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2012 Honda Civic Check Engine Light

A glaring light suggests that the problem is hazardous and if not taken care of rapidly may result in major damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2012 Honda Civic starts glaring, that means that the problem needs precipitous attention and your Honda should be brought in rapidly. This flashing light usually indicates a strict engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be deposited into the exhaust system. There it can rapidly 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 bad, aged or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is flashing, please contact our team of automotive consultants at David McDavid Honda of Irving suddenly by calling 4694053340. If the problem is ignored or you continue to commute, this can spread to the spark plug wires, catalytic converter, or ignition coils which can lead to a highly expensive repair.

Check Engine Light Service 2012 Honda Civic

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Honda Civic and abruptly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Honda 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 indicate 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 2012 Honda Civic checked as soon as correct. Ignoring that warning could end up causing major damage to expensive engine components.

When your 2012 Honda Civic's ECM (electronic control module), which is the vehicle's onboard computer, finds a problem in the electronic control system that it can’t definite, a computer turns on your check engine light. This amber or yellow light is naturally 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 pick with an electronic audit tool that is used by our Honda auto repair mechanics at David McDavid Honda of Irving. There are also a number of relatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you opt for that route too. While this code will tell you the issue that is detected, a true diagnosis still requires an experienced professional to find out the issue and repair it.

2012 Honda Civic Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating to see that tiny light on your vehicle’s dashboard suddenly flashes, 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 famous as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Civic. There are hundreds of peculiar codes that your check engine light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a tiny patience, tackling big diagnostics will give you feasible 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, evident and fitting car symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of conceivable OBD codes, there are also hundreds of conceivable reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is decisive for someone who does not have a lot of automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. Call David McDavid Honda of Irving at 4694053340 at this moment or schedule your check engine light service online today! If the engine light comes on due to a distinguished concern, you risk damaging your car additional by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out swiftly by a certified Honda mechanic.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2012 Honda Civic will generally 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 essential, 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 2012 Honda Civic light will go off after about 20-40 miles. If you drive over that fee and the light is still on, you will need to bring it in to David McDavid Honda of Irving so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2012 Honda Civic?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as straightforward as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Likewise, the check engine light could also be a warning of a precarious problem that could cause precarious damage to your engine and come with a generous repair bill. Depending on your make and model, the check engine light will illuminate or blink. A fitting glow naturally means something less precarious but a flashing check engine light suggests that your vehicle’s engine is in precarious trouble and service is needed today. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2012 Honda Civic, we notably advocate not to drive the car and schedule Honda service today. Below is a list of the most straightforward reasons your check engine light can come on:

  • Your 2012 Honda Civic has a vacuum leak. Each Honda Civic has a vacuum system that performs a wide mixture of functions. The vacuum system also helps premium 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 bare out and crack, notably if they’re exposed to important heat or extreme hesitant.
  • Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or contrasting item can wreak havoc on your 2012 Honda Civic if it’s not installed accordingly. These aftermarket parts and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even avoid the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound affable, bring your Civic to Honda and have our team of certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed well and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, notably aftermarket parts and accessories, or using OEM parts first place might rate a scant bit more but could save you money from having to get low work and wear and tear caused by low installation work corrected.
  • The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2012 Honda Civic is each curious. 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 assorted decades ago, and they don't precisely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Honda you drive, but check our advanced service coupons and specials.
  • Your mass airflow sensor (known as MAF) needs to be replaced. The mass airflow sensor in your Honda Civic is what determines how much fuel is fundamental 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 fair changes, like altitude. If your Honda Civic is having trouble starting, idling rough or has a quick change in the position of the throttle pedal, this could be a sign of a bad mass airflow sensor.
  • 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 reasonable 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 2012 Honda Civic's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to learn 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 catalytic converter is bad or going bad. The catalytic converter is a part of your 2012 Honda Civic’s exhaust system. The catalytic converter's perform is to turn the carbon monoxide created by the combustion process into carbon dioxide. A damaged catalytic converter is commonly caused by neglected maintenance, which is why David McDavid Honda of Irving offers a complimentary multi-point inspection with each Honda service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2012 Honda Civic 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 contrasting problems from overheating.
  • New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are fundamental for your 2012 Honda Civic. 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 bring the spark from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If your spark plugs or spark plug wires are bad or classic, you will experience low 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, big to more expensive repairs.
  • One of the most natural and frequent cause is that your 2012 Honda Civic gas cap is loose, damaged or missing. The gas cap for your 2012 Honda Civic 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 classic 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 hastily after you put gas in your 2012 Honda Civic, first thing you should check is to make hopeful the cap isn’t loose — or that it's still on your car’s roof or at the fuel pump.

Is it safe to drive your 2012 Honda Civic with the check engine light on?

If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a persuasive issue and it is recommended to service your Honda Civic immediately. This question is not excessively 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 consistently indicated by a consistent 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 emotional problem. Call the specialists at David McDavid Honda of Irving by dialing 4694053340 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2012 Honda to our certified mechanics as soon as handy.

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 critical failure like a damaging catalytic converter or a problem with one of the car's oxygen sensors, so it acceptable to get the intelligent code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is continually between $88 and $111. The acceptable news, David McDavid Honda of Irving offers complimentary multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to aid find out the cause of your check engine light.

2012 Honda Civic Check Engine Light Flashing

Although there are plentiful viable causes of an illuminated Check Engine Light, we know from years of providing Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that there are innumerable traditional causes including something as conspicuous as a loose gas cap. Extra traditional reasons for a Check Engine Light are damaged oxygen sensor, dirty mass airflow sensor, faulty emissions control part, a malfunction with the fuel injection system, faulty head gasket, or defective spark plugs to name courageous. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Honda Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and repair it as necessary to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Honda issue was fixed.

Every 2012 Honda Civic was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the vehicle on its important 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; David McDavid Honda of Irving 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 licensed.

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

If you check engine light is flashing, we mean that you pull over and contact David McDavid Honda of Irving to help determine if your vehicle is safe to travel to work in or if we mean a tow truck. It could be anything from a detrimental sensor to plug wires needing to be replaced. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy subsequently. Since each check engine code has its own level of severity, it is troublesome to predict how many miles you can travel to work with the warning light on.

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most naturally misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2012 Honda Civic is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, and displays in assorted obvious 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 2012 Honda Civic. 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 mean a variety of disparate things. It can be as real as your gas cap being loose or as dangerous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2012 Honda Civic, contact David McDavid Honda of Irving. Contact David McDavid Honda of Irving today! Our Honda service department can help you find out what code is turning your check engine light on or diagnose why your check engine light is glaring.