How do you reset the check engine soon light?

Answer 1

First off you should take it to a GM or qualified mechanic with a computer to hook up to your ALDL connector to read the codes to see if what the problem is.

Secondly you must remember that there is a billion things that could set that code off.

The first of many I would check is

EGR valve - very common and what happens here is that your truck will run like a JOHN DEERe tractor and stall and the brakes go limp and of course suck a 1/4 tank of gas in about 30 mins, just driving down the steet etc. To fix this clean your pintle valve out and clear all carbon from the valve itself, then clean the throttle body. Now listen carefully... this will happen again and again if you do not replace your EGR valve gasket with a clean screen from www.tomco-inc.com Yours would be GM Linear EGR Gasket Tomco Part #2-1357.

The very next thing I would check is the O2 sensor - go with the bosch but remember if its a 1993-94 then you only need one. 1995 or better you have two which are really difficult to get at.

to clear the codes if all is well is simply remove your negative ground for about 10 mins and then connect and start the engine. If you code is still there you are going to have to pay for the test which is around 45-50$ (CND)

beware that not all places can get into the ALDL terminal and GM might just be the best place to start as they made these money sucking pigs of a truck in the first place.

Good luck and let me know how you make out as I have some more resources you can use.

Cheers SCott

Go to a independent garage. Pull the codes from the computer, match the code to the troubleshooting procedure, follow the procedure to find the source. Repair the source, light will go out if that was the only problem. There are "monitors" or self test the computer runs the car through, if a problem occurs, it may not run all of the self tests until that problem is taken care. Therefore, another problem may exist.

Remember that you can reset the check engine light by simply disconnecting the battery, however, this will only last for around 100-150 miles if ther is something wrong with your vehicle. If there is still a problem, it will come on again usually within that period of mileage.

If you are in a state requiring emissions, then don't bother doing it unless you know for sure it will stay off before taking it in and you have at least that amount of mileage on it. By resetting the computer, you lose all data (codes) and it will show up on the machine in the emissions place, therefore wasting $25 (or whatever they charge where you're at)

The Check Engine Soon Light is a sign something is wrong with your vehicle. Rarely does it indicate something wrong with the light itself, but that has also been known to happen. Whatever you do, do not ignore it because before you know it, the vehicle may not run.