How To Reset Check Engine Light? [Causes, 5 Solutions]

Sometimes while driving, you will notice that your car’s check engine light is on. You don’t need to panic to see this warning light, as it might be just a small problem in your fuel system, air suspension, or an issue with your car’s system.

If there is still any confusion regarding this, then our article will help you. Many people are searching the ways to get rid of this problem. Here you will find several methods to reset this check engine light.

What Do You Mean By Check-Engine Light?

Some important considerations should be considered if you are confident that the indicator in your instrument cluster is a check-engine light. A sudden stop is not required if the signal is a constant orange or yellow, and there has been no noticeable change in how the automobile is being driven. While the issue may be minimal, it’s not wise to deal with it until the car malfunctions. A loose gas cap, for example, is a common culprit.

Nonetheless, you should safely pull over if the warning light begins flashing. This often signals that a major problem has occurred and that continuing to operate the vehicle might cause significant harm. Assuming the more typical solid amber or yellow check-engine warning is shown on your instrument cluster, a simple tool can help you figure out what’s wrong before taking your car in for service.

The reason is that all vehicles starting with the 1996 model year utilize the same language, and translating between the two is much easier and cheaper than you might think.

What Causes My “Check Engine Light” To Light?

Source: caranddriver/Nick Kurczewski

You’ve resolved the problem that triggered the “check engine” warning, but now it won’t go away. Possibly, this is not your fault. The car’s computer might need some convincing that the problem has been fixed. In this article, we will explain several methods for turning off the warning light on your vehicle’s dashboard.

When the car’s computer detects an electrical or mechanical fault, it will alert you with this light. The engine warning light does not always go off once the problem has been rectified.

This can be frustrating, get you in trouble with the smog check, or prevent you from learning about any future issues that your car’s computer is attempting to warn you about.

Of course, you need to double-check that the light is off because your engine does still have an issue if it was. If you want to turn the light off, use one of the following methods. The absence of an alarm indicates a problem with your vehicle’s engine.

Methods To Reset Check Engine Light

1- Carry On Driving

The most straightforward approach to resetting the check engine light is to continue driving the vehicle until the light turns off on its own or until the ride becomes unpleasant or unsafe.

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Drivers in Longview shouldn’t panic if their check engine lights come on for simple reasons that don’t require extensive repairs once they understand how to turn them off.

2- Activate And Deactivate Your Car

After three consecutive power cycles, certain cars will automatically clear the error codes that first triggered the malfunction. This is accomplished by turning the car’s ignition key to the “on” position, waiting approximately a second, and then turning the key to the “off” position.

Drive the car generally after this and the following two repetitions. Do a check to see whether the warning light went off again.

3- Connect And Disconnect The Battery

It’s going to need a wrench to get this done. Use the prop to open the hood, then use the wrench to remove the positive cable from the battery. You should wait 15 minutes after disconnecting the battery.

Turn the critical three times to the “ON” position and insert it into the ignition. Emissions and readiness flag information will be erased from the vehicle’s memory.

It’s time to reconnect the car’s positive battery cable and start the engine again. Assuming you waited a minute, the warning light should go out.

4- Check the Gasoline Tank Cap

One other thing you may do to turn off the check engine light is to make sure the gas cap is securely fastened. It can break or come free, allowing exhaust to escape and setting off the engine’s “check engine” light. If the cap is loose, take it off and screw it back on securely.

5- Use An OBD Code Reader

A wrench and an onboard diagnostic reader (OBD) are required tools. Engine trouble codes may be read and erased by these affordable readers. The Kobra OBD scanner has served people several times when doing this function.

Using An OBD Scanner:

Source: tomsguide/Brian Nadel

Connect the reader to your car’s onboard diagnostics port. Typically, this connection may be found behind the dashboard, above the footrest. You may need to remove the cover from your vehicle’s fuse box to gain access to this port.

After the reader has been plugged in, you may activate it by pressing the “enter” button.
The tool will check your car’s computer for malfunction codes. Once the reader has finished analyzing, it will show any error messages found.

