Resetting Check Engine Light

[sullione]

Hello all, I'm new here but I was looking for help in trying to reset the check engine light on my 2000 Montana. I've tried searching but nothing came up. Any takers?

[GregA]

Originally Posted by sullione

Hello all, I'm new here but I was looking for help in trying to reset the check engine light on my 2000 Montana. I've tried searching but nothing came up. Any takers?

Welcome to the forum!

It takes a "code reader" tool of some kind, or fixing the problem that caused the light to come one.

Try your local parts store for a loaner tool that will read the stored codes and reset the light. Post the codes you find here for more help.

Take Care,

[sullione]

Thanks for the reply. I already had my wife take the van in to Autozone and they said that there was no code stored at all. This started with a loose connection to the battery. I'll explain: I had some maintenance done a couple of weeks ago and I ended up with a $600 bill and a van that was running hotter than before. The van went in for a major tune up ($400) and when I go to pick it up, they tell me that the t-stat is no opening. I notice that the car is boiling over. So it finally "opens" and they tell me I may have to replace the t-stat soon. The guy at the counter mentions to me that it looks as if someone put the green antifreeze in it. This puzzles me because the vehicle was dealer maintained and I had looked at the overflow tank before and never noticed it. I take it home and noticed that its running hotter than normal. The temp. guage normally goes up a quarter of the way and that it. Now its sitting at the halfway point and goes above that...almost running in the red. I too notice that it looks af if there was green antifreeze in it. Again, this was my first time seeing this. I always look in the overflow tank and there was never green crap in there before. I take it back to the place that did the work and they recommend changing out the t-stat, which I let the do to the tune of another $211. These are prices with 10% discounts since I'm military. Still doesn't fix the problem. So at that point I'm pissed. Then they tell me that they think the radiator has a clog. At that point, I don't want to hear what you "think" is the problem so I didn't take it back to them. My wife drives it around a few day and we monitor the temp closely. It hovers at the mid way point but doesn't go beyond that so I left it alone. My wife takes it to Cali and she makes a two minute stop and it wont start. She finally get a jump and continues to her destinantion. When she gets there it wont start again so she gets another jump. She decides to come home and she tells me that the dash warning lights are on specifically the battery indicator and the ABS light. She finally makes it home and I go out to look at the car in the morning and its dead. I look under the hood and poke around and the alarm goes off. I try to start it and it dies again. It was real early so I didn't want to mess with it right them so I close the hood. The alarm goes off again. Now I know something is loose. I go back out later and I discover that the positive cable is loose. I tighten it up and the engine cranks over with no problem at all. A day or so later, she notices the engine light is on so I tell her to check the gas cap and take it to Autozone. They tell here there is no code in the computer but the light is still on. Anyone have any guesses? I'll try to take it to another Autozone for a second opinion and if nothing comes up, I'll try to get them to reset the light. Sorry about the length of the post but I try to give as much info. as possible.

[abellana]

I had this problem normally during times when I have to change my engine oil.. the check engine normally comes out in the dash..

I normally reset it by turning off the engine,.. putting the key to on, pump the gasoline three times.. take the key out,.. pump the gasoline three times again.. put the key on.. pump the gas three times again.. then start your engine..

If this is the same case as I used to experienced, then check engine should go off. A mechanic from canadian tire pit stop showed me this trick.. If you're in Toronto, Dundas and Keele area..

cheers.

[sullione]

Well I tried your method but it was no dice for me. To be clear, when you say "on" do you mean turn it all the way forward just before turning the engine over or just "on" as in one detent forward which enables the radio to work?

[hufhouse]

There seems to be some confusion here between the "Change Engine Oil" light and the "Check Engine" light. The 3-pump procedure resets the Oil Change light.

Other than getting a code reader, you might be able to get the light to go out by removing the neg battery cable for a half hour or so.

[alblogg]

If it was your dealer that mixed the green anti with yours I believe I would be having a talk with the service dept.

[sullione]

Thanks for the replies. I thought about doing the battery cable thing but it looks like a pain in the rear to get to. I'll see if anyone I know has a code reader.