Clear Check Engine Light

Is there a way to jumper the OBD-II connector to clear the check engine light codes rather than pulling the battery or using an OBD-II scanner? If so, how is it done? I get a nuisance oxygen sensor alert every once in a while when the weather quickly turns cold even though I've replaced the sensor several times. I've got a 98 Taurus wagon.

Not what you are wanting to read, I'm sure, but you cannot clear the codes by jumpering terminals on the datalink connector.

Also not what you want to read, but if you have an emissions issue in your car causing a CEL, get the issue fixed. With gas prices what they are, it probably won't take long to pay for the expense of fixing the issue to get back your fuel economy.

What is the code number that is being set? People on this forum may be able to give you some pointers on items to check. Just because you get a code for "B2S1 sensor reading lean" does not mean that the Bank 2, Sensor 1 oxygen sensor is bad. It may very well be reporting lean because the mixture is lean due to a bad injector, etc.

Many of the chain auto parts stores (Autozone, Advance, etc) will check your generic OBD-II codes for free and have the ability to clear the code. Some will not clear the code until you demonstrate you've made an attempt to correct the problems, other will just ask you if you want them to clear the code and do it.

Get the codes read and post it here for more suggestions.

-Rod

I agree with shorod. Ignoring the service engine soon light will only cause other problems in the future.

I'm a little bit cautious here, because I'm more familiar with post yr 2000 Tauruses, but those have a total of four(4) oxygen sensors, so it makes a difference which one(s) you replace. Yours might have fewer. Poor electrical connction mught be also indicated here due to the heat-cold cycle anomaly. The easiest to clear OBDII codes is to pull off one of the battery cables for a few minutes, and then reconnect. However, if the actual problem is not repaired, it will read it again and the light will come back on after the second or third engine start-up cycle.

Good point. His 98 will have four O2 sensors as well (as do most post-1996 OBD-II cars and trucks). There will be one before each catalytic/pre-cat converter and one after. There may be one after the cat for each bank (four total) or one after the cats for both banks (3 total), but on the Taurus, it should be 4.

After reading Banjoman10's post, I re-read the original and do see Banjoman10's point, kressler mentions that he replaced "the sensor."

If kressler posts the actual code, it should indicate B1S1, B1S2, B2S1, or B2S2 which will indicate which sensor the code refers to.

I'm sure I didn't do the best job of explaining that....

-Rod