Check engine light-How to shut it off for free!
 

;) Check engine light came on at 75k for service. I just had the 60k service done when I bought the car with almost 68k so I do not need it. Manual and service bulletin says it needs to be reset at the dealer, bull dookie!

This supposably works for ALL vehicles, no matter what year or model. Disconnect the battery on both positive and negative sides. Touch the terminals together for at least a minute. I recommend a jumper wire so you know they are connected. Do NOT come in contact with the battery or anything else for that matter. Reconnect the terminals and viola! You will need to reset your radio code and adjust clock.

What if it is a REAL problem you ask? Then the light will return shortly once the problem is detected.

Happy motoring! :p

I don't think it's coming on to tell you that you need preventive maintenance. I expect that you can turn it off by disconnecting the battery for a minute or so, on most cars this will reset the light and it can't hurt anything.

As you say if there's a problem it will come back on. Sometimes something will "glitch", such as a O2 sensor and trap a code, then once the light is reset it won't come back on.

Good luck,

The ONLY reason the 'check engine' lamp was invented was the EPA. They wanted cleaner air, so we got catalytic converters. Once they were in place, the car manufacturers needed a way to make sure these fragile converters were not damaged by a malfunction of the engine.

SO, the check engine light was adopted. This light will come on to protect ONLY 2 things...The catalyst and potential for too much pollution.

IF the engine dumps too much or too little fuel, it will overheat and melt the cat, (can cost big $$$).

IF the engine does not heat up quickly enough, there is a likelihood of too much emission output during the first run.....



THERE IS NO CORRELATION BETWEEN THE SERVICE INTERVAL AND THE LIGHT.

Disconnect the battery, nothing else needs to be done! Just unplug it for 30 seconds or so, and it should reset.

BTW, nice car.... glad you got something good (rather, GREAT) out of that whole dealer crap (with the 560/TMU) you went through.