If you own a car, you will want to familiarise yourself with basic knowledge of your engine to be equipped for difficult situations. You will experience a service engine soon light illuminate on your dashboard at some point. Knowing what the light means and how to reset it will protect you from unnecessary worry.
Modern vehicles come with onboard computers whose work is to track your engine’s performance and store data and error codes when issues are found.
What does the service engine soon light mean?
The service engine soon light turns on when the computer notices problems with your engine. It notifies you that it may be time to check on your engine. If you do the required repair, but the light remains on, you may need to reset the service engine soon light and clear the error codes. Clearing or resetting a service engine soon light requires no expertise. You only need to know how and when to do it.
Why is the light on?
Your gas cap may be loose. Check your gas cap to confirm that it is in its rightful position and tighten it. Also, check inside and ensure it is above half full. Drive around for an hour to see if the light clears. If it remains on, consider replacing the gas cap. But if the light does not clear even after replacing the gas cap, you should visit a mechanic for further diagnosis.
The light might also be on if your car has other problems like a faulty mass airflow sensor or oxygen sensor, faulty charging system, defective spark plugs and wires, faulty ignition coil, or issues with the light itself. Consider seeking the help of a mechanic to find what is the actual issue. Sometimes, the problem may be with the code.
How to reset a service engine soon light
To clear the service engine soon light warning on your own, you need to disable your car’s service engine light. You can do this by disconnecting your car’s battery or using the scan tool. When using a scanning tool, you need a paper, pen, and scanning tool.
Have a good understanding of your car’s system before you begin the process. The correct information will guide you in getting the ideal scanning tool to clear error codes.
- Once you have your scanning tool, you will need the scanning tool interface in your car, which you will find under the driver’s seat, the hood in the engine compartment, and the left side of the dashboard. If you cannot find it, go through the owner’s manual for help.
- Connect the scanning tool to the scanning tool interface and switch it on.
- Write down the codes it displays for future reference. Writing the codes helps you diagnose the problem if it persists even after clearing the codes.
- To remove the codes, use the erase function feature on your scanner.
- Select your scanning tool menu
- Click ‘check engine light.’
- Select ‘erase’
- Disconnect the scanning tool from the interface
- Restart your car to check whether the light is off.
- If the light is still on, ask for the help of an expert.
Is the service engine soon light bad?
The light is a safety precaution. It is a bad sign when it is on, as it tells you your car needs maintenance.
Can I drive with the service engine soon light on?
After clearing the error codes on your car’s computer, you need to drive your car for a few minutes so that the computer can monitor all the senses of your vehicle and store the results. It would be best if you kept driving until the system shows a READY status. If it shows NOT READY, you have not driven long enough after clearing the error codes.
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Conclusion
Sometimes, your service engine soon light will turn on due to tripped wires or faulty sensors. All you may need is to remove the service engine soon light by clearing error codes. Before embarking on expensive repairs, it is essential first to find out the exact problem. You do not want to spend loads of money on repairs only to realize that what you fixed was not the issue. It is advisable to seek help from a reliable mechanic.