Why Is My Kia Check Engine Light On?

Modern KIA cars have a variety of icons on the dashboard that tell drivers about different parts of their cars. But the KIA check engine light is the only one of the dashboard lights that needs to be looked at right away.

When this light comes on, it means that the car’s computer has found a problem and that the car needs to be taken to a KIA service centre as soon as possible.

Here are some of the most common reasons why the check engine light comes on. This will give you an idea of what to expect once a mechanic figures out what’s wrong.

Kia Check Engine Light

If the check engine light on your Kia starts flashing, the problem needs to be fixed right away. You should bring your Kia in right away.

A flashing light means that the problem is serious and, if not fixed right away, could cause serious damage to the car. This blinking light usually means that the engine has a serious misfire, which lets unburned fuel go into the exhaust system.

There, it can quickly raise the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where it is likely to be damaged and need an expensive repair. Some owners ask if the check engine light flashes because of the spark plugs.

This is a very likely reason. Misfiring can be caused by a bad, old, or dirty spark plug. If you ignore the problem or keep driving, it could spread to the spark plug wires, the catalytic converter, or the ignition coils, which would require a very expensive fix.

Also Read: How Do You Reset Jeep Check Engine Light?

What Does the Light That Says “Check Engine” Mean?

The check engine light is one of the most commonly misunderstood lights or indicators in your Kia.

The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system and can show up in a few different ways. It could say “Check Engine,” it could be a picture of an engine, or it could be both.

This light can be either yellow or red, and it is part of your vehicle’s diagnostics system.

Since the 1980s, onboard computers have been controlling and monitoring vehicle performance more and more. They can do many things for your Kia.

Some of these are controlling the timing of the ignition, adjusting the speed of the engine, shifting automatic transmissions, and setting up stability control, just to name a few. So, the check engine light can mean a number of different things.

It could be as simple as a loose gas cap or as serious as a knocking engine. If your Kia’s “Check Engine” light is on, call Courtesy Kia of Brandon.

Our Kia service department can help you find out what code is making your check engine light come on or why your check engine light is flashing. Get in touch with Courtesy Kia of Brandon now!

Kia Engine Check Light Codes

When the check engine light comes on, it can be scary to see that little light on your car’s dashboard light up all of a sudden.

However, you shouldn’t run away in fear right away. If you hear the term “diagnostic trouble codes” (DTC), it just means “check engine light codes.” These are computer codes for cars that are stored by the ECM, which is also called the “on-board computer diagnostic system” (OBD) in your car.

There are a lot of different things your check engine light can mean. Even though that sounds hard, if you take the time to do basic diagnostics, you’ll learn useful things about your car and be able to use the Check Engine Light as it was meant to be used: as a guide.

Unfortunately, the Check Engine Light does not always come with clear and helpful signs that something is wrong with a car. Since there are hundreds of possible OBD codes, there are also hundreds of possible reasons why the light is on.

• Bad Spark Plugs
• O2 Sensor
• Gas Cap is Loose or Missing
• Transmission issues
• Fuel and air metering systems problems
• Computer output circuit issues
• Used battery
• Emissions controls issues
• Ignition system goes wrong

Kia Check Engine Light Flashing

There are a lot of things that could cause the Check Engine Light to come on, but after years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service, we know that there are a few common ones, like a loose gas cap.

A Check Engine Light can also be caused by a broken head gasket, a problem with the fuel injection system, a broken oxygen sensor, a broken emissions control part, a dirty mass airflow sensor, or broken spark plugs.

No matter what is causing the Check Engine Light, we have the Kia Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to find the problem and fix it to factory standards.

When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you know that the problem with your Kia has been fixed and you can leave the service centre.

Every Kia was made with a high-tech performance monitoring system that includes a computer and a set of sensors placed in key places around the car to track its most important systems.

The sensors are always looking at the environment and sending information to the electronic control unit. If the electronic control unit sees that the data is not within factory limits, the Check Engine Light will come on to let you know there is a problem.

But that’s the problem with the Check Engine Light: it won’t tell you what’s wrong or how to fix it. That’s where we come in.

Courtesy Kia of Brandon offers a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that finds the root of the problem and gives you advice on what to do next from a Highly Qualified Service professional.

Will the “Check Engine” light turn off on its own?

If the problem or code that made your Kia’s check engine light come on is fixed, the light will usually turn off on its own.

For example, if your check engine light came on because your gas cap was loose, tightening it will turn off the light. Also, if your catalytic converter is going bad and you did a lot of stop-and-go driving, the check engine light may have come on because the converter was used so much.

Most of the time, after 20 to 40 miles, your Kia’s light will go out. If you drive over that amount and the light is still on, you will need to bring it to Courtesy Kia of Brandon so the light and code can be checked again and reset.

How far can you go when the check engine light is on?

The safest thing to do is figure out what the code means and then plan your strategy based on that. Since each check engine code is different in how serious it is, it is hard to say how many miles you can drive with the warning light on.

If your check engine light is flashing, you should pull over and call Courtesy Kia of Brandon. They can tell you if your car is safe to drive or if you should call a tow truck. It could be a bad sensor or that the plug wires need to be changed.

How much does it cost to have someone check the engine light?

The check engine light can mean anything from a loose gas cap to a more serious problem like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car’s oxygen sensors.

So it’s important to read the codes and figure out what’s wrong. The average cost to diagnose and test a check engine light is sometimes between $88 and $111.

Is it safe to drive with the “Check Engine” light on in your Kia?

This is not a very common question because the answer depends on how bad the problem is. If the problem is small, like a loose gas cap, the car should be safe to drive. Most of the time, this is shown by the check engine light staying on. If you notice a change in how well the car runs, it could be a sign of a more serious problem. If your Kia’s check engine light is blinking, it means there is a problem that needs to be fixed quickly.

