Learn How to Reset a Check Engine Light
We’ve all been there. You’re driving along in Mesa, when suddenly your check engine light illuminates. Often, there’s nothing actually wrong with your engine, yet that pesky light just won’t go away. Cactus Jack's Auto is here for you with three ways you can successfully reset a check engine light.
If There Is a Problem, Have It Resolved
If you’ve reached the point where you’re wondering how you can reset a check engine light, you’re either sure there’s nothing wrong, or you’ve decided not to fix it right now. While this is ultimately the driver’s decision, we do urge you to take care of the issue as soon as it arises, for your own safety. Plus, ignoring a problem now can cause it to snowball into a much bigger issue over time.
Disconnect the Negative Battery Cable
If you haven’t found any problem that needs to be addressed, manually resetting your check engine light is the next logical action. To those who aren’t overly familiar with what’s under the hood of their car, this may sound incredibly daunting. It’s quite easy! Just follow these steps:
- Turn off the ignition and put on safety glasses and gloves
- Locate the negative terminal. Usually, it has a black cap and a negative (–) symbol. For reference, the positive cap is red and will have a positive (+) symbol.
- Loosen the nut on the negative terminal with a wrench, then pull the negative connector from the battery. Keep it to the side for 30 – 60 seconds.
- Reconnect the negative cable and tighten it back up with your wrench.
This should do the trick, but if it doesn’t, we’ve got another option for you to try. Please note that disconnecting your battery may also reset your infotainment system! (Uconnect, etc.)
Check Your Gas Cap
You may simply have a loose or cracked gas cap, which causes fumes to release. Often, your engine light will illuminate as a result. When you’re safely parked, simply remove your gas cap and put it right back on. If the engine light doesn’t turn off right away after you perform this check, follow the steps above to disconnect the battery, and you should be good to go!