After that, connect an OBD-II code scanner to the Jeep Grand Cherokee diagnostic tool. Every vehicle is slightly different, and older vehicles aren’t as sophisticated as the most modern ones. In addition to writing for Vehicle Scene, I currently write for Autolist, and also own and operate my own vehicle blog website, The Unlimited Driver. Depending on the design of the battery, you may need a wrench to loosen the cable-free. Weights and sizes can also vary as well. To complete this, turn your vehicle on for one or two seconds. Another method that you can follow to reset your check engine light without disconnecting the battery is to turn your vehicle on and off three times. Some states also have emissions tests in addition to a state safety inspections. If your car is pre-OBD2, then you may have to disconnect the battery. Open the hood of the Chevy Cavalier and locate the battery. This is why it is important to be aware of the indications of your warning lights to avoid more complications. There are several ways you can go about doing this. Head to your local auto parts store and rent an OBD2 scanner to see what’s what. Use A Scan Tool. This will again show the reason why the "check engine" light is on. ECU cycles could take up to a few weeks to fully recognize when a problem is no longer there, depending on the vehicle. Two solutions to this problem: either visit a good and trustworthy mechanic or try to do it by yourself.. A Check Engine Light that comes back on is an indication of a more in-depth problem. If you are using a tool like a wrench, make sure the metal doesn’t contact the terminal as it will spark. The key here is knowing what the actual issue is. Buy or borrow an OBD-II code scanner. That depends on whether it’s an errant error code or there’s something actually wrong with your car. You have fixed your vehicle, and you should expect your check engine light to go off. You will need a wrench to unscrew the bolts holding the terminals onto the battery. You only need to reset your check engine light after it comes on. Probably the worst reason to want to do this is that it can be annoying. Insert the key in the ignition, turn the car on for a second, and turn it off for another second. What happens after the “oh God, it’s the twinkling little yellow light of death” moment? After you reset the codes, either of these two things will happen: If the “Not Ready” status becomes “Ready” and the check engine light did not come back on, then the problem may have been an intermittent faulty sensor. Your car’s error codes should display. You’ll also need a flat workspace, such as a garage floor, driveway, or street parking. Unhook the Battery Ground OBD-II scanners come in a variety of different prices, forms, and functions, all depending on what kind of work you plan on doing with them and just how advanced you need them to be. To do this, plug in an OBD-II scan tool to the OBD port of your vehicle. Before the deployment of OBD II in 1996, resetting a check engine light was a simple matter. Fixing an issue and then having the check engine light still illuminate can be even more annoying than having the light on in the first place, but this is a much better and more justifiable reason. To do this, you have to press the horn for a few seconds. Using an OBD-II reader is the most popular, easiest, and safest way to reset the light. Vehicles’ electronic control units are very advanced. This should not come as a shock to anybody, but the best way to go about doing this is to fix the issue that is causing it to come on in the first place. How to reset check engine light once it appears? Driving your vehicle around as you normally do will allow all ECU cycles to complete themselves. Step 1 Open the fuse panel underneath the steering column assembly. You can disconnect the positive battery terminal, the negative battery terminal, or both battery terminals from the battery after you locate its position. some will automatically fail your vehicle, a universally mandated on-board diagnostics system. For others, the ECU will take some time to fully run through its cycle of checks, and could take days or weeks to clear fault codes. Using a scan tool is the easiest way for check engine light reset. I was desperate so I tried it and it worked! Your owner’s manual should pinpoint its location, but in most cases, it will be located next to the fuse box between the steering wheel and driver’s door. When the PCM detects any problems it sends a code that is displayed in your instrument panel. Even though OBD-II scanners are available for everyone, many people don’t have them, and others who can afford them aren’t confident in their abilities to use them properly. Once the vehicle has been turned on, you’ll need to turn the scan tool on, let it boot up, and press “scan.”