2014 Subaru Forester Check Engine Light

What could cause the check engine light to come on in a 2014 Subaru Forester?

When your check engine light comes on, this could be as simple as tightening or replacing your gas cap. Still, the check engine light could still be a warning of a significant 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 ordinarily means something less serious but a flashing check engine light reveals that your vehicle’s engine is in meaningful trouble and useful service is needed expeditiously. If your check engine light is flashing in your 2014 Subaru Forester, we exceptionally endorse not to drive the car and schedule Subaru service today. Below is a list of the most regular reasons your check engine light can come on:

• One of the most regular and frequent cause is that your 2014 Subaru Forester gas cap is loose, broken or missing. The gas cap for your 2014 Subaru Forester serves different purposes. It prevents unpredictable gas fumes from being released when you aren't driving, it seals the fuel system and helps manage pressure within the fuel tank. What happens if you have a broken 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 expensive. If your check engine light turns on promptly after you put gas in your 2014 Subaru Forester, 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 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 broken sensor can not only affect your miles per gallon, but it can cause meaningful damage to your catalytic converter and your 2014 Subaru Forester's spark plugs. The O2 sensor sends data to the vehicle’s onboard computer to determine the absolutely correct combination of air and fuel that enters the cylinders in your engine. A broken O2 sensor can likewise 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 Subaru Forester 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 Subaru Forester 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 broken mass airflow sensor.
• New Spark Plugs or Plug Wires are needed for your 2014 Subaru Forester. The spark plugs are the part of your engine that ignites the air/fuel combination 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 go through 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 expensive repairs.
• Your 2014 Subaru Forester has a vacuum leak. Each Subaru Forester has a vacuum system that performs a wide variety of functions. The vacuum system likewise 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, especially if they’re exposed to intense heat or extreme cold.
• Issues with any aftermarket items. An aftermarket alarm, exhaust or other item can wreak extreme havoc on your 2014 Subaru Forester if it’s not installed correctly. These aftermarket components and accessories can drain the battery, trigger the check engine light, or even limit the vehicle from starting. If these issues sound familiar, bring your Forester to Subaru and have our team of talented certified mechanics ensure that your aftermarket items were installed properly and aren't causing any issue. Getting accessories, especially aftermarket parts and accessories, or utilizing OEM components 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 2014 Subaru Forester’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 regularly neglected maintenance, which is why Larry H. Miller Subaru Boise offers a free multi-point examination with each Subaru service. If you have an issue with your catalytic converter and don't get it repaired, your 2014 Subaru Forester 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 dangerous problems from overheating.
• The battery is low or dead. The battery in your 2014 Subaru Forester is each important. 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 genuinely require maintenance. The price of a new one depends on the type of Subaru you drive, but check our current service coupons and specials.

Is it safe to drive your 2014 Subaru Forester with the check engine light on?

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 safe 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. If the check engine light is flashing, this means that there is a serious issue and it is advised to service your Subaru Forester promptly. Call the experts at Larry H. Miller Subaru Boise by dialing 2089952310 so you can describe the issues. Or reduce your speed and bring your 2014 Subaru to our certified mechanics as soon as possible.

2014 Subaru Forester Check Engine Light Codes

The check engine light turning on can be quite intimidating, exceptionally 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, also known as the OBD (on-board computer diagnostic system) in your Forester. There are hundreds of different codes that your check engine light can accurately represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics will give you helpful knowledge about your vehicle and will also allow that vital Check Engine Light to do what it is genuinely supposed to do: be your guide. Sadly, evident and helpful vehicle symptoms do not always accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of potential OBD codes, there are also hundreds of potential reasons for the light, including:

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

This is why it is essential for someone who does not have a lot of prevailing automotive knowledge to not assume what a code means. If the engine light comes on due to a serious concern, you risk damaging your vehicle further by not repairing the issue right away. When your check engine light comes on, you should get it checked out immediately by a adept certified Subaru mechanic. Call Larry H. Miller Subaru Boise at 2089952310 today or schedule your check engine light service online today!