Kia Service Check Engine Light

What do you do when you’re driving your Kia and all of a sudden a yellow light that says “Check Engine” comes on? If you’re like most Kia owners, when that light comes on, your heart sinks a little because you don’t know what it means or what to do.

Just as stressful can be the fear of the unknown or the cost of the unknown. But take a deep breath and remember that just because the light is on doesn’t mean you have to pull over to the side of the road and call a tow truck.

Instead, you should get your Kia checked out as soon as possible. If you ignore that warning, it could hurt expensive engine parts in a big way.

When your Kia’s ECM, which is the onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t fix, a computer turns on your check engine light.

This amber or yellow light usually says “Check engine” or “Service engine soon.” Sometimes, the light is just a picture of an engine or the word “check” next to a picture of an engine.

When the light comes on, the ECM stores a “trouble code” in its memory that tells what the problem is, whether it’s a sensor or a broken part of the engine.

Our Kia auto repair technicians at Courtesy Kia of Brandon use an electronic scan tool to read this code. If you want to do it yourself, there are also a number of code readers that aren’t too expensive and are made for that.

Even though this code will tell you what the problem is, only a trained professional can really figure out what is wrong and fix it.

What could cause the Kia check engine light to come on?

If your car’s check engine light comes on, you might just need to tighten or replace the gas cap. In the same way, the check engine light could be a sign of a serious problem that could damage your engine badly and cost a lot to fix.

Depending on what kind of car you have, the check engine light will either be on or blink. Usually, a steady glow means something less serious, but a flashing check engine light means that your car’s engine is in serious trouble and needs service right away.

If your Kia’s check engine light is flashing, you should not drive the car and should schedule Kia service right away. Here are the most common reasons why your check engine light might turn on:

Your Kia has a vacuum leak

The vacuum system in every Kia does a lot of different things. The vacuum system also helps cut down on harmful emissions by directing the fumes that come out of the engine when gasoline evaporates.

If your RPM is high at idle or goes up and down randomly, it could be because of a vacuum leak. Vacuum hoses can dry out and crack over time, especially if they are exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures.

Your MAF, or mass airflow sensor, needs to be changed

The mass airflow sensor in your Kia measures the amount of air going into the engine to figure out how much fuel your engine needs to run well.

As part of the engine management system, the mass airflow sensor helps the engine adjust to changes in altitude and other conditions.

If your Kia is hard to start, runs rough, or the throttle pedal moves suddenly, this could be a sign that the mass airflow sensor is broken.

Problems with any items that aren’t original

If you don’t install a new alarm, exhaust, or other part on your Kia soon after you buy it, it could cause problems. These add-on parts and accessories can drain the battery, turn on the check engine light, or stop the car from starting.

If these problems sound familiar, bring your car to Kia and let our team of certified mechanics make sure that your aftermarket parts were installed correctly and aren’t causing any problems.

Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts from the start might cost a little more, but it could save you money in the long run if you don’t have to pay to fix bad work or damage caused by bad installation.

Your Oxygen Sensor, or O2 Sensor, needs to be changed

The Oxygen sensor, also called an O2 sensor, checks how much oxygen is in your exhaust system. If there is too much oxygen in your exhaust system, your fuel will burn faster and your car will get less gas mileage.

Your Kia needs new spark plugs and/or plug wires

The spark plugs are the part of your engine that lights the mixture of air and fuel in your car’s combustion chamber. The pistons move because of this explosion, which makes the engine work.

The ignition coil sends the spark to the spark plugs through the spark plug wires. If your spark plugs or spark plug wires are broken or old, your car won’t run as well and won’t have as much power.

In the worst-case scenario, your engine won’t start or keep running. When spark plugs and plug wires wear out, the catalytic converter can get clogged or the ignition coils and O2 sensors can get damaged, which can lead to more expensive repairs.

Your catalytic converter is broken or is about to break

The Kia’s exhaust system has a part called a catalytic converter. The job of the catalytic converter is to change the carbon monoxide that is made during combustion into carbon dioxide.

Most of the time, poor maintenance is to blame for a broken catalytic converter, which is why Courtesy Kia of Brandon offers a free multi-point inspection with every Kia service.

If you don’t fix a problem with your catalytic converter, your Kia won’t pass an emissions test, the engine won’t run as well, and your gas mileage will go down.

Your car may also run at a higher temperature, which can cause problems that are different from what happens when it overheats.

If I don’t replace your O2 sensor, what will happen? Not only can a broken sensor lower your miles per gallon, but it can also hurt your Kia’s catalytic converter and spark plugs.

The O2 sensor sends information to the car’s computer about the right amount of air and fuel going into the engine’s cylinders. A car can also fail an emissions test if its O2 sensor is broken.

The Fuel Cap on your Kia is loose, broken, or missing

The gas cap on your Kia has more than one job. It keeps gas fumes from escaping when you’re not driving, seals the fuel system, and helps keep fuel tank pressure steady. What happens if you keep a broken fuel cap on your car? If your gas cap is old or the seal has been broken, you could lose gas through evaporation, which would mean you have to go to the gas station more often. Luckily, it doesn’t cost much to get a new gas cap. If your Kia’s check engine light comes on as soon as you put gas in it, the first thing you should do is make sure the gas cap isn’t loose or is still on the roof or at the fuel pump.

The battery is weak or doesn’t work

The battery in your Kia isn’t hard to change. Your car won’t start, light up the road ahead, play the radio, or charge your phone without a battery. Batteries for cars today last a lot longer than they did 30 or 40 years ago, and they don’t really need to be taken care of. The price of a new one depends on what kind of Kia you drive to work, but check out our coupons and specials for actual service.