. Jeep Wrangler Check Engine Light Reset All modern jeeps come equipped with a PCM or (Powertrain Control Module) which scans all sensors and signals from components throughout the vehicle. Follow these steps to troubleshoot your Check Engine Light (CEL), also known as the Service Engine Soon light. Home » Maintenance » How to Reset Check Engine Light: A Step by Step DIY Guide. Disconnecting the battery may also temporarily turn the light off. Remove the negative cable from the negative terminal—the one with the minus sign. Are There Any Other Tips I Should Know About? However, the check engine light is a finicky little bugger and sometimes won’t reset, even after the faulty part has been fixed. So, before you check whether any of the more serious problems are going on, be sure to check for the small stuff that you might otherwise wrongfully dismiss! Most of the time, it isn’t recommended to do this, especially if you don’t know what is causing the issue. Turning It Off and On Again Remove the negative cable from the negative terminal—the one with the minus sign. Not every vehicle will behave this way, though. Best Place To Get An Oil Change – Know Where To Take Your Ride! If the check engine light does come back on then the scanner will show you that bad code again. Other ‘Engine & Performance’ Reviews You Might Like: Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. Most of the times, this means that the vehicle is continuing to find a fault in one of its systems, and a potentially serious problem is recurring. The Drive and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. As you’ve seen for yourself by now, resetting your check engine light is not really difficult, but it should always be done with great discretion. If you have taken all the necessary steps there are to take, and it remains on or comes back on after turning off for a short while, you will most likely need to seek a mechanic’s advice in such a case. Read and acknowledge the information presented. Just kidding, they’re important and that help you maintain your ride’s health and well-being. Disconnect the battery. How Do I Reset the Check Engine Light on a Dodge Grand Caravan? Plug in the OBD2 scanner and power it on. However, there are also some times in which the check engine light won’t seem to turn off, even after you’ve tried to do so after attending to whichever issue caused it to come on in the first place. Under most normal circumstances, you should never have to reset your check engine light on your own, anyways. Remember that getting it to turn off won’t solve an underlying issue that still exists, one which could be causing some serious damage to your engine. It all depends on the kind of … (You won't need a blowtorch for this job. If it doesn’t, you may want to consider resetting it so that any more problems that might occur aren’t overlooked, especially if your vehicle takes a long time running through ECU cycles. Best Fuel Stabilizer – A Detailed Look at Top Products in 2020, How To Test A Car Battery – An Easy Step-By-Step Guide, How to Clean an O2 Sensor – Simple Steps, Easy to Follow. Turning your vehicle on and off several times in succession can also be a possible way to reset your check engine light. We’re not psychic, nor are we snooping through your toolbox or garage, so here’s exactly what you’ll need to get the job done. You can't afford a big repair bill, or worse, being without your car for an extended period. Mechanic shops and some auto parts stores will often do a reset for you for free. The reset check engine lights process takes an extra step on modern cars. Prop open the hood and use the wrench to disconnect the positive power cable to the vehicle battery. Here is a quick way to reset your ECU. After you’re done with all of that, press “clear” to erase the codes or “enter” when asked if you are sure you want to clear the codes, and the check engine light should be successfully reset and no longer illuminated. I've had a passion for cars since 8 years old, and been a subscriber to Auto Week magazine since my 10th birthday. Got a question? Organizing your tools and gear so everything is easily reachable will save precious minutes waiting for your handy-dandy child or four-legged helper to bring you the sandpaper or blowtorch. Let’s do this. Oftentimes, this could be because the vehicle’s computers haven’t had time to reset. Before disconnecting the battery, you must find it first. How Long Does It Take To Charge A Car Battery? Ready to get schooled? The on-board diagnostics require some power to save the memory of the fault codes it's picking up to trigger the check engine light. When I got home I did a search on youtube and found clip of a guy resetting his 3 series service lights, no tools at all, just your odometer button. If you are planning on disconnecting the battery terminals, you will need a wrench or pliers to remove the bolts holding the terminals onto the battery. If the issue isn’t able to be corrected, the check engine light will come on. When something abnormal is encountered, the ECU will try to correct the issue. You fear the worst. Why Would You Need to Reset the Check Engine Light? © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Brookline Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. The best ways to interpret the trouble codes of a basic automotive diagnostic tool. You can then use them to fix the issue. Test the car and see if the check engine light isn’t on. Remove the positive cable from the positive terminal—the one with the plus sign. If this is the case, then the light needs to be reset in order to turn it off. Using battery disconnecting technique … Gloves are useful when you do any kind of maintenance on a vehicle. The Check Engine Light can come back on within minutes, days, weeks or months. Maybe you just had an issue fixed, and you expect the light to come back off as soon as you get your newly repaired vehicle back from the shop, but it doesn’t always work that way. Be sure to make note of each code present after the scan is complete. To reset the Check Engine Light with your computer: Click the Clear the DTCs button in the Trouble Codes view. “OBD” stands for “On-Board Diagnostics” and OBD-II scanners are suitable for all vehicles made after 1996. Battery locations vary between vehicles, though the most common place they tend to be in is under the hood. I've used that button to reset other stuff in the past, but never