My Venture Van ran out of gas yesterday, I put gas in and now it runs fine, but the service engine soon light is on.... It doesnt need oil and the coolant level is fine, what could be causing this or how do i reset the system to turn the light off?
2006-09-21 18:33:18 · 9 answers · asked by Amy 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Check your gas cap to make sure it is completely tight. If even slightly loose it can cause a (CEL) ckeck engine light to illuminate.
The easiest way to reset the light with out a tool is to remove the ECU fuse for a few seconds and put it back in. If you cannot find the fuse then take both battery cables off for 30 seconds and put them back on.
You can have the van scanned for free by several auto parts stores in order to find out why the light is coming on. They can't tell you all the codes, but they can read the most common.
2006-09-21 19:16:01 · answer #1 · answered by aer_tech 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Disconnecting the battery on a newer car does not work.
You will need to use a scanner to shut it off. The newer vehicles have an internal battery for memory - that is why you can not reset the mileage of the vehicle when you disconnect the battery :P.
Id go to your local automotive parts store like Kragen/Auto Zone and have the guys there use the scanner and see what the code is - they should be able to give you at least the Code number and then you can research it online of on this Forum. With that info you can determine if it was set due to the gas problem you had or the gas cap was not put on tight enough which can cause the light to come on.
All in all there is a reason behind the light and the 1st step is use a scanner..
Good luck.
2006-09-21 18:43:28 · answer #2 · answered by CAR GUY 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Did you put the cap back on tight? Newer cars have a sensor by the gas tank that senses if your gas cap has not clicked. If this has happened the check engine light will come on. I also know depending on how many miles are on your car that some cars have a schedule in the manual that makes the light go on when certain things need maintenance but it is preprogrammed.
2006-09-21 18:44:57 · answer #3 · answered by freakygurl559 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take the positive battery cable off and get in the car and hold down the brake petal for 30 sec.Then get back out and put the cable back on and start the car.It should work.If the light comes back on you can go to a shucks or someother autosupply store and the will let you use there scanner.good luck
2006-09-21 18:44:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can also try going to some of the larger auto parts stores such as Auto Zone or Pep Boys, most of them will do a free code check for you and could reset your check engine light.
2006-09-21 18:43:15 · answer #5 · answered by Big Mark 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
are you sure that the gas cap is tight? sometimes if you put too much gas the light will get on, make sure that the gas cap is tight and try to turn your car on and off few times, and yeah to get the light off try to disconnect/connect your battery, might work, for some cars you need to connect it to a computer to get the light off(means you need to get to a mechanic)
2006-09-21 18:37:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
try resetting the computer . take the one of the post of the battery after doing this turn the car switch on on position than turn it back to off and put post back on battery.
2006-09-21 18:40:44 · answer #7 · answered by g w 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try disconnecting the battery cable, then reconnecting it. That should do it !
2006-09-21 18:35:39 · answer #8 · answered by g_man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
usually its a sensor and u have to take it to a mechanic to find out which sensor it is
2006-09-21 18:40:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