What Does the Check Engine Light Mean?

One of the most usually misunderstood lights or indicators in your 2014 Subaru Forester is the check engine light. The check engine light is part of the essential 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 vehicle. Onboard computers increasingly have controlled and monitored vehicle performance since the 80s and do a variety of things for your 2014 Subaru Forester. Some of these essential duties include controlling engine speed, shifting automatic transmissions ignition timing, and implementing cohesion 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 dangerous as engine knocking. If your check engine light is on in your 2014 Subaru Forester, contact Larry H. Miller Subaru Boise. Our Subaru 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. Contact Larry H. Miller Subaru Boise 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 every check engine code has its own level of severity, it is usually difficult to predict how multiple miles you can be safe in driving with the warning light on. If you check engine light is flashing, we propose that you pull over and contact Larry H. Miller Subaru Boise to support determine if your vehicle is safe to drive in or if we propose a tow truck. The safest bet is to decipher the code and then plan your strategy accordingly.

2014 Subaru Forester Check Engine Light

A flashing light signifies that the problem is very serious and if not taken care of expeditiously may result in major and serious damage to the vehicle. If the check engine light in your 2014 Subaru Forester starts flashing, that means that the problem needs attention expeditiously and your Subaru should be brought in rapidly. This blinking light ordinarily indicates a severe engine misfire allowing unburned fuel to be dumped into the exhaust system. There it can immediately 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 precisely be the cause. A broken, old or dirty spark plug can cause the engine to misfire. If your check engine light is repeatedly flashing, please contact our team of automotive experts at Larry H. Miller Subaru Boise quickly by calling 2089952310. If the problem is completely 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 pricey repair.

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 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 proper code reading and diagnosis. The average cost for a check engine light diagnosis & testing is ordinarily between $88 and $111. The good news, Larry H. Miller Subaru Boise offers totally free multi-point inspections and free diagnostics, in most cases, to help determine the cause of your check engine light.

Will the check engine light reset itself?

The check engine light on your 2014 Subaru Forester will normally 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 immediately turn itself off. Still, if your catalytic converter is working properly, 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 2014 Subaru Forester 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 Subaru Boise so the light and code can be double-checked and reset.

2014 Subaru Forester 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 common causes including something as simple as a loose gas cap. Other usually common reasons for a Check Engine Light are a malfunction with the fuel injection system, broken oxygen sensor, defective head gasket, defective emissions control part, dirty mass airflow sensor, or faulty spark plugs to name a few. No matter what is the root cause of the Check Engine Light, we have the Subaru Certified Technicians and the certified service protocol to isolate the root problem and absolutely repair it as required to restore factory specifications. When this happens, the Check Engine Light turns off, and you can leave the service center knowing that your Subaru issue was entirely fixed.

Every 2014 Subaru Forester was designed with a high-technology performance monitoring system with a computer, and a series of sensors positioned strategically throughout the car on its crucial systems. The speedy 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. Nonetheless, 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; Larry H. Miller Subaru Boise provides a Check Engine Light Diagnosis Service that isolates the core problem and gives you a recommendation on what to do next from a Immensely Knowledgeable Service professional.

Check Engine Light Service 2014 Subaru Forester

What do you do when you’re driving along in your Subaru Forester and suddenly, a yellow light illuminates on your dash and says "Check Engine". If you’re like most Subaru owners, your heart sinks exceptionally because you may have explicitly 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 recommended that you get your 2014 Subaru Forester checked promptly. Ignoring that warning could end up causing considerable, extensive damage to pricey engine components.

When your 2014 Subaru Forester'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 rapidly 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 Subaru auto repair mechanics at Larry H. Miller Subaru Boise. There are still a number of comparatively inexpensive code readers that are designed for do-it-yourselfers, should you choose 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.