The check engine light is a useful tool for car owners because it shows issues with the engine. However, if the issue has been resolved and the helpful indicator still appears, it could quickly become annoying. How to reset your check engine light?
So, we’re going to share some troubleshooting techniques you can use to turn off the check engine light with a scanner and without a scanner. Keep reading.
What Does Check-Engine Light Mean?
There are a few important things to keep in mind if you are certain that the check-engine warning light that is shining back at you from the gauge cluster is one.
- You don’t have to come to a complete stop right away if the light is a steady orange or yellow and there is no discernible change in the way the car is driving. It’s possible that the issue is minor, but as we’ve already mentioned, it wouldn’t be a good idea to wait until the car starts to exhibit obvious problems before addressing it. A loose gas cap is occasionally the culprit.
- However, if the warning light does ever begin to flash, stop and pull over. This almost always denotes a significant issue, and driving the vehicle further could result in significant harm.
In the event that your instrument cluster displays the more typical solid amber or yellow check-engine warning, there is an accessible tool that can assist you in understanding what is going on long before you visit a repair facility or dealership. That’s because every car produced beginning with the 1996 model year speaks the same fundamental language, and understanding it costs much less time and money than you might think.
How to Reset a Check Engine Light With a Scanner?
You can quickly determine the cause of the check engine light being on if you have an OBD II diagnostic scanner on hand by inserting it under the steering wheel. As long as you know how to interpret the code, you can usually solve the problem by scheduling service or picking up Mercedes-Benz OEM parts at our parts department. After the fix has been made, resetting the check engine light is as easy as one, two, three: Just insert the scanner again and press “clear” or “reset” to remove the code.
Tips for Resetting a Check Engine Light Without a Scanner
Disconnect the negative battery cable and wait a short while to restart the check engine light without a scanner. Your car’s diagnostic system will be reset as a result, and the light should turn off right away if the underlying problem has been fixed. Here’s how it’s done:
- Turn off the car, open the hood, take off all jewelry, put on safety glasses and gloves.
- Find the battery’s negative terminal. It is either black or has the minus (-) symbol.
- After removing the terminal with a wrench, hold the negative cable aside for at least 30 to 60 seconds. Never allow cables to touch.
- To draw even more power, ask a companion to press the horn.
- Put everything back in its proper location after reconnecting the negative cable.
Things You Should Know
- To turn off the check engine light, insert an OBD-II scanner into the OBD port on your car and reset it.
- Restarting and re-connecting your battery will turn off the light and restart the computer in your car.
- After repairs, use an old vehicle for a few days. When the computer restarts, the light will shut off on its own.
- Turn the ignition to the “on” position 3-5 times and look at your dashboard to spot any error codes or potentially turn off the light.
Why You Might Need to Reset a Check Engine Light?
The check engine light, which is equipped in almost all vehicles, is intended to inform the driver of a number of common issues. If the check engine light happens to come on while you’re heading to Rancho Santa Fe or San Diego, it means that a failing mechanism is causing the engine performance to decline. Usually, the issue has to do with one of the following:
- Loosened or damaged fuel cap
- Failing oxygen (O2) sensor
- Clogged or damaged catalytic converter
- Malfunctioning Mass Air Flow Sensor
- Expired or damaged spark plugs
Keep in mind that there are other dashboard warnings besides the check engine light.
Read about
FAQs
Can You Reset Check Engine Light Without Disconnecting Battery?
Another way to reset the check engine light code that Marshall drivers can try is to turn the car on for about a second and then turn it off. Most cars will reset their trouble codes after doing this, and the check engine light will go out.
Can You Drive a Car With the Engine Light On?
It’s okay to drive for a few miles, but be sure to schedule an inspection of the engine as soon as possible. Do not become alarmed if the check engine light illuminates while you are driving. Keep an eye out to see if the car is driving in any unusual ways.
Why is My Engine Light on But Nothing Seems Wrong?
It should be safe to drive until you can get it into a mechanic if nothing seems to be acting strangely. Sometimes the light may come on after fueling if the gas cap is a little loose. It might also indicate that your catalytic converter needs to be checked.
How Long Does It Take for Check Engine to Reset?
Here’s something you probably don’t know: after clearing the car’s computer you will need to drive for about 50 to 100 miles. The computer in your car will keep track of everything the sensors detect while you’re driving and record the findings.
Summary: How to Reset Your Check Engine Light?
We share some troubleshooting techniques you can use to turn off the check engine light with a scanner and without a scanner in the above.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment. KV Auto tries to give you the best car industry information. Thank you for reading.
