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How do I reset the CEL / PCM

L

ldyoung71

CEG'er
Joined
Aug 19, 2008
Messages
43
Ok guys. I know it is on here somewhere but I can't find it. Besides unplugging the battery, there are fuses that you can pull to reset the computer. Can someone tell me which ones they are? I am going in for inspection tomorrow and don't want the light on. Any help would be appreciated.
A little background.. had the car for 3 years. Light has been on ever since. I have replaced one o2 sensor, clean MIF sensor light still came on a few days later. Car gets 27 MPG and runs ok for most part. But I need an inspection. Two years ago, it was reset by Firestone and stayed off for two days. In that timeframe I got it inspected. So I just need to do the same thing now. TIA!
 
Did you get this figured out? Any advance auto parts will hook it up and do it for free, at least they do around here.
 
Not yet. I finally found something on here that said to pull fuses 4 and 11. I will try that in the morning. If that doesn't work, I will hit up autozone or something and have them reset it. Is that all I have to tell them is that I want them to reset the computer?
 
Depending on the year (you didn't identify...), usually it's only fuse F11 (3A) that needs to be pulled for 10 minutes or so. There is no need to mess with F4.

If your inspection includes an OBDII check, you will probably fail it if you just reset the PCM without repairing the underlying fault and then allowing the PCM to complete enough self-test monitors to reach your locale's pass/fail criteria.
 
Not going to work! Once the power has been cut to the PCM it has to run through a full "cycle" before it is considered ready for inspection. When they hook it up they can tell it's not ready.
 
Pugulis said:
Not going to work! Once the power has been cut to the PCM it has to run through a full "cycle" before it is considered ready for inspection. When they hook it up they can tell it's not ready.
Click to expand...

exactly, your car will FAIL the inspection because the monitors will not be ready. it must be driven through a full cycle as mentioned, and i'm almost certain as soon as you drive it through a full cycle the CEL will come back on. if you clear the codes, an inspection station will know you had it cleared, they hook the vehicle up to a more advanced computer. and it will result in a PENDING code. hence your car will fail.
 
i didnt think they failed cars for pending codes? i know im MA you can have 2 systems be NOT READY and it will still pass.
 
mnewxcv said:
i didnt think they failed cars for pending codes? i know im MA you can have 2 systems be NOT READY and it will still pass.
Click to expand...

The PASS/FAIL criteria are different for various states/locales and even for different year vehicles. The OP needs to check with the administrator of his local emissions testing program and see what the criteria are for his particular vehicle.

We don't know where he is or what year he has, so it is entirely up to him to learn what HIS rules are since they may be (and probably are) different from yours and mine.
 
projectSHO89 said:
The PASS/FAIL criteria are different for various states/locales and even for different year vehicles. The OP needs to check with the administrator of his local emissions testing program and see what the criteria are for his particular vehicle.

We don't know where he is or what year he has, so it is entirely up to him to learn what HIS rules are since they may be (and probably are) different from yours and mine.
Click to expand...

yes very true. i am almost certain even if you have a pending code, here in PA, your car can still fail. just an FYI.
 
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