Easy Way To ReSet a CEL

[Beetlescott]

I had a CEL that came on 3 different times. According to the guys at the auto parts, it was the ratio of oxygen/fuel was off, but not enough to worry about, and then they reset it. Yesterday I pulled my radio out and I didn't have a fuse. I pulled a fuse of Ernies just to make sure the radio was OK. It read SAFE and started working (without a code!) Anyway, I went to get a new fuse, replaced it and Ernie wouldn't start! Just turn over. I put the fuse in the wrong place! So I took it out and put it in the right place and all was right with the world Today I went to pick up my grandkids from school, and I thought I would try what a guy told me to do with my Jeep once. He said turn the engine off and turn the key on and off 5 times without starting it. I tried it and It went off!!! Now I'm assuming many of you mechanics already knew this, and it isn't a good idea to ignore a CEL but to get rid of the light, it works I'm not sure about the ratio of oxy and fuel, but i'm getting the best gas mileage EVER in Ernie. I just wanted to pass this along for anyone wanting to get rid of a pesky CEL light!

[Smileybug]

Did you ever get what the actual code was? If you get the code, you can figure out whats wrong. Get it fixed and then the CEL will be off after you get it reset.

I have access to a VAG-COM so I just use that to reset a CEL. I always pull the codes and try to figure out the cause, then reset it. Back when I had a dead O2 sensor (which I was getting soft codes for it starting to fail before it died and set off the CEL). I reset it a few times (I was out of town and was already planning on getting it fixed when I got back home) but then I gave up because it just kept coming back. No use resetting it if its going to come back on.

[Beetlescott]

This is true, I know that the problem is. I'm going to keep my eye on it. If it comes back on, I'll take it and have if put on.

[simonsi]

Some CELs reset after a certain number of driving cycles without the fault occuring - which is what you are simulating. Some CELs need to be reset with Vagcom, and if the fault is hard at startup it won´t reset in any case.

[Canadianbugin]

Originally Posted by Beetlescott

This is true, I know that the problem is. I'm going to keep my eye on it. If it comes back on, I'll take it and have if put on.

So you're going to keep it a secret,and not share with us......?

[Beetlescott]

Originally Posted by Canadianbugin

So you're going to keep it a secret,and not share with us......?

LOL! Sorry, I thoght I typed it in tne first post. It read Baank One, which is one fo the oxygen sensors. It did it the first time when when I drove down to the S.C. gtg, I put in a couple tanks of 95 octane gas. When I got back, the light came on. So I think it was that. The second time it caame on I took a couple of fuses out trying to find the correct one. Wehn i did find it, as soon as I started it, boom another CEL. That is when I found it could be reset by turning the key switch on and off 5 times.

[Smileybug]

Whenever you get a CEL you should get the car scanned, get the actual code, and look it up, either online, the Ross-Tech wiki or here. O2 sensors can fail and throw a CEL. They can also be intermittent and not throw the CEL all the time. I had one dying for awhile. Took months before the CEL came on. You shouldn't be just saying "I think it was that...".

If you have access to a VAG-COM, you can check things like your O2 sensors to make sure they are functioning before you go and replace them. Thats how I figured out which of my sensors was bad, and just how dead it was.

[Nicefeet]

Easy and cheap way

Harbor Freight (Land of China crap)

Find 20% off coupon in Sunday paper

Buy the CenTech $49.99 OBD-2 Scanner minus the 20%


Later if you upgrade to a VAG scanner from Roos-Tech or VLAD you can give the cheap CenTech one to a family member.

[Beetlescott]

Originally Posted by Smileybug

Whenever you get a CEL you should get the car scanned, get the actual code, and look it up, either online, the Ross-Tech wiki or here. O2 sensors can fail and throw a CEL. They can also be intermittent and not throw the CEL all the time. I had one dying for awhile. Took months before the CEL came on. You shouldn't be just saying "I think it was that...".

If you have access to a VAG-COM, you can check things like your O2 sensors to make sure they are functioning before you go and replace them. Thats how I figured out which of my sensors was bad, and just how dead it was.

The bank one sensor that came up was the one I already had replaced in June. I think it came on after I gave him some 94 octane gas on the gtg trip. as soon as I swittched back to regular, he was fine.