Common Check Engine Light Repair Costs

Check Engine or Check Wallet?

Uh-oh. The check engine light just came on. What does it mean? How much is it going to cost to fix it? Can you just ignore it and hope it goes away? Unfortunately, no, the problem is not going to repair itself. What’s more, your car probably won’t pass inspection with the check engine light illuminated. Worse still, if you continue driving it, certain issues that trigger the check engine warning will get worse, causing even more expensive repairs. Fortunately, AutoStream Car Care in Columbia, Maryland, has ASE certified technicians who can diagnose and repair your car’s check engine woes.

Most and Least Expensive Check Engine Repairs

While a variety of malfunctions can cause the check engine alert, there are some common culprits. Some are quite expensive, while others aren’t so bad on the budget. If the problem is a mising or poorly fitting gas cap, you can expect to spend about $26. Give or take a few dollars, replacing either the evaporative emissions purge control valve or the evaporative emissions purge solenoid will cost approximately $150. Replacing an oxygen sensor, ignition coil, or the thermostat will range between $200 and $250. Should you need both the ignition coil(s) and spark plugs replaced or the mass air flow sensor, you can expect to spend between $300 and $400, and a fuel injector swap out will be about $450.

You certainly want to attend to the issue before you have to make even costlier repairs. These most common fixes are a bargain compared to replacing the entire engine (a whopping average of $7,150) if the damage is too extensive. Other major costs can include replacing the transmission and torque converter, the electronic power steering control unit, the audio and visual control unit, or the battery pack of a hybrid car. These major projects can range between $4,000 and $5,500.

Solving the Check Engine Problem

We understand that seeing the check engine light come on can be frightening, but we’re here to help. Bring your vehicle to Columbia, Maryland’s AutoStream Car Care at the first sign of trouble. One of our experienced technicians will use modern equipment to identify the trouble code and determine the exact nature of the problem. Then we’ll give you an honest estimate of what needs to be done to rectify the check engine alert. Soon, we’ll have your engine performing at its best and have you saying, “Goodbye, check engine.”