"Check engine" light reset

[SFTB]

The most stupid thing happen to me this morning. While I was driving, one of the spark plug wire was disconnected from the distributor. As a result, the motor started to vibrate anormally and the check engine light went on.

I stopped, open the hood and saw the loose wire (pleasant feeling). I connected it and the motor started working well again but the check engine light stays on!?! It seem that the fault code needs to be reseted so the light can be turned off. Is there a way to do this by myself instead of having to pay a Honda mechanic?

By the way my car is a 1996 Honda Civic coupe Dx.

[Ricochet]

Undo the negative terminal on your battery, let the car sit for ~10 minutes. Hook it back up and let the car run for about 2 minutes (for the computer to relearn everything). Turn the car off and it's good to go.

[BullShifter]

Or remove the back-up fuse from the main fuse box(underhood). If you have a stock anti-theft radio you will need the code for both ways.

[nZero]

How the hell do the shops do it? I'd always reset it using the Aux fuse method, and then I'd have to re-enter the settings on my aftermarket head unit. When they reset it (recall/warranty work) my stereo was set exactly as it was before. Do they reset it through the test terminal or something not accessible to "the rest of us"?

[GWInquisitor14]

They probably remove the fuel pump relay fuse. Now i haven't tried it on my Honda, but on my old pontiac and all other GM cars, thats what does the trick

[BullShifter]

Originally Posted by nZero

How the hell do the shops do it? I'd always reset it using the Aux fuse method, and then I'd have to re-enter the settings on my aftermarket head unit. When they reset it (recall/warranty work) my stereo was set exactly as it was before. Do they reset it through the test terminal or something not accessible to "the rest of us"?

With a $2000+ piece of equipment.

Most techs will write down your radio station presets so they can be set if lost.

[bbyzfr6]

I simply unhook the inputs going to my ECU under my console. Simple.

[bbyzfr6]

I simply unhook the inputs going to my ECU under my console. Simple.

[jgr7]

A simple code reader from most any auto parts store will let you reset it without taking off a batt. lead. The one I got was about $100.00 use it twice and it pays for itself. Most shops charge around $75.00 to do a code read,( like a loose gas cap) without even fixing any thing. Your 96 will use OBDII, check them out they come with a book of most all codes, and online help for more codes.
Jeff

[amigabill]

> Your 96 will use OBDII,

Really? I called Advance and Pep Boys today to get my SRS light cleared as I need my emissions inspection done very soon, and they won't do it with any dash lights. Both stores said their OBD2 could do 97 or newer but my 96 was out of luck. I'll probably end up doing th ebattery trick for now, but I was interested in buying a code reader, and am finding different people saying different things about needing OBD1 or 2. :/ I also have 96 Civic, but it's a DX.

[daveid]

The OBD2 is for 96 and up and the OBD1 is for 95 and under so i dont think those guys knew what they were talking about.

[superman0604]

I have a 95 integra and it has a check engine reset button. When sitting in the vehicle under the dash by your right knee their is a little black box with a green button. I push and hold button for 5-7 seconds and the light goes away. Not sure if it is the same for the 96 civic.