How To Remove Check Engine Light Fuse (Step by Step)


How To Remove Check Engine Light Fuse

Do you know how to remove the check engine light fuse? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.

There are many problems that removing a vehicle’s check engine light fuse can solve. The best part is that this is, mostly, a job that you can do yourself. On this page, we are going to walk you through why you would want to remove the check engine light fuse, and how to go about it.

Do bear in mind that the process can vary from vehicle to vehicle, so we are not going to tell you exactly how to go about it because there are thousands of different vehicle models out there. However, we will tell you how you can get the information.

Why Would You Want To Remove The Check Engine Light Fuse?

The most obvious reason would be because the check engine light fuse is broken. Although, this is surprisingly rare.

Many people will never have to replace the fuse for their check engine light, simply because there is not a whole lot of current flowing through it that could potentially break the fuse. However, if your vehicle is giving some sort of indication that the fuse has blown, then you can swap it out.

For most people, removing the check engine light fuse for a few minutes and replacing it has been known to clear up any issues with the check engine light.

It isn’t always the best way to go about things but, for some people, it is the only option that works.

Read also >> Is it Illegal to Remove Check Engine Light? (Do This Instead)

Consult Your Vehicle’s Manual

As we said, all vehicles are different. This is why you have a vehicle’s owner manual. It tells you exactly how to maintain your vehicle.

If you don’t have your vehicle’s owner’s manual, then you will easily be able to find a copy online. If you are more of a visual learner, then you can watch a YouTube video.

There are two things that you want to look for in your vehicle’s manual:

  • The location of the vehicle’s ECU (engine control unit)
  • The location of the fuse on the circuit board.

Do bear in mind that you may not always be able to remove the fuse from the circuit board. Some people have reported this with more modern vehicles. However, for most people, you should be fine. 

Locate Your Vehicle’s ECU

Once you have gone through your vehicle’s manual, it is time to track down the vehicle’s ECU. It will likely be in one of two places:

  • Near the glove compartment or under the vehicle’s dashboard.
  • Close to the vehicle’s engine.

It is more likely to be the former as opposed to the latter. Still, your manual is going to tell you everything that you need to know.

Your vehicle’s ECU is likely going to be a sealed unit that you can open up with a screwdriver. So, make sure that you have a screwdriver handy. Don’t touch the ECU yet, though.

Disconnect Your Vehicle’s Battery

Your next job is to disconnect your vehicle’s battery.

While it shouldn’t make too much of a difference leaving your vehicle’s battery connected, you should bear in mind that your vehicle’s ECU does have electricity flowing through it, and it can be pretty dangerous to touch if you are not careful.

Not to mention the fact that it is a pretty delicate circuit, and you don’t want to accidentally blow it.

Disconnecting the vehicle’s battery involves you doing nothing more than removing the clips from the battery’s terminals. It will take seconds.

Access The Vehicle’s ECU

Once your vehicle’s battery has been disconnected, you can open up your vehicle’s ECU. Your vehicle’s manual should tell you how to do this.

Normally, you just have to undo a couple of screws, but with some, there may be some clips.

As we said, it is all going to be dependent on the vehicle that you own. We do wish that we could give you much more specific advice here, but it is impossible.

If you are lost, then we have no doubt that there is a YouTube video or two that will guide you through how to do things with your particular vehicle model. 

Locate The Check Engine Light Fuse And Remove It

Once your vehicle’s ECU is open, you can remove the fuse. Once again, you are going to need to consult the vehicle’s manual here.

There will be a picture of the circuit inside the ECU. You can easily read this to work out where the fuse is. It should be clearly labeled, even if you are not normally a big reader of electrical circuit diagrams.

Once you have found the fuse, just pull it out of position.

If you are replacing the fuse, then ensure that you put a like-for-like replacement in there. It will just clip into place, and, with most vehicles, you do not have to put the fuse in a specific position. 

If you are removing the fuse in the hope of resetting your vehicle’s check engine light, then you should leave it out for a couple of minutes.

It really doesn’t need to be out for long. The fact that you have disconnected the battery will have really helped here. You are essentially just resetting the circuit.

Once the new fuse is in place, or you have clipped the old fuse in, you can connect your battery again. With a bit of luck, when you restart your vehicle, that check engine light won’t come on.

If it does, then you may actually have a problem with the engine that needs to be dealt with. This means a trip to the mechanic.

Conclusion

How you remove the check engine light fuse on your vehicle will be dependent on the make and model of the vehicle that you own.

Your vehicle’s manual will tell you what to do. Don’t worry. It is a pretty easy process, and one that those even with the most minor of car maintenance knowledge will likely be able to accomplish.

Just make sure that you have the battery disconnected first. 

References

https://autovfix.com/how-to-disable-check-engine-light-permanently/

Steve P.

Steve is an automotive technician, technical writer, and Managing Editor. He has held a lifelong passion for cars, with a particular interest in cars like the Buick Riviera. Steve is based in Boise, Idaho.

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