Engine light on all the time
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,927
Likes: 9
From: Ozark, Alabama
Engine light on all the time
For some reason the light that looks like an engine is illuminated all the time ... car appears to run fine.
Is there a way to turn it out or reset it without a tech tool?
Thanks
Is there a way to turn it out or reset it without a tech tool?
Thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
It means that you have an emissions related problem.
The ONLY way to figure out what it is, you will have to have the DTCs read. Go to AUTOZONE and they will read it for you for free. Some of the Autozones will NOT clear the code. (they are forbidden by law) but some will. I just purchased my own scanner. It makes life a LOT easied You need a scan tool that is CAN BUSS compliant. I purchased an ACTRON CP-9180 for $140. on AMAZON.com. Autozone is suppose to have them on sale this week. Make sure that you get one that will data log and show real time sensor data. The CP-9180 has that capability.
On my trip to Bowling Green Ky from CT for the cruise in, my 06 Coupe went into Reduced Power Mode. Lucky for me,,, I had my scanner. Read the DTC, found out it was a Throttle Peddle Position Sensor issue. Reseated the connector, cleared the DTC and I was back on the road.
Get a scanner. You will NOT be sorry!
BC
The ONLY way to figure out what it is, you will have to have the DTCs read. Go to AUTOZONE and they will read it for you for free. Some of the Autozones will NOT clear the code. (they are forbidden by law) but some will. I just purchased my own scanner. It makes life a LOT easied You need a scan tool that is CAN BUSS compliant. I purchased an ACTRON CP-9180 for $140. on AMAZON.com. Autozone is suppose to have them on sale this week. Make sure that you get one that will data log and show real time sensor data. The CP-9180 has that capability.
On my trip to Bowling Green Ky from CT for the cruise in, my 06 Coupe went into Reduced Power Mode. Lucky for me,,, I had my scanner. Read the DTC, found out it was a Throttle Peddle Position Sensor issue. Reseated the connector, cleared the DTC and I was back on the road.
Get a scanner. You will NOT be sorry!
BC
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
YEP,,,,,that will turn the light out if it doesn't cause different DTCs when you reconnect it.
If you need to do an emissions test any time shortly after the disconnect, you will FAIL the emissions test because the car is required to go thru a rigorous set of dive cycles before it will set an emissions ready flag. If the issue that is causing the CEL to come on is a hard fault, the CEL will come right back on.
Wouldn't you want to know what is causing the issue???
So,,,that really isn't a good idea.
If you need to do an emissions test any time shortly after the disconnect, you will FAIL the emissions test because the car is required to go thru a rigorous set of dive cycles before it will set an emissions ready flag. If the issue that is causing the CEL to come on is a hard fault, the CEL will come right back on.
Wouldn't you want to know what is causing the issue???
So,,,that really isn't a good idea.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,927
Likes: 9
From: Ozark, Alabama
Thanks for the replies. I disconnected the battery and got the light to go out. However, I think the scanner is a good idea and I will pick one up tomorrow. It could be real handy at the track!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,615
Likes: 694
next time the check engine light comes on, check your gas cap to see if it is on correctly....this sometimes trips the code....or the gas cap could be bad.....get the code read and fix the problem.......start with the easy stuff
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
Sometimes there is a fluke, and the computer turns on the CEL. Disconnecting the battery will reset it without harming anything. If there is a current problem , the CEL will come back on and the codes will tell the tech what has happned to make the CEL come on when you take it to the dealer.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 802
Likes: 6
From: Oro Valley AZ
You can download a copy of PCMSCAN at http://www.palmerperformance.com/pro...scan/index.php. It is a fully featured generic OBD-II scanner and diagnostic tool that supports a wide variety of OBD-II hardware interfaces (available on eBay for a couple of bucks). It allows viewing, charting, logging and playback of diagnostic data in real time via your car's OBD-II diagnostic data port. It also allows viewing and resetting of vehicle Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC's), Freeze Frame data, and other vehicle information.
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Moderator
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,896
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From: Lakewood Ranch, FL
It means that you have an emissions related problem.
The ONLY way to figure out what it is, you will have to have the DTCs read. Go to AUTOZONE and they will read it for you for free. Some of the Autozones will NOT clear the code. (they are forbidden by law) but some will. I just purchased my own scanner. It makes life a LOT easied You need a scan tool that is CAN BUSS compliant. I purchased an ACTRON CP-9180 for $140. on AMAZON.com. Autozone is suppose to have them on sale this week. Make sure that you get one that will data log and show real time sensor data. The CP-9180 has that capability.
On my trip to Bowling Green Ky from CT for the cruise in, my 06 Coupe went into Reduced Power Mode. Lucky for me,,, I had my scanner. Read the DTC, found out it was a Throttle Peddle Position Sensor issue. Reseated the connector, cleared the DTC and I was back on the road.
Get a scanner. You will NOT be sorry!
BC
The ONLY way to figure out what it is, you will have to have the DTCs read. Go to AUTOZONE and they will read it for you for free. Some of the Autozones will NOT clear the code. (they are forbidden by law) but some will. I just purchased my own scanner. It makes life a LOT easied You need a scan tool that is CAN BUSS compliant. I purchased an ACTRON CP-9180 for $140. on AMAZON.com. Autozone is suppose to have them on sale this week. Make sure that you get one that will data log and show real time sensor data. The CP-9180 has that capability.
On my trip to Bowling Green Ky from CT for the cruise in, my 06 Coupe went into Reduced Power Mode. Lucky for me,,, I had my scanner. Read the DTC, found out it was a Throttle Peddle Position Sensor issue. Reseated the connector, cleared the DTC and I was back on the road.
Get a scanner. You will NOT be sorry!
BC
I carry one in the cubby!