1. Park your vehicle and turn off the engine. Make sure the parking brake is engaged.
2. Locate the battery. It is usually located in the engine bay, near the front of the vehicle.
3. Disconnect the negative battery cable. Use a wrench to loosen the nut or bolt that holds the negative battery cable to the battery terminal. Be careful not to touch the positive battery terminal with the wrench, as this could cause a short circuit.
4. Wait 10 minutes. This will allow the power capacitors in the vehicle's electronic control unit (ECU) to discharge.
5. Reconnect the negative battery cable. Tighten the nut or bolt that holds the negative battery cable to the battery terminal.
6. Start your vehicle. The check engine light should now be reset.
Method 2: Using an OBD-II scan tool
1. Purchase an OBD-II scan tool. OBD-II scan tools are available at most auto parts stores.
2. Connect the OBD-II scan tool to your vehicle's diagnostic port. The diagnostic port is usually located under the dashboard, near the steering wheel.
3. Turn on the OBD-II scan tool and select the "Read Codes" option. The scan tool will display the diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) that are stored in the ECU.
4. Find the DTC for the check engine light. The DTC will be a five-digit code, such as P0420.
5. Look up the meaning of the DTC. You can find the meaning of the DTC online or in a repair manual.
6. Follow the instructions in the repair manual to fix the problem that caused the check engine light to come on. Once the problem is fixed, the check engine light should go off automatically.
7. If the check engine light does not go off after you have fixed the problem, you can use the OBD-II scan tool to clear the DTCs. To clear the DTCs, select the "Clear Codes" option on the scan tool.
Tips
- If the check engine light comes on again after you have reset it, you should have your vehicle diagnosed by a qualified mechanic.
- Some vehicles have a "Check Engine" button that you can press to reset the check engine light. If your vehicle has this button, you can use it instead of disconnecting the battery or using an OBD-II scan tool.
