The light came on, I took it to AutoZone, and they read the code and said it was Evaporative Emissions. The gas cap had small cracks in the gasket where it seats, so I bought a new one and replaced it. They guy at AutoZone and the owners manual said the light should go off in a few days after about 10 starts. It didn't, so I went to a repair shop. The shop said the light wouldn't go out on its own, and suggested I save myself their diagnostic charge and go back to AutoZone and have it reset. If it stays off good, if not the problem wasn't the gas cap and I should bring it back to the repair shop. So who is right?
2007-10-13 07:25:22 · 8 answers · asked by bob s 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
After the problem is corrected that turned on the check engine light (MIL), the technician turns it off with his scanner. However, that doesn't erase the stored codes in memory that stay there until you go through enough "drive cycles" (read procedure below) and that can take several weeks sometimes depending on how and how often you drive the car. So if you were to go to an emissions test station right after getting a MIL repair and reset, you would still flunk the test because of the stored codes in many cases.
2007-10-13 07:41:46 · answer #1 · answered by bobweb 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I was told after so many drive cycles, like for instance: after you start the car, drive 5 minutes at 40 miles per hour, then stop.... etc. thats an example of a drive cycle, maybe you can do a search to find the drive cycle to turn off the light for your particular make and model, this is what I did, but you may just run through the drive cycles by chance driving around the city, if not, yes you would need a reset
2007-10-13 08:14:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
here's somthing you could try. Try unplugging the positive end of the battery for 3 minutes. This should clear the cpu of any codes stored, if the check engine light comes back on have the guy at AutoZone check the code again and see what it says, you could have another problem elsewhere. Then at that point you should take it to a repair shop.
2007-10-13 07:34:42 · answer #3 · answered by phoebostitan 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If the project is fixed you may the two unplug the battery for a minimum of a a million/2 hour to clean the codes, or take it to somebody with a code reader to delete it. maximum vehicle area shops could have this device and do it for loose. in case you do come to a decision to unplug the battery then keep in mind that it will take a quick time in the time of driving for the workstation to relearn a number of its documents. This takes a minimum of fifteen minutes of driving.
2016-10-22 06:50:33 · answer #4 · answered by jeremie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Disconnect the positve or the negitive battery lead and let it sit for at least 10 minutes then reconnect, this will cycle the computer and if your problem is fixed then the light will stay off if the light comes back on then you still have a problem somewhere.
2007-10-13 07:35:00 · answer #5 · answered by Crazy Frog 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You have a good garage. Take it back to AutoZone had have them clear the code. If it comes back go back to AZ and reread the code
2007-10-13 07:44:45 · answer #6 · answered by R1volta 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
once the pcm runs a test on the failed component and it passes 3 times, the light will go out. if you drive the car every day, it will be out in a couple days if the problem is fixed. if the light doesn't go out in a couple days, take it to a dealer and they will have to use a machine that pressurizes the evap system with smoke to find the leak.
2007-10-13 07:50:50 · answer #7 · answered by sprinkles 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try and disconnect the battery. That should clear the code, if that doesn't work take back and have them reset it.
2007-10-13 07:28:49 · answer #8 · answered by TheBrain 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