Did your mechanic forget to reset the check engine light after your last oil change?
Thankfully, the fix for the Chevy Silverado is pretty simple.
So how do you reset the check engine light on your Chevy Silverado?
Turn the ignition off and back on three times. That’s it. If the problem persists, there are some other fixes that may work, or you might actually have a reason to check your engine.
Below we’ll explore these fixes in greater detail, and take a look at the mechanics of the check engine light itself. As annoying as this problem can be, thankfully it’s not that big an issue when compared to the problems some vehicles have.
A Look at the Check Engine Light
The check engine light may seem like a general purpose “something’s wrong” indicator. It actually detects oxygen levels in your exhaust gas. If the oxygen level isn’t where it’s supposed to be, then your car’s computer knows something is wrong, and it tells you.
Often, you’ll be able to fix whatever’s wrong simply by tightening a gas cap or using a fuel additive. “Check engine” doesn’t necessarily mean anything is broken and needs to be replaced, it just means that the oxygen levels in your exhaust aren’t quite right.
One problem is that in older vehicles, you’re going to have wiring going bad, solder joints coming loose, and other technical hiccups that result in your instrument cluster going haywire. Lights will come on when they shouldn’t, or fail to come on when they should.
How to Reset Your Check Engine Light
Here’s the simple way to do it with a Silverado, and the way that usually works:
- Put the key in the ignition.
- Turn the car on.
- Turn the car off.
- Turn the car on.
- Turn the car off.
- Turn the car on.
- Turn the car off.
- Turn the car on.
So, you’re going to be turning the car on, then turning it off and back on three times in a row. You can do this if the indicator is switching on for no reason, or if you’ve just had a tune-up and need to reset your indicator.
Another way to reset your check engine light is to do a hard reset by detaching the battery for about two minutes. It can help to press the horn or turn the headlights on to drain any lingering energy.
There are other methods, but they mostly come down to the same thing: Interrupt the power supply to force a hard reset on your vehicle’s computer.
If you keep having a problem with the check engine light coming on for no reason, your best bet may be to replace the whole instrument cluster. Trying to replace any single individual component can be a lot of hassle and leaves other outdated components in place.
Be Prepared
When shopping for a new vehicle, it pays to know exactly what sort of problems you’re going to have to deal with. No vehicle is perfect, but some have more serious issues than others, and Vehicle History will let you know what you’re getting into.