Write down the regulations (if any) in case you need to verify them using the code reader’s instructions or internet resources.

The “scroll” button will take you to the menu where you may delete the code. To clear the error and turn off the warning light, choose this option and hit the enter key.

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If your vehicle’s engine warning light comes on, bring it to our service location near Marshall. You can be confident that the problem is being fixed and the sensor will be reset if there is one. Resetting the check engine light in this method is the surest bet that it will stay off!

Reasons Why Your Check Engine Light Stays On

The Light Will Return If There Is A Problem

The indicator light will go off when you have cleared the computer’s memory. As soon as the computer repeats the test that first triggered the light, it will turn back on again if there is a problem.

You may think you can’t turn off the check engine light if it happens shortly after starting the automobile. You may not hear back for a few days.

Car Fail To Smog

Removing the check engine light won’t help you pass the smog inspection. If your car’s check engine light is illuminated, it will fail a smog inspection. However, successfully clearing codes is not enough to proceed. A successful smog check requires that all “monitors” be operational.

To put it simply, monitors are the random checks your PC does. Several inspections are performed with the vehicle moving along the highway. A few even work while the automobile is parked and not in use.

There are situations in which leaving the engine running is necessary. Of course, some need every one of those things. After resetting the check engine light, you still won’t pass the smog test.

You could be thinking, “So what? I’ll clear the check engine light, drive about so the monitors will run, and then go for a smog test.” Assuming there are no mechanical issues, this should do the trick.

Contrarily, if the test is performed successfully, the check engine light will automatically shut off. You don’t have to start over. When the check engine light comes on, there is usually something wrong.

When The Code Is Cleared, The Diagnostic Data Is Also Deleted

When the warning light on the dashboard comes on, a fault code and a snapshot of the vehicle at that exact moment are recorded. The failed computer test can be identified by its corresponding error code. The freeze frame information reveals what the computer viewed during the malfunction.

Any trace of this information is lost once the check engine light is reset. Lacking this information makes diagnosis more challenging. It’s possible that the new information gathered once the check engine light returns will be inferior to the old data.

Consider it the same as snapping a photo with a bunch of close friends. Since some are bound to be superior to others, it’s best to bring along a large quantity. Similarities in freeze frame information are shared. Since you can’t predict which photo will be the most useful, you examine them first.

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Conclusion

In the end, the above are our best techniques to resolve the issue of checking engine lights. You can apply these methods and will see a difference. But be cautious while using these methods because your safety has the upper hand.

However, the process can vary depending on the error code you received from the dash unit. If you fail to repair it, you must take your car to a repair shop.

We hope our article has provided complete information regarding the check engine lights. Now it has become easy to detect the problem and find its solution.

FAQs

Is it require any particular tool to turn off the check engine light?

Yes. If you wish to switch off your check engine light manually, you will require an OBD code reader. It connects to the car’s diagnostic port, usually found in the lower center of the dashboard in vehicles manufactured after 1996.

You can get these gadgets at any car parts store or on the web from places like Amazon. If the problem isn’t fixed after using an OBD reader to clear the code, the check engine light will probably come on again shortly.

Can the check engine light turn off automatically?

In some cases, yes, but in others, no. The indicator light should go off shortly after being cleared using a scan tool or code reader if the problem has been fixed. However, the light may continue to shine if there is a more serious electrical or wiring issue.

You should ask the mechanic to reset the light if, after having your automobile serviced, you discover that the underlying problem has been fixed, but the indicator is still illuminated.

What is causing my vehicle’s “check engine” light to flash on and off?

Several explanations might account for this phenomenon. Possible causes include a leaking gas cap, failed engine sensors, defective spark plugs, malfunctioning valves, and sporadic misfiring.

In such a circumstance, you should probably take your automobile to a repair shop for a professional diagnostic, or at the least try diagnosing the problem yourself with an OBD reader.

Can you still drive if the check engine light is on?

Maybe. Before getting behind the wheel, double-check the operation of everything from the transmission to the brakes to the lights. However, if your engine is making strange noises or is otherwise acting up, the only location you should drive it is to a repair shop or authorized dealership service facility.

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