Chrysler Repair: Check Engine Light, exhaust gas recirculation valve, malfunction indicator light

Question
I have 2002 Chrysler 300M.  Check Engine light stays on.  Had it checked by dealer and they could not find a problem.  They reset so that light was not on.  Light is back on again after taking car through state emissions test.  Car is running fine.  Why is the light still on?

Answer
Hi RJ,
I am doubtful about the dealer concluding that they could not find a problem when the Check engine light was on. That light only comes on when there is a malfunction that would impact the pollution minimizing controls on the engine. So there must have been something wrong and some sort of a fault code stored in the memory of the engine controller. That the light came back on after the state emissions test also makes me wonder if in the course of testing the components, the tester disconnected or tested a component and then failed to return it to its status prior to the test. For example there is ofter a test done on the exhaust gas recirculation valve which will temporarily make it malfunction and then if it wasn't hooked up properly then that would cause a malfunction indicator light to occur. So you might go back to the inspection station and request that they examine the engine for those items that were involved in their testing of the engine to see if their testing may have caused the present light. Other than that, about the only thing you can do is try to get a readout of the fault codes(s) that might be stored in the memory which when corrected will cause the light to extinguish. Many autoparts stores will do a readout for free (ask at Autozone for example) or go to an independent service shop that advertises this service (I have seen it advertised for $35). Then get the code numbers, how they would correct the problem, and how much they would charge. I can check that proposal against what the shop manuals say for the various codes. So write back with the results. The shop might give you credit for the readout cost against the cost of repairing the problem. But lets see what the problem is first by a code readout.

Roland