How to Reset a Check Engine Light

If you’ve owned your new or used vehicle long enough, chances are good that you’ve seen the check engine light come on the dashboard. It often catches you by surprise. Even if the check engine light comes on, you might find out there’s nothing actually wrong with your engine. But somehow, that pesky light just won’t go away. Our service center will walk you through how to reset a check engine light for your vehicle.

First Thing’s First – If There Is a Problem, Have It Resolved

The most obvious solution to Knowing how to reset a check engine light starts by fixing whatever could be wrong with your vehicle’s engine, no matter how big or small. It’s up to you as to when you fix the issue, but we urge you to take care of the issue as soon as it arises for your own safety.

Plus, ignoring a problem now can lead to a much larger repair bill later. Feel free to contact us, call 844-385-8515, or schedule service with our team. Our experienced technicians at Alexandria Volkswagen will get you back on the Washington D.C. roads as soon as possible. Our service team will reset the check engine light after we are done with our work.

Disconnect the Negative Battery Cable

If you haven’t found any problem with the engine that needs to be addressed, manually reset your check engine light. Disconnecting the negative battery cable of your car isn’t as daunting as it may seem.

Just follow these simple steps:

1. Turn off the ignition.
2. Put on safety glasses and gloves
3. Locate the negative terminal of the battery. Usually, it has a black cap and a negative (–) symbol. For reference, the positive cap is red and will have a positive (+) symbol.
4. Loosen the nut on the negative terminal with a wrench.
5. Pull the negative connector from the battery.
6. Keep it to the side for 30 to 60 seconds.
7. Reconnect the negative cable.
8. Tighten it back up with your wrench.
9. This should reset the check engine light without a problem.

If this doesn’t work, our service time has another option to try. Disconnecting your battery may also reset your vehicle’s infotainment system!

Look at Your Gas Cap

Before you reset the check engine light, look at the gas cap on your gasoline-powered vehicle. You may simply have a loose or cracked gas cap, which causes fumes to release. When this happens, the check engine light usually comes on. When you’re safely parked, simply remove your gas cap and put it right back on, tightly, per the instructions on the cap or in your owner’s manual. If the engine light doesn’t turn off right away after you put the gas cap back on, follow the steps to disconnect the battery. You should be good to go!

Contact Our Service Team in Alexandria

If you’re not sure about how to reset the check engine light, our team is happy to help at our Alexandria service center. You can even enjoy dealership-quality care without leaving your home or office using Volkswagen Mobile Service, which brings a certified mechanic right to your driveway. If you have a Volkswagen maintenance task you want us to take care of, look over our service specials to see if you could save some money on your next appointment.