Cars are sophisticated machines that are made of different electronic systems. One of
the most important ones being the OBD system (onboard diagnostic system).
The check engine light is turned on when the car’s computer detects an issue with the
emission control system. It can either a minor or major issue. But ignoring it is never a
good idea as it can make things worse.
Knowing the actual problem can eliminate all the hassles to turn it off. But sometimes it
doesn’t turn off even when the issue is solved. In that case, you need to know how to
turn off the check engine light.
3 Ways To Turn Off The Check Engine Light
In this section, we are going to share some of the methods you can try to turn off your
check engine light. Check out the details to know what you have to do.
Method 1: Drive your car and allow it to go off by itself
This is possibly the easiest thing you can do to disable the check engine light of your car.
All you have to do is drive your car for some days and it should go away by itself.
In case, the light is still on, it means the original issue is not fixed. It can also mean that
you have a new issue in your car. If the light starts blinking, it means you have a major
issue to pay attention to. It would be better to take your car to a mechanic in such
situations.
Method 2: Follow the ECM hard reset technique
This method requires you to disconnect your car’s battery. For this, you will need a
wrench.
Here is what you need to do:
Step 1:
Open the hood of your car and disconnect the battery’s negative cable using a wrench.
Step 2:
Exhaust any remaining electricity. You can do so by turning on all the car lights or by
pressing the horn for 30 to 40 seconds straight.
Step 3:
Once all the electricity is exhausted, you need to start the car at least two to three times.
This will help erase all the flag and emission data from your car’s internal memory.
Step 4:
Now, wait for 15 to 20 minutes. After that connect the battery’s negative wire back.
Step 5:
To avoid any sparking you need to make sure that the battery’s wire is connected
tightly.
Step 6:
Next, turn on your car using the key.
Step 7:
Wait for a few minutes and then check whether the check engine light is on or off.
This method should work in most cases. But if the light is still on, you need to take your
vehicle to a mechanic.
Method 3: Use an OBD code reader
For this method, you need an OBD reader and a wrench.
OBD port in Audi A6 C6 is located below steering wheel, next to pedals in the car.
Step 1:
At first, connect the reader to the OBD port of your vehicle.
Step 2:
As soon as you connect the reader, press the Enter button. This will inspect your car’s
engine for any error codes.
Step 3:
If it detects any error code, you will be able to see it in the reader.
Step 4:
Scroll and look for the alternative to wipe out the code. After that press Enter to get rid
of the error code and reorganize your check engine light.
There are many ways to turn off or disable the check engine light. These are three of the
most common and effective methods to try. If none of the methods work, you know the
issue is not solved.