someone who does not have a lot of prevailing automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out quickly by a proficient certified GMC mechanic. Call Coggin Buick/GMC of Orange Park at 9046829278 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 vehicle further by not repairing the issue right away.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2013 GMC Sierra?

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 likewise be a warning of a meaningful 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 typically means something less serious but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in significant trouble and useful service is necessary immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2013 GMC Sierra, we immensely advise not to drive the vehicle and schedule GMC service today. Below is a list of the most common 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 rapidly and your vehicle will be less efficient when it comes to fuel economy. So what happens if I don’t replace your O2 sensor? A defective sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause meaningful damage to your catalytic converter and your 2013 GMC Sierra's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the explicitly correct mixture of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A defective O2 sensor can again cause a car to fail an emissions test.
• The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2013 GMC Sierra 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 a few decades ago, and they don't absolutely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of GMC you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
• Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your GMC Sierra 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 GMC Sierra 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 defective mass airflow sensor.
• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak extreme havoc on your 2013 GMC Sierra if it’s not installed perfectly. 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 familiar, bring your Sierra to GMC and have our team of gifted certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed accurately and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, exceptionally aftermarket parts and accessories, or utilizing OEM components first place might cost a little bit more but could help you save considerably from having to get poor work and damage caused by poor installation work corrected.
• One of the most common and frequent cause is that your 2013 GMC Sierra gas cap is loose, broken or missing. The gas cap for your 2013 GMC Sierra serves various purposes. It prevents unpredictable 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 defective 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 expensive. Luckily, to replace a gas cap isn't expensive. If your check engine light turns on swiftly after you put gas in your 2013 GMC Sierra, 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 2013 GMC Sierra has a vacuum leak. Every GMC Sierra has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system again helps lower unhealthy 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 required for your 2013 GMC Sierra. 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 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 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.
• Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2013 GMC Sierra’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 ordinarily caused by constantly neglected maintenance, which is why Coggin Buick/GMC of Orange Park offers a complimentary multi-point check with every GMC service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2013 GMC Sierra 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 other delicate problems from overheating.

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

The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is ordinarily between $88 and $111. The good news, Coggin Buick/GMC of Orange Park offers entirely complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help determine 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 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.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2013 GMC Sierra will usually 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. Again, 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 2013 GMC Sierra 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 Coggin Buick/GMC of Orange Park so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.