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2018 Kia Sorento Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that little light on your vehicle’s dashboard swiftly 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 Sorento. There are hundreds of divergent codes that your check engine light can designate. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you accessible knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that Check Engine Light to do what it is really supposed to do: be your guide. Unfortunately, capable and helpful vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of achievable OBD codes, there are also hundreds of achievable reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is extensive for someone who does not have various of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a alarming concern, you risk damaging your automobile further by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out expeditiously by a certified Kia mechanic. Call Nalley Kia at 7702885283 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!

2018 Kia Sorento Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are countless feasible 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 pure as a loose gas cap. Different normal reasons for a Check Engine Light are dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty head gasket, faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, 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 Kia 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 Kia issue was repaired.

Every 2018 Kia Sorento was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its mandatory systems. The sensors are continually 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 illuminates telling you that there is a problem. However, that is the limitation of the Check Engine Light – it won’t tell you what exactly is awry nor what to do about it. That’s where we come in; Nalley Kia provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Notably Qualified Service professional.

Check Engine Light Service 2018 Kia Sorento

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Kia Sorento and instantly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Kia owners, your heart sinks a tiny because you have tiny 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 hint 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 2018 Kia Sorento checked as soon as feasible. Ignoring that warning could end up causing giant damage to expensive engine components.

When your 2018 Kia Sorento's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the computerized control system that it can’t factual, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is normally 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 identifies as the issue, whether it's a sensor or a failing engine part. This code is find out with an electronic investigate tool that is used by our Kia auto repair mechanics at Nalley Kia. There are also a number of relatively economical code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you designate that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an direct professional to represent the issue and repair it.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2018 Kia Sorento?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as accessible as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a treacherous problem that could cause treacherous break to your engine and come with a large repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A consistent glow generally means something less treacherous but a flashing check engine light indicates that your vehicle’s engine is in treacherous trouble and service is needed immediately. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2018 Kia Sorento, we exceedingly recommend not to drive the vehicle and schedule Kia service today. Below is a list of the most daily reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2018 Kia Sorento is every exciting. 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 price of a new one depends on the type of Kia you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.
  • One of the most prevalent and frequent cause is that your 2018 Kia Sorento gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2018 Kia Sorento 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 common 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 2018 Kia Sorento, 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 2018 Kia Sorento has a vacuum leak. Every Kia Sorento has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system also 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 arid out and crack, notably if they’re exposed to competent heat or extreme freezing.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your 2018 Kia Sorento. 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 common, 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 wear and tear to ignition coils and O2 sensors, essential to more expensive repairs.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or diverse item can wreak havoc on your 2018 Kia Sorento if it’s not installed correctly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can ditch the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even stop the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound affable, bring your Sorento to Kia and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed correctly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, notably aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might cost a little bit more but could save you money from having to get poor work and wear and tear caused by poor installation work corrected.
  • Your catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2018 Kia Sorento’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 Kia offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with every Kia service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it fixed, your 2018 Kia Sorento 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 diverse problems from overheating.
  • 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 faster and your vehicle will be less effective 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 wear and tear to your catalytic converter and your 2018 Kia Sorento's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine 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.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Kia Sorento 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 explicit changes, like altitude. If your Kia Sorento is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a abrupt change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.

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 accurately tightened to a more relentless failure like a bad catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it plentiful to get the handy code reading and diagnosis. The intermediate value for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is constantly between $88 and $111. The plentiful news, Nalley Kia offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help indicate the cause of your check engine light.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most continuously misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2018 Kia Sorento is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in a few 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 flashes 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 2018 Kia Sorento. Some of these include controlling engine speed, ignition timing, shifting automatic transmissions and implementing stability control, just to name a few. With that being said, the check engine light can mean a variety of other things. It can be as uncomplicated as your gas cap being loose or as perilous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2018 Kia Sorento, contact Nalley Kia. Contact Nalley Kia today! Our Kia service department can help you read what code is turning your check engine light on or probe why your check engine light is flashing.

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 glaring, we recommend that you pull over and contact Nalley Kia to help embrace if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we recommend a tow truck. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is difficult to predict how many miles you can drive with the warning light on. It could be anything from a damaging sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced.

2018 Kia Sorento Check Engine Light

A glaring light illustrates that the problem is threatening and if not taken care of swiftly may result in impressive damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2018 Kia Sorento starts glaring, that means that the problem needs immediate attention and your Kia should be delivered in swiftly. This blinking light usually indicates a exacting engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be ditched into the exhaust system. There it can abruptly increase the temperature of the catalytic converter to a point where damage is likely, requiring an expensive repair. Some owners ask if spark plugs cause the check engine light to flash? This can specifically be the cause. A detrimental, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Nalley Kia immediately by calling 7702885283. 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 incredibly expensive repair.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2018 Kia Sorento will ordinarily 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 turn itself off. Likewise, if your catalytic converter is going accessible, and you did various 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 2018 Kia Sorento 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 Kia so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

Is it safe to drive your 2018 Kia Sorento with the check engine light on?

This question is not very straightforward 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 typically indicated by a possible 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 astonishing problem. If the check engine light is glaring, this means that there is a astonishing issue and it is recommended to service your Kia Sorento hastily. Call the experts at Nalley Kia by dialing 7702885283 so you can describe the issues. Or lower your speed and bring your 2018 Kia to our certified mechanics as soon as likely.