How to Clear the Engine Fault Light?
3 Answers
Engine fault light elimination methods are: start and turn off the vehicle three times in a row, or disconnect the negative terminal of the engine battery, wait for 30 seconds, and then reconnect it to eliminate the light. There are many reasons why the engine fault light stays on, common ones include the following: 1. The oxygen sensor plug is damaged or loose, causing the mixture to be too lean or too rich. 2. Poor quality gasoline that does not meet standards, leading to incomplete combustion of the air-fuel mixture during engine operation. 3. Poor engine maintenance, spark plugs, ignition coils, fuel pump, or fuel line blockages causing poor combustion of the engine's air-fuel mixture. 4. The engine requires air for combustion; if the car's air filter is dirty and not cleaned regularly, it affects the car's air intake, leading to long-term blockages and potentially causing the engine fault light to illuminate.
Recently, several car owners have asked how to turn off the engine malfunction indicator light. We deal with this issue every day. To put it simply, the light coming on is not a minor issue—it means the computer has logged a trouble code. You need to plug an OBD-II scanner into the port located at the lower left corner of the car to read the specific fault, such as an air-fuel ratio imbalance or a faulty sensor. After the repair, select 'clear trouble codes' on the scanner to turn off the light. Don’t take shortcuts by disconnecting the negative battery terminal, as this could damage the computer or affect driving data. I recommend taking the car directly to a repair shop for professional handling and a comprehensive diagnosis to prevent small issues from escalating and to extend the engine’s lifespan. Make it a habit to scan for trouble codes every quarter—prevention is the real money-saver.
Last year, I fixed the engine check light myself by purchasing a cheap OBD scanner online for just a few bucks. Plugged it in, read the code, and found it was an oxygen sensor error. After replacing it, I selected the clear option and the light turned off. But here's a reminder: clearing the light doesn't mean the car is fixed—the root issue might still be there and the light could come back on. Don't believe the online advice about disconnecting the battery; it's unreliable and might even trigger the anti-theft system. It's best to combine this with proper repairs, like regular checks on spark plugs and the fuel system, to reduce such issues. DIY can be fun, but always prioritize safety and avoid taking unnecessary risks.
