If you have just finished replacing your car’s purge valve and the check engine light is still on in the speedometer, don’t worry, the light is still on because your car’s computer needs to be reset to clear the error codes the old purge valve must have caused.
To reset the check engine light after replacing the purge valve, use an OBD-II scanner to access the car’s computer and clear the error codes that caused the warning light to come on. You can also disconnect your battery for 15 – 30 minutes to reset the check engine light after replacing a purge valve in your car.
How to Reset Check Engine Light After Replacing Purge Valve
Below are the 3 best ways to reset the check engine light after replacing the purge valve in your vehicle:
Method 1: Use an OBD-II Scanner to Clear the Codes
The best way to reset the check engine light after replacing a purge valve is by using an OBD-II scanner. This scanner can be used to access the car’s computer hence, clearing the code. All you have to do is follow the steps below:
- Locate your vehicle’s OBD-II port, usually located beneath the dashboard near the steering column.
- Plug the OBD-II scanner into the port.
- Turn the ignition key to the “On” position, but do not start the engine.
- Use the OBD-II scanner to read the error codes stored in the vehicle’s computer. Note that the DTC associated with the purge valve issue should have been resolved with the replacement. So, you don’t need to worry about the codes there except they come back on after the reset, then you should be worried.
- Clear the DTCs by selecting the “Clear” or “Erase” option on the scanner to reset the check engine light.
- Disconnect the scanner and turn off the ignition.
- Start the vehicle to ensure that the check engine light is no longer illuminated. If the issue has been resolved, the light should remain off.
Method 2: Disconnect your Battery
You can disconnect your car battery for 10 – 15 minutes to reset the car’s computer and clear the check engine light.
However, while it’s possible to reset the check engine light by disconnecting the vehicle’s battery for a few minutes, this method is not recommended as it can also reset other important settings in your car such as your power window and radio presets, etc.
If you are comfortable with this method, then follow the procedure below:
- Turn off the ignition and disconnect the negative terminal of the vehicle’s battery.
- Wait for about 10-15 minutes.
- Reconnect the battery terminal and tighten it securely.
- Turn the ignition back to the “On” position, but do not start the engine.
- Start the Engine.
If the issue has been resolved, the check engine light should no longer be illuminated. However, since you may need to reprogram settings like the clock, radio presets, and power windows after using this method, it is important to ensure you have access to your vehicle’s radio code if it has an anti-theft feature, as it may require reprogramming.
Method 3: Complete a Drive Cycle
If you don’t have an OBD II scanner and don’t want to disconnect your battery, you can consider driving the car until the drive cycle is completed, then the check engine light will clear itself.
Driving the car will enable the car’s computer to perform a self-diagnostic and if it finds out that the problem causing the code has been fixed, it will remove the error code and the check engine light will clear by itself.
This method is not recommended at all and the reason is that you need to clear the code as soon as possible to be sure that the work you did is perfect. Having to keep driving until the car completes its drive cycle can be too much and time wastage.
Be that as it may, these are the 3 ways you can reset the check engine light after replacing the purge valve. However, the generally recommended method to use is an OBD-II scanner as it is safer and more precise.
Also, using an OBD-II scanner allows you to diagnose any potential issues in the future by reading and interpreting the trouble codes, providing valuable insights into your vehicle’s health.
Conclusion
If after replacing your car’s purge valve the check engine light is still on, you can use an OBD-II scanner to access the car’s computer and erase the codes that must have caused the light to be on. The codes must have been triggered by the old/bad purge valve that was replaced. You can also disconnect the battery to reset the light.
