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Have you resolved your check engine light issue yet the light is still on? This is a very common situation and can be an annoying problem to come across.

All of us have probably been in this same situation where the engine light won’t just go off. Therefore, we wonder how to permanently disable the check engine light to get rid of this annoying problem for good.

This article will provide you with 6 different methods for getting the check engine light to go off, and even disabling the check engine light permanently.

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Note: Your check engine light is a warning that something is wrong, resolving the underlying issue with your engine should be your first priority. However, sometimes the light or sensors triggering the light can become an issue – particularly on older models. If your check engine light is on, your first stop should be your trusted mechanic.

In short, to permanently disable the check engine light, you can use a code scanner to clear the codes and reset the light or disconnect the battery for a few minutes to reset the engine control unit. Another option is to locate and remove the fuse for the check engine light or solder a resistor into the OBDII port to trick the ECU. However, addressing the underlying issue causing the light to illuminate is advisable. Now let’s take a look at all possible methods.

6 Methods on How to Disable Check Engine Light Permanently

Fortunately, there are various methods for you to try to disable your check engine light permanently. I would recommend working your way through the list in the hope that one of the following methods will work:

  1. Drive your car enough to disable the light
  2. Turning off your car 3 times in a row
  3. Reconnecting the battery
  4. Using a code reader
  5. Remove the check engine light fuse
  6. Permanently delete engine codes

Now, let’s look at each method in more detail!

1. Drive Your Car Enough to Disable the Light

Something as simple as driving your car for an extended period can help you out by disabling the check engine light. It’s the first method on the list because it doesn’t require you to do anything other than what you’re already doing.

The key is to be patient, you can just drive for a certain duration, and the check engine light should go off on its own after a while. You may be wondering how a method so simple as this works, so let’s take a look.

The mainframe of the car will retune when you drive your car regularly. When the car retunes its mainframe, this will resolve any kind of issue that turns on the check engine light in the first place. And this is exactly how you can disable the check engine light without even doing anything but driving.

I would recommend driving normally for around 3-5 days to check if the check engine light goes off on its own. If not, proceed to the next steps.

2. Turning Off Your Car 3 Times in a Row

Another rather simple step is to turn your car on and off 3 times in a row. So, the trick here is to turn your car on for about a second and then turn it off for a second and repeat this two more times.

It’s not difficult, and certainly worth a try, all you will do here is put the key in the ignition and turn it on and off 3 times consecutively in succession. This basically will reset any kind of trouble codes your car might have. It carries the same principle as restarting your car a couple of times to solve any software issues.

Though again, it’s not guaranteed that this method will work. If this method doesn’t work, it indicates there is nothing wrong with the trouble codes or your software.

Also, note that this method works only on cars that can automatically reset trouble codes. Therefore, it will probably not work for you if your car doesn’t have an automatic reset on trouble codes.

3. Reconnecting the Battery

It doesn’t matter what car you have, this third method should work if the problem is on a surface level. This method works for old cars as well as modern-day cars.

First of all, you will need to open the hood of your car and locate the battery. On the battery, there should be a positive power cable. You will wrench to separate that power cable and remove it.

After you have removed the cable, you can keep the battery in its disconnected state for around 20 to 30 minutes. Then, after this period of time, you have to turn your ignition on three times in succession as previously described. This will hopefully wipe out all the bad records from memory.

After doing so, you may connect the positive cable back to the battery terminal before waiting a minute and checking up on the check engine light. Fingers crossed this resolves the issue otherwise it’s time for a code reader.

4. Using a Code Reader

If the previous method of disconnecting and reconnecting the battery doesn’t work, you will have to grab an OBD code reader and use it to clear the engine codes to resolve several issues.

You will need to attach the OBD reader to the port that is usually found under your car’s dashboard. With some models of cars, you might need to remove the fuse box door.

If you have a car that was manufactured before 1996, then it is likely it will not have an OBD port. In this case, you should unplug the battery as that will also work.

Connect the OBD code reader to your car before placing the key in the ignition and turning it on while making sure you are not starting your car.

Next, you will see a knob on your scanner that says read. Press that, and it will examine the codes for the check engine light. Find the error codes using the symbols you see and clear them using the knob on your scanner.

Turn off the ignition and remove the scanner from your car before resetting your car by taking off the negative cable of the battery to take away all the energy that is left in the car capacitor.

Again, as previously described, you should keep the battery disconnected for about 20 to 30 minutes before reconnecting the battery. Once you connect the battery, it will reset all the electrical systems of your car including the check engine light fuse.

This should disable the check engine light permanently. However, if your car doesn’t have OBD or any kind of port for scanners, then you can just follow the reset method by removing the battery.

This method will only work if your car has the OBD ports and supports code deletion using the code reader, which not all cars do, unfortunately.

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Now, these previous 4 methods are the common and official ways to disable your check engine light permanently. However, if you still have the problem, then you can try out a couple of other methods.

Note: The final two methods involve removing the check engine light fuse of your car or trying to delete the engine codes. However, I would like you to keep in mind that these aren’t recommended. The check engine light is a warning that something is wrong, removing the warning light doesn’t fix the underlying problem.

5. Removing the Check Engine Light Fuse

Removing the check engine light fuse will be as simple as removing the fuse from the engine control unit before putting it back. This may not fix the problem with newer cars, but it certainly will help with older cars.

If you struggle to locate the fuse on the engine control unit, seek guidelines in the owner’s manual or contact your manufacturer.

Related:

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6. Permanently Deleting the Engine Codes

Before presenting the final method, it’s important to understand how it can be a bit risky. Permanently deleting engine codes is not the best solution, and so, it should be treated as a last resort.

I recommend going to see a professional mechanic rather than doing this on your own.

The first thing to do is to park your car on level ground and have the parking brake (handbrake) engaged. Next, open your car hood and remove the negative cable from your car battery using a wrench before removing the positive cable too.

Get in your car and keep switching your ignition between on and off five times before pushing on the horn knob you have on your steering wheel and keep holding it for 30 seconds (regardless of how weird it sounds).

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After this, connect the positive cable on the battery first and then connect the negative one, ensuring they’re both tightened properly. Finally, start up your car and wait for the engine to heat up and you should see that the check engine light has been deleted for good.

Additional check engine light reading:

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Is there a fuse for the check engine light?

Yes, the fuse for the check engine light can generally be found in the back of the engine control unit. Though, this may not be the case for all vehicles, so, it is best to refer to your owner’s manual.

Can a check engine light be turned off?

Yes, there are multiple methods available to turn off a check engine light. These include simply driving your for 3-5 days for the light to turn off itself, turning off your car 3 times in a row, disconnecting and reconnecting the battery, using a code reader, removing the check engine light fuse, or permanently deleting the engine codes.