How Do You Reset Your Check Engine Light?

In this article we are going to give you some tips on how to reset the check engine light so you can put this trauma to your psyche and wallet well and truly in the rearview mirror. This is not difficult to do and as long as the light stays off all is well. If it comes back however you may have a whole new problem.

How to Reset the Check Engine Light

So let's just dive right in and give you some of your reset options. None of them are particularly difficult so even a complete car novice should be able to make them work.

Use an OBD2 Scanner

If you own an OBD2 scanner it is likely you diagnosed what the initial problem was with your vehicle with this handy device. Having now repaired the issue you can use this handheld scanner to reset your check engine light.

You merely have to plug the scanner into your vehicle's OBD connector which is most often below your steering wheel. You then switch your car's ignition to the ON position. Allow the scanner to connect with the car's computer.

You will again see a list of the error codes stored in the computer which hopefully you have already resolved. You simply need to erase or clear these codes before you turn the ignition off and then back on.

The check engine light should now be reset and will remain off until its services are once again needed. If it comes back on however, check the error codes and see if there is a different issue. If it is the same issue you may not have resolved it or you may need further professional assistance to resolve this problem.

Disconnect the Battery

If you do not have a scanner tool you can go with the old switch it on and off again theory but this does mean more than starting and stopping the vehicle. If you want to reset the memory of the car you need to disconnect the battery.

This is not too complicated; you just need to remove the negative cable from its battery terminal for up to 15 minutes. During this time drain any charge from the system by pressing the horn until it stops sounding.

Once you have waited 15 minutes reconnect the battery making sure everything is tightened correctly. Run the engine for a while to make sure the check engine light does not come back on. The error code should have been reset so if it comes back then the car still considers there to be an issue.

It should be noted a battery disconnect will reset your clock and your radio presets so just be aware of that.

Turn the Ignition On and Off

If you have just completed the repair in theory by turning the ignition on and off consecutively the check engine light should stay off assuming the issue has been resolved. If it stays off all is well and you can go about your motoring business.

If the check engine light comes back on it may be time to pull out your scanner tool and see if you have the same code or something different. Sometimes while fixing one issue you might accidentally trigger another.

Pull Out the Fuse

Another way to perform a quick reset is to pull the Engine Control Unit fuse. You would wait a short while and then put the fuse back in place. This works mainly in older models but not so much with newer ones.

Check your user manual to make sure you are pulling the correct fuse as pulling the wrong will will not have the same effect at all.

Show Some Patience

Car computers work in cycles so sometimes a check engine light will go off if you just use the car for a while. It can sometimes take up to three days of use for the light to go off on its own but if it does then everything must be okay.

It should be noted however that you should double check for any new codes reported in the system since your repair. If a new issue has arisen you may have something else to resolve. If the check engine light does not go away after a few days there is obviously still an issue.

The Check Engine Light Came Back a Few Days Later

Hopefully if you resolved the problem you won't see the check engine light for a while but sometimes it may come back after a few days. If this happens do not ignore it and assume it’s a glitch as you could have developed a new issue.

While repairing the first issue some other problem may have been caused or the original repair has not held. Using substandard or inappropriate aftermarket parts can be a real gamble. If you do not fit the right parts they can fail again very quickly.

How Bad Is a Check Engine Light?

All too often people will ignore the check engine light because they know it will likely cost them money. This can have mixed results depending on what the error is. If it is a big problem then burying your head in the sand can lead to costly repairs. It is also possible that the error message was a glitch and there is actually no problem.

The severity of a check engine light issue can vary so really you should at least try and determine what the issue might be with a scanner tool.

What Does a Flashing Check Engine Light Mean?

The intent of an illuminated check engine light is to get your attention and make you take note that there is an issue. Again it may minor or it could be pretty bad. If your check engine light flashes at you however it means there is a really big problem.

This flashing version of the warning is telling you things are bad and if you don’t get this checked out you won't be driving the car for much longer.

Conclusion

It is not hard to reset your check engine light as long as you have resolved the initial problem that was reported to the car's computer. You have a few reset options such as using a scanner tool, disconnecting a battery or just waiting for the natural cycle of the car to catch up.

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