hi there my check engine light has been on for a few months and I finally got the code read and the only code that came up was for the neutral position switch or the pnp switch and the blinking arrow light has come on at least 3 times in the last few months but I do that temporary fix where you shift really fast from park to L 20 times and it makes the arrow problem stop. so yesterday I finally had time and the good weather to work on the car so I removed the pnp switch opened it up and cleaned it out. it was pretty dirty so I cleaned it up as best I could and everything looks good still except for one of the copper points. one was uneven so I filed it down evenly and smoothly and the other 2 were fine so I cleaned everything up as I said and I stretched the 3 springs and reassembled everything and started the car up but the CEL is still on. I don't know if I should have shifted the shifter around for a bit before starting it or If I have to drive it around for a few miles for the light to go off or I don't know what the problem is but if anyone has any advice I would appreciate it.




also on a side note I put up a post a while back about the car not retaining a charge. I took the car to several places and had the alternator tested but everyone except for the last actual mechanic said the alternator was fine but this last man said that its only putting out 12.6 non load and 12.9 load and that that's pretty low so its the alternator which I plan on fixing right after the CEL goes off ( inspection is due at end of August)

 

Did you disconnect the battery or reset the OBD2 with a code reader?

 

I only disconnected the battery. I don't have an OBD2 and at autozone they say that they are not allowed to shut the check engine light off

 

Disconnecting the battery should have cleared the light.

 

so should I try to drive it around a bit and shut the CEL or should I try to clean the pnp switch again?


also thanks for that video im going to clean the battery cables today and as for the quik alternator fix im going to try that but I do have the turbo model so its going to be a little harder.

 

Do yourself a favor and buy an OBD2 scanner. Only way to tell if you fixed it is clear the code and see if it comes back. Disconnecting the battery AFAIK won't clear a set code.

And if you're going to own this car for awhile, you will use the scanner..

 

Amen.

 

My '94 has the OBDI ports, so it's relatively easy to clear a CE light: do the '96's have these ports, too?

 

Nope.