How to Clear the Car Malfunction Light?
2 Answers
To clear the car malfunction light, follow these steps: 1. Start and turn off the vehicle three times consecutively; 2. Disconnect the negative terminal of the engine battery, wait for 30 seconds, and then reconnect it. The reasons for the engine malfunction light to illuminate include: 1. When the sensor is damaged, has poor contact, or the signal is interrupted, the car's ECU cannot accurately obtain engine data, causing the engine malfunction light to illuminate; 2. Failure to perform regular maintenance increases the burden on the engine operation, prompting the malfunction light to alert; 3. Using the wrong type of fuel or oil can cause engine wear; 4. Poor combustion of the air-fuel mixture leads to engine carbon buildup or knocking issues; 5. Air intake problems, such as a dirty air filter affecting the vehicle's air intake, can cause blockages and trigger the engine malfunction light.
I find it quite troublesome when the car's malfunction indicator light comes on, as it usually means there's some issue with the system. Here's a simple way to clear it: most modern cars have an OBD port, so you can get an inexpensive scanner, plug it in, connect to a mobile app to read the fault codes, and then select the clear option. But don’t assume that’s the end of it—the light going off doesn’t mean the problem is fixed. For example, last time mine was due to an inaccurate oxygen sensor reading, and the light came back on after just a few days. To be safe, you should still inspect the engine bay or visit a repair shop. Regular maintenance like changing the oil and air filter can prevent the light from coming on for no reason. The key point is that driving with the malfunction light on can affect your annual inspection or even safety, so never ignore it. I usually test-drive the car first to confirm there are no strange noises or vibrations before clearing the light, to avoid worsening the problem.
