How to Reset a Check Engine Light

Sometimes your Check Engine light comes on, you fix the issue, and the light stays on. Do you know how to reset a Check Engine light? It’s a quick fix you can do from your Atlanta parking pad without making a trip to the Five Star Ford Stone Mountain service center. Just follow our steps and you’ll be able to reset your Check Engine light! 

Before You Reset a Check Engine Light

Most importantly, if you’re driving in Snellville or Loganville and you notice that your Check Engine light is on, make sure there isn’t a problem with your engine. After all, that’s the reason why cars have Check Engine lights: so you can catch small problems before they become big, expensive problems. Follow these steps only when you have verified that your engine is fine. If you haven’t done so, schedule an appointment with us, then after your appointment, follow these instructions to reset the Check Engine light: 

Check Your Gas Cap

If nothing is wrong with your engine, there’s a chance a loose or cracked gas tank cap is causing the Check Engine light to illuminate. Just park in a safe place, turn off the engine remove your gas cap, check it for cracks, and carefully replace it, making sure it’s finger tight. If the light’s gone when you turn on the ignition, you’ve solved the problem! 

Disconnect the Negative Battery Cable

If the problem wasn’t with the gas cap, your next step is to disconnect the negative (black) battery cable from the battery. This will manually reset your Check Engine light. If you’re not familiar with your battery, follow these directions: 

1. Turn off the ignition and put on safety glasses and gloves.
2. Locate the negative terminal. Usually, it has a black cap and a negative (–) symbol. For reference, the positive cap is red and will have a positive (+) symbol.
3. Loosen the nut on the negative terminal with a wrench, then pull the negative connector from the battery. Keep it to the side for 30 – 60 seconds.
4. Reconnect the negative cable and tighten it back up with your wrench.

While this with reset a Check Engine light, it might cause your Ford Sync infotainment system. 

Learn More About Maintaining Your Ford With Five Star Ford Stone Mountain

There are plenty of easy DIY tricks you can do to help keep your Ford running well between maintenance appointments in Snellville. If you’d like to learn more, visit the Five Star Ford Stone Mountain service guide. We’re always adding new information and articles to put the power of maintaining your Ford in your hands. And, of course, you can contact our service department with any questions. We’re here to help! 

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