Check engine light came on yesterday...

Is there a way to find out what code it threw without a code-reader? I don't have one, and I hate to pay the dealer $80 to reset the light if it's just a loose gas cap...

 

umm someone here mentioned that an autoparts store could read it for you, so you'd buy their parts heh.

 

Sometimes it comes up at certain mileages...just reset it, it's in the manual.

 

If it is the gas cap, it will reset itself. I think mine took 2 or 3 tanks.

 

no mods huh.

 

Autozone used to do this for free, but then they killed the program a while back. They are being sued by the manufacturers of those code readers I heard.

tmk: I need to check the manual again. I remember there are instructions to reset the "maintenance required" light, but I didn't recall there are instructions to reset "check engine" like. I think we need those code reader to do so, but I may be wrong.

I used to be able to grab DTCs and reset check engine light for my Maxima without using any code reader. That's a really cool feature.

 

That's the maintenance light.

 

Anyone know how to reset the maintainence light? (shameless hijack)

 

Why would they charge you. Shouldn't that be covered under warranty?

 

55557 miles...

even if you are under warranty, if it turns out to be a loose gas cap, the dealer can charge you to reset it --- user error.

 

Wow, that sucks.

 

If I recall correctly you.... 1) turn the key off 2) hold the trip odometer set and select buttons both down 3) while holding the set+select buttons turn the key on and keep holding the buttons until the light resets.

 

The light turned off by itself. Must be a loose gas cap?

 

If your vehicle has an intermittent problem or the problem does not reoccur the MIL light (malfuncton indicator lamp also known as check engine light) will turn itself off .the code is stored untill the ecu is told to erase it or the battery is disconnected .There is no manual provision for code reading on these vehicles .

Jens

 

manually unplug your ecu for about 20 sec. It is located between the center console. You have to unplug all 4 plugs on the right side of the ecu.