How to Reset a Check Engine Light

It could be a stress-inducing experience for your check engine light to pop up on your vehicle. However, we at Edward Kia near Council Bluffs are committed to relieving the stress of a check engine light coming on and providing you with some peace of mind. Today, our service team will walk you through why your engine light has not shut off, and how to reset the check engine light without a scanner. Keep reading to learn this and more!

Resolve a Check Engine Light as Soon as Possible

If you’re traveling around Omaha or Bellevue and you see your check engine light turn on, we strongly recommend that you get that looked at as possible. Otherwise, something small could eventually snowball into higher expenses or even become hazardous. Schedule service with Edward Kia near Council Bluffs to get the preventative care you need.

Disconnect & Reconnect the Negative Battery Cable

If you or your Edward Kia mechanic find that there are no issues with your vehicle, you can reset the check engine light manually. Disconnecting the negative battery is quite easy and takes a few simple steps:

1. Turn off your vehicle and put on your gloves and safety glasses
2. Look for the negative terminal, which usually has a negative (-) symbol and a black cap.
3. Use a wrench to remove the nut on the negative terminal and pull the negative connector from the battery for 30-60 seconds.
4. Reconnect the negative cable securing it with the wrench.

This should reset your check engine light. However, if not there are other tricks you could try. Please note that disconnecting your negative battery cable may reset your infotainment system!

Tighten Your Gas Cap 

After you disconnect and reconnect your negative battery cable, what may be the culprit is the fact that your gas cap may be loose or cracked. When your gas cap is faulty, your vehicle is trying to warn you about potential fumes escaping. Fortunately, the remedy is simple, where all you need to do is find a safe place to park and tighten the gas cap until it clicks. Then, you can head out of Council Bluffs roads unencumbered!

Learn More with Edward Kia Near Council Bluffs

However, if you try both of these tactics and your check engine light is still not reset, it might be best to contact us today and get a specialist to review and diagnose your vehicle. Be sure to check out our service specials before your next visit to save even more with Edward Kia near Bellevue!