How to Reset a Check Engine Light

If your vehicle’s check engine light stays on even after you’ve had your vehicle serviced at our service center near Irvine, you’ll want to learn how to reset a check engine light. This is quite easy once you get the hang of it. Check out our guide on how to reset a check engine light today and you’ll be able to turn that irritating light off in no time. If you need extra assistance, don’t hesitate to schedule a service appointment.

Diagnose Check Engine Light Issues

If you need to reset your check engine light after it illuminates while driving around Costa Mesa or Orange, it’s important to first check that the issue has been resolved and it’s not more than a faulty light. If there’s a bigger issue, you’ll want to bring your vehicle to our service center. Our service team can establish if there’s a problem with your engine or the light sensor.

Disconnect the Negative Battery Cable

There are a few different ways to reset your check engine light. Try the one your most comfortable with and if you need assistance, our team is more than happy to help. Learn how to reset your check engine light at home by following these instructions:

1. Park your vehicle, and set the ignition to off. Make sure to put on safety glasses and gloves at this point.
2. Find the negative battery terminal under the hood. Most often, you will notice a black cap with a negative (-) symbol on top to distinguish the positive from the negative terminal.
3. Next, using a wrench, loosen the nut on the negative terminal. Pull the negative connector from the battery.
4. Loosen the nut on the negative terminal with a wrench, then pull the negative connector to the side for 30-60 seconds.
5. Tighten the negative cable using your wrench, and secure the connection.

Remember: Once you start up your vehicle, you may need to reconfigure your Chevy infotainment system as this process will essentially factory-reset your electrical system.

Check Your Gas Cap

Another cause of the check engine light coming on could be a loose or cracked gas cap. If you notice your gas cap is cracked, fumes could be escaping, causing the check engine light to come on as well. Check out our parts center to find a new gas cap. This should fix the issue right away.

Let Volkswagen South Coast Resolve Your Check Engine Light Problems

The steps above not working? There could be another issue with your vehicle. In this case, we recommend bringing your vehicle in for service. Have questions about the Volkswagen warranty, want to compare the Volkswagen Atlas vs. Honda Pilot, learn about the VW Tiguan interior, about your vehicle’s timing belt, how to change your key fob battery, or want to learn how to check car oil? Contact us today! Here at the Volkswagen South Coast service center, we’re here to help answer all your automotive service-related questions.