Check engine light came on when...

[jbettens]

My check engine light came on when....

Here are the my car details:
1999 Honda Civic Ex - Stock

Here are the details prior to the light comming on:
- The car sat in my garage(not heated) for 1 week in -20C weather. Prior to this no problems with the car ever.
- My wife went to start the car and it would not start. It turn over but would not start. She tells me should pressed the gas pedal. How many times I dont know. She used drive a 85 Honda which required the pedal to be pumped so my guess is she flooded it.
- I came home 5 hours later, put the pedal to the rug, turned the car over and it started. There was a strong odor of gas. I let the car run four 20 minutes before turning off.
- I restarted the car with no problem and it is then I noticed the light was on.

The manual says there is a problem with one of the emission controls systems or a problem with the fuel cap and that the cap should be checked. The manual also says to drive the car moderately three times and if the light remains on to have it checked out by a dealer. However I am convinced that the light coming on had something today with todays events and perhaps it did not start because of the cold weather and the fact it sat for so long in the cold weather.

Any comments on this problem? Will it go away? What do you think happened? What can I do or what else should I be doing? The car is reguarly maintained is usually plugged in during the cold weather (except this one time).

[jbettens]

I disconnected the negative terminal on the battery and then reconnected. Restarted the car and the CEL was off. Drove around for awhile and the CEL remanined off. It would appear this has done the trick. Saved me a trip across the city and $50 the dealer was gonna charge me!