If you experience a problem with your car, chances are good that you’ll want to take it in for repair. However, if you’ve ever had the misfortune of disconnecting your car battery, you might not realize that this can reset your car’s check engine light. In this article, we’ll explore what disconnecting your car battery can do and how to prevent it from happening in the first place.
What is the Check Engine Light?
The Check Engine Light (CEL) is a warning light that turns on when a problem with your car’s engine is detected. The CEL usually indicates a minor issue, but it can also indicate a more serious problem. If you have the CEL on your vehicle, it’s important to take care of it as soon as possible. Here is what you need to know about the CEL and how to reset it.
How Does the Check Engine Light Affect My Vehicle?
If your car’s battery is disconnected, the Check Engine light will turn on. This is because the car’s computer can’t tell if there’s a problem with the engine. If your car has a warning light for this issue, it will stay on until you fix the problem.
What Can I Do to Fix the Check Engine Light?
If you’re experiencing issues with the check engine light, there are a few things you can do to try and fix them. First, make sure the car’s battery is fully charged. disconnecting the car battery might reset the light, but it’s also possible that other factors are causing the problem. If you’ve tried all of the fixes listed below and the check engine light still isn’t going away, it might be time to take your car in for service.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the answer to this question is “it depends.” If you have an older car with a computer-controlled fuel injection system that relies on the car battery to start the engine and maintain stability during startup and operation, then disconnecting the battery will reset the check engine light. However, if your car has a modern immobilizer/security system that prevents theft or unauthorized starting of the vehicle, disconnecting the battery may not cause the check engine light to go off. In either case, it’s best to consult your car’s owner’s manual in order to find out for sure.