Check engine light on: can you keep driving?

The check engine light is the most frequently illuminated warning light on the dashboard. Often, the issue it signals does not require an immediate visit to the garage.

It can therefore be easily cleared. Below, we show you the different ways to erase it.

However, be careful! If the mechanical fault is not repaired, the warning light will turn back on!

Why turn off the check engine light?

Can you drive with the check engine light on?

Generally, the check engine light indicates a mechanical issue that leads to pollution. It is therefore necessary to fix this issue. However, since the check engine light is a warning indicator, you can continue driving.

However, if the check engine light is flashing continuously, this indicates a serious engine problem. In this case, it is safer to stop and call for roadside assistance.

Can you pass a vehicle inspection with the check engine light on?

The answer is no!

Since January 1, 2017, if you go for a vehicle inspection with the check engine light on, your car will fail the test, and you will be required to undergo a retest.

During a vehicle inspection, an emissions test is performed to measure pollutant gas emissions and exhaust opacity. These two aspects are grounds for rejection.

Generally, the check engine light turns on to indicate that your car has one of these two issues.

However, there is a trick to passing the vehicle inspection. You can erase the warning light using a car diagnostic scanner before going for the test. The light will not turn back on during the inspection, but it will come back on afterward, and you will still need to repair your car.

How to turn off the check engine light?

The OBD system can turn off the check engine light automatically

If the conditions or issues detected that caused the check engine light to illuminate have disappeared, the emissions system will detect that everything is back to normal and will automatically remove the warning light from the dashboard.

In this case, it is called a "false detection," which is quite common. An OBD fault code will still be stored in the vehicle's engine control unit, which you can read using a diagnostic scanner.

However, in most cases, the emissions warning light remains on.

Clearing the warning light with a car diagnostic scanner

To turn off this warning light, you can use a Klavkarr automotive diagnostic scanner. Our scanner allows you to check for yourself why the light came on and provides the fault code, helping you identify and fix the issue.

We have created a video tutorial that explains how to turn off the check engine light using the Klavkarr scanner and the EOBD-Facile app.

Below are the 7 easy steps to turn off your check engine light:

1. Turn on your vehicle's ignition
2. Plug the Klavkarr into the OBD2 port
3. Launch the EOBD-Facile application
4. Click on “Connect” to establish a connection with your vehicle
5. Select the “Engine ECU” mode
6. Go to the “Diagnostics” tab
7. Press the “Erase” option

A message will appear to remind you that all fault code data will be erased. By clicking "Next," the fault codes and the check engine light will be cleared.

Once the issue is repaired, you can erase the fault code and turn off the check engine light on the dashboard.

To learn more

That’s it for this article on the check engine light on. If you have any tips or questions, feel free to share them in the comments.

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