Check engine light is a signal from the car’s engine computer that something is wrong with your car. Your car could be facing a major or minor complication, such as a faulty gas cap or misfiring engine, which can cause a fire hazard. The check engine light, in most cases, is related to the emissions systems on your car and can affect its performance.
Ignoring the light can cause more damage to your car, leading to a costly repair. Therefore, much attention should be given to the light signal. Your car might be asking for a replacement of ignition coil, fuel injector, catalyst converter, thermostat, or oxygen sensor among other needs.
The check engine light generates a code that helps in detecting the problem that needs to be fixed. Resetting your Prius check engine light can be done through the following methods, which work for 2004-2010 models.
This technique follows the steps below to reset your check engine light and fix your car complications:
When the dashes get to the right, the odometer will flash 000000. It will then turn back on, and the lights will be reset.
This process starts by connecting the scan tool to the On-Board Diagnostic connector under the steering column, as you turn your car ignition switch on.
While applying this method, always remember to turn off all the other accessories in your car like the radio. Press the “read” button on the scan tool to view error codes, which are a series of numbers and letters.
When you press the “erase” button on the scan tool to remove the error code, the engine light will turn off. You should also record the codes and know what they represent to repair your car accordingly.
Also known as the hard-reset method, it demands that you disconnect the battery when your car is turned off. After the disconnection, depress the brake to help use up any electric energy in the vehicle capacitors.
You should then wait for fifteen minutes before reconnecting the battery. Leaving the battery disconnected for this long ensures that your car system will completely reset when the battery is reconnected.
In this technique, you should put the key into the ignition and turn it on and off three times with intervals of a second between them. After doing so, drive the car to see if the light is reset.
The car can also reset by itself if it has a minor issue. The computer system will recheck the problem as you drive and fix it.
Sometimes, the check engine light can come back within a few days or weeks, signaling a major complication. If this goes on even after following the resetting procedures, you should take your car to a service center to deal with the problem.
Is your car indicating major complications through the check engine light? Contact us today, and our professionals will fix it.
Check out some more Prius topics you might want to read:
Differences Between The Prius C 1 2 3 4 Explained
Honda Fit vs. Toyota Prius – Which Is Better?
Nissan Leaf vs. Toyota Prius – Which One Is The Best?
