Hey IT Nerd! Can I Get Rid Of The Check Engine Using A Scan ...

I got this question in my inbox a few days ago:

Hey IT Nerd! You seem to know a lot about cars, so let me ask you this. My check engine light is on, but I know my car is perfectly fine. So I’d like to get rid of it. Do I need to use a scan code tool to do this or do I have to take it to the stealership? 

Thanks!

Thanks for your question.

A scan code tool is what a mechanic uses to read a “trouble code” (which in turn may or may not throw a check engine light or some other indicator on your dashboard) that is stored in the OBD (on board diagnostic) system inside your car. To illustrate this, I borrowed one from a local mechanic who’s computer systems I fix from time to time and plugged it into my Toyota Matrix:

If you click to enlarge the picture, you’ll see that it says “No Powertrain DTCs or Freeze Frame Data is presently stored in vehicle’s computer.” In English it means that there are no “trouble codes” stored in the car’s computer which implies that the engine is fine. If there were codes, the codes in question will either point a mechanic to a specific part that is causing an issue, or to a particular part of the engine where he or she can start looking for a problem. Now besides looking for “trouble codes,” you can also use a scan code tool to check performance data in real time. And yes, you can use one to clear a code. But here’s why you don’t want to do that. If you have a check engine light, there is something wrong with your car. You need to have it looked at to see if you did something simple such as not tighten your gas cap when you last filled up your car (which will generate a “trouble code”) or if you have a more serious (read: expensive) problem. So do yourself a favor and have it checked out. It may cost you $60 at a mechanic or “stealership” as automotive dealerships are sometimes known as. But if you have a problem with your car, you better find out about it now before it either costs you a pile of money or leaves you stranded at the side of the road.

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This entry was posted on September 11, 2015 at 9:16 am and is filed under Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.