If your Check Engine light in your car comes on, you may want to clear the settings to make sure it was not a misreading. You can do this yourself if your car is a 1996 model or later with an Onboard Diagnostics II (OBD-II) code scanner. You can purchase one of these devices online or at an auto parts store for as little as $30. More expensive consumer grade ones can cost upwards of $100. Once you have one, it is fairly simple to clear the Check Engine light.
Turn on the car but not the ignition. The lights, radio, power locks and windows should all work.
Locate the OBD-II connector. It is usually located under the dashboard on the driver's side of the car.
Connect the OBD-II scanner with the connector. Press the Read button on the scanner and wait for it to display a five-digit code. The first digit is a letter followed by four numbers.
Record the code so you can find out why the check engine light is on. You can cross reference it with a code sheet that comes with the OBD-II scanner or look up the code online.
Select Erase from the scanner menu. The scanner needs to be hooked up to the connector for it to clear the Check Engine reading from your car. The Check Engine light will come back on after the car has been driven a couple of times if there is still something wrong.