knew you could reset the engine light. Another simple approach to get rid of the check engine light is to turn on and off the car three times. There are a few different methods to clear a check engine light, but the two most common are using an OBD2 scanner and disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. A check engine light, commonly referred to as a CEL, is a small warning light on your car’s dashboard that indicates that something is wrong with your car and is triggered by one of your car’s sensors. A constantly illuminated light is annoying, but that alone isn’t a good reason to try and get rid of it, especially if there is known issue going on. It can always be turned off, though. Once everything has been disconnected and the remaining battery power has been drained, allow the vehicle to sit for up to 30 minutes. The dreaded "Check Engine" light on your dash is illuminated and taunting you. Turn off the ignition, wait 10 seconds, and then start the engine. These situations include: A vehicle’s ECU often runs in a circuit, constantly monitoring sensors and systems to make the adjustments necessary to keep them running optimally. You could even pull the electronic control module fuse on many models. If the light is on, this means that there is a problem, even if it is a minor one. One of the possible ways to reset the check engine light is to wait and let it go off … To do this, you will need a socket wrench to remove the cables. So, who’s ready to vanquish thine illuminated enemy? Start the car and see if the check engine light is out. Any way you look at it, an illuminated or flashing check engine light should never be ignored. Check your local laws to make sure you’re not violating any codes when using the street because we aren’t getting your ride out of the clink. Thankfully, the light can come on for a variety of reasons, and not all of them involve the imminent collapse of your engine. If you notice the engine light is still on after three days, then it is time you tried some of the methods showed above or take it for mechanical repairs. Well before the advent of the OBD2—yes, we’re old, we know—The Drive’s editors used to scrape and damage our knuckles diagnosing check engine lights. Like the running gag on BBC’s The IT Crowd, have you tried turning your car off and on again by disconnecting and then reconnecting the battery? However, that’s a simple process and you can follow The Drive’s guide to Changing a Car Battery or scroll back above. Let it Go Off Itself. Once the scan tool is plugged in, turn the vehicle on. That’s why we’ve partnered with JustAnswer, which connects you to certified mechanics around the globe, to get you through even the toughest jobs. That’s just the way it is with cars, and you can never really know what’s what until you know what you should look for. After you’ve fixed the faulty part or parts, use the scanner to erase the codes. Fix the Problem. In this guide, you will find step-by-step instructions on how to reset the Toyota check engine light and maintenance reminder. Under Pressure is a great song, and a must for your engine oil. Apply The Battery Disconnecting Technique. Disconnect the car battery. Sometimes a check engine light can go on or remain on even if there is no actual problem with the engine. How to Dispose of Antifreeze: Stay Safe & Protect the Environment! If the Check Engine Light comes back on, then there is still an issue with your car. Some auto parts stores loan out scanners to patrons, or you could borrow one from a friend or family member. Continue holding down the … Many drivers seek a solution to this problem especially if it happens frequently. And sometimes, there really is no issue with your vehicle when it’s on. Ever since I turned old enough to drive, I have driven as many vehicles as possible, while teaching myself how to perform maintenance and upgrade work on every vehicle I've owned. Plug your Scan Tool into the OBD port and turn the key to the on position (gauges should be lit up, a/c will blow if it’s on, but the engine is off) Step 3: This step will vary based on the tool you’re using, but select “READ” and scroll through the codes that are active on your vehicle. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Best OBD2 Scanners: Diagnose and Solve Automotive Troubles Quickly, Find those tricky automotive issues with these great OBD-II scanner options, have you tried turning your car off and on again, Locate your car’s OBD2 port underneath the steering wheel or within the passenger-side footwell. What Tools Do You Need to Reset the Check Engine Light? The best way to reset the check engine light is to fix the underlying problem that’s causing it to come on in the first place. You will need a wrench. You can wait a moment to see if the code returns. If it doesn’t, you can proceed. If you don’t want to go through the hassle of doing this all by yourself, then have your trusted mechanic do it for you. Diagnostic tool and purposes of this article, Let ’ s something actually wrong with vehicle! Safety inspection electronic control module fuse on many models Stay Safe & Protect the Environment brake and press the for. As the Service engine Soon ” light doesn ’ t contact the terminal as it will.. S computers haven ’ t have to reset the check engine light reset check. For several miles case, then you may have to press the power button to reset check engine,... Is under the hood and disconnect any battery components sure that the vehicle battery other. Car as normal a big repair bill, or a mechanic is of course the way! 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