What kind of port does check engine light use?
Every car sold in the US after 1996 has an OBD-II port that you can use to connect your car to your phone. This is the same port that a mechanic will connect to in order to find out what’s wrong with your car when the Check Engine light comes on.
What should I do if my check engine light is on?
The Check Engine light on your car is both useful and infuriating. You know something is wrong (which is good!), but you don’t know what. Rather than taking your car all the way down to your mechanic, you can get a pretty good idea what’s wrong with your car with a simple OBD-II adapter.
Why does my engine light not come on?
The light should come on when you turn the key to “ON,” and it should go out after the engine starts. If it NEVER comes on I’d suspect the bulb. Most CELs ground through the ECM so if the first suspect bulb is good then there could be an ECM fault. Hopefully it’s the bulb.
How to remove the Check Engine Light Fuse?
To remove check engine light fuse, you can use a code spanner or you can simply unplug the battery. On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) scanners are most appropriate for automobiles manufactured after 1996. For automobiles produced after the 1990s, they may not have an OBD port beneath the control panel.
How to check check engine light code without turning on car?
Put the ignition key and turn and switch to “on” without turning on the car. Immediately the lights on the dash come on turn off all the frills of the automobile and then press the “read” knob on the scanner to inspect the check engine light code. The symbols will be a series of letters and numbers.
Why does my check engine light keep coming on?
A code reader can help you by manually allowing you to clear the fault code that has caused the check engine light to illuminate (in case it was stuck on due to an error in the car’s computer), or if there truly is something mechanically wrong then it can give you the “error code” that your car is producing.
Where is the connector for the Check Engine light?
The connector is usually located under the steering column and is relatively easy to access. Before 1996, carmakers had their own engine diagnostic systems, primarily to ensure their cars were compliant with EPA pollution control requirements. Check engine lights come in orange, yellow or amber,…
Is the service required light the same as the Check Engine light?
Some drivers may confuse the service required or maintenance required light on the gauge cluster for the check engine light. These warning lights are unrelated. The service required light just means the car is due for an oil change or other routine care. It is not an indicator of trouble like the check engine light is.