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Disabling the 'Check Engine' Light
by Bob DeP. AskBob@stretcher.com
Bob,
I have a 1996 Ford Explorer V8 XLT with 124,000 miles. My check engine light first came on in November, 1998 and I took it to a Ford dealer who "fixed" it with on O2 sensor and some other parts. The light came back on 2 weeks later and, long story short, after spending another $300 on the problem and not getting it fixed, I decided to live with it.
So, years later my Explorer is still going strong, recently passed the new Texas emissions tests and passed the California emissions test in 2000 when I moved there for about a year. It runs very good with no other perceptible problems other than the check engine light stays on most of the time. I can reset it by removing the battery terminal and it will stay off about 75 miles and then comes back on again.
How can I disable the check engine light without spending a fortune on special tools?. I am willing to take the risk and the responsibility for doing so and know the emissions are within Texas standards. My Explorer has a tach, oil pressure, water temp and ammeter gauge and I really don't need a silly light telling me something may be wrong when, if there is, it doesn't affect anything important. By the way, I have put over 80,000 miles on it since the check engine light first came on in November, 1998
Hank of Dallas, Texas
Hank,
Other than removing the bulb, there is no way to disable the check engine light. In fact, the new emissions tests in California will do a ECU scan. If it comes up with a MIL (malfunction indicator light AKA check engine light) as being active, you will fail regardless of what comes out of your tailpipe.
There is a reason that light is on. Something is broke. Driving it for years is not helping your cause or our environment at all. Back when your car was under warranty, the dealer should not have charged you a red cent to correct an issue that caused the check engine light to come on. Those problems are covered under the mandatory 100,000 mile emissions warranty as mandated by the USEPA.
Good Luck!
Drive Safely!
Bob, The Auto Answer Man
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