Most vehicle engines manufactured since 1996 use computerized systems for engine management. A check engine light on the dashboard of a car indicates the need to troubleshoot a possible engine problem. It is against federal law to disconnect this device.
The check engine light in a motor vehicle is an indicator that something may be wrong with the car's engine. Sometimes the problem can be as simple as not fastening the gas cap tightly enough after pumping gas. In other cases, it may indicate a problem of a more serious nature.
The Federal Clean Air Act has several chapters involving the emissions of motor vehicles. While laws vary from state to state on acceptable levels of emissions, one aspect uniformly regulated in all 50 states, is the requirement of motor vehicles to be manufactured with a check engine light. In addition to the previously mentioned functions, this light will flash when issues concerning excessive emissions are present.
Title II of the Clean Air Act--Emission Standards for Moving Sources--U.S. Code 7522, lists the disabling of a check engine light or similar device, as a prohibited act. This section of the Clean Air Act document indicates that it is considered a method of obstructing the regulation of emissions output, and thereby violates U.S.Code 7521--Emission standards for new motor vehicles or new motor vehicle engines--of the Federal Clean Air Act.
