THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT –
HOW TO RESET IT AND TURN IT OFF
Presented by Mike McArno
©2010
OBDII Diagnostic Scanners.com
TURN OFF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT - OBDIIDIAGNOSTICSCANNERS.COM
The "check engine" or "service engine soon" light
in your dashboard is lit.
It used to be easy to turn off and reset the check
engine light.
For example, here are a few cheap and easy
fixes:
TURN OFF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT - OBDIIDIAGNOSTICSCANNERS.COM
One popular fix is to disconnect the negative
terminal on the battery and turn on the headlights
for ten to fifteen minutes.
Draining the power to the car's capacitor will also
reset the computer and turn off the check engine
light.
TURN OFF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT - OBDIIDIAGNOSTICSCANNERS.COM
But disconnecting the battery is not really a good
idea. It will clear the presets on your car radio and
anti-theft devices.
It will also clear the performance memory from
the car's computer, which it will have to "re-learn"
over the next forty or so driving trips.
You will suffer both poorer driving performance
and lose gas mileage while it does so.
TURN OFF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT - OBDIIDIAGNOSTICSCANNERS.COM
A similar cheap and easy fix is to pull the fuse to
the ECU (Engine Control Unit). This has the same
disadvantages as disconnecting the battery.
TURN OFF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT - OBDIIDIAGNOSTICSCANNERS.COM
A better idea - especially for cars sold in the U.S.
from 1996 to the present - is to read the owner's
manual.
In some cases the manual will proscribe a series
of prescribed pedal pressing and button pushing
and so on.
Most often, however, the manual will give you the
sage advice to take your vehicle to an authorized
dealer.
TURN OFF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT - OBDIIDIAGNOSTICSCANNERS.COM
You can take your car to the dealer where they
will check its computer for trouble codes and reset
the check engine light.
On some ocassions it may be a minor problem
such as a loose gas cap, though it certainly could
be something more serious.
In