Codes and Check Engine Light refuse to clear!
 

Today I changed the air filter in my car and silly me forgot to plug in the MAF again before starting the car, causing a CEL. I realized after a short drive that it was un plugged, so I plugged it back in.

I then proceeded to check my codes via my OBDI unit, and found that I have:

Fuel system code 121 (this is the new MAF one that I assume is causing the CEL)

213 and 214 ABS lights (but I don't have an ABS light on? These must be stored codes?)

122 Cruise control (again, I believe this is a dormant stored code)

After I had read the all codes from the unit, I tried to clear all the codes by holding down the button for the 5-7 seconds in each socket that was throwing codes. Every time I did this, the LED remained lit for an extended time, before turning off, indicating the codes had been cleared. This is normal.

What I am assuming is not normal is that the codes were not actually cleared by this process. Immediately after the clearing was apparently completed, I rechecked the codes and they were still there! My check engine light is still on too! Strange!

I repeated the above process for all the sockets that were throwing codes, both before and after short and long drives, yet all the codes remained, even after the unit said the clearing was complete.


Why exactly is my car refusing to clear the codes? The car was idling strange with the MAF unplugged, but once it was plugged in the car behaved normally, idling and driving just fine. Still, all the codes, including the MAF code, are refusing to erase, and my new CEL thanks to my stupidity remains. I watched RSPI's video, and followed his steps exactly.


1995Volvo850

P.S. I have the Yazaki gauge cluster, if that makes any difference.

just making sure we're on the same page cause i can't tell for sure, when you press and hold 5-7 seconds then the light comes on. as soon as it lights up press and hold for another 5-7 to clear

I did not try that. I only held the button for 5-7 seconds once, as per RSPI's video. I'll try that technique.

Thanks!

Well, this trick did it for me! No more codes, and no more CEL!

Thanks!

no problem, glad I could help! that took me a while to figure out as well

Glad you got it worked out. Once it clears, it will flicker about 50 times.

Reset Service Engine Light
 

Maybe you have already read guides explaining how you can deactivate the check engine light or perhaps service engine soon light prior to doing the emissions test to be able to break free of the smog inspection. By switching off the check engine or service engine soon light, and deleting all of emissions computer data from your car, the smog device will never know your vehicle has or has had pollutants problems.

Carry on method at your own risk! :(


Methods : Reset Service Engine Light, Check Engine Codes, Trouble Codes, OBD2 Codes, Diagnostic Codes - CheckEngineCode.com

1-2-2 is always storen in the cruise control system . It just tells you that the car was not moved since the last time you switched on ignition with more than 35kmh. So you can ignore it.

In order to corectly read off Cruise you must du the following:

- plug the pin in the blinkbox
- drive the car around faster than 35kmh
- use all Cruise functions (SET, + ,- , Resume )
- park the car without switching off the engine
- read off the errors.

The Cruise errors are deleted every time you switch off the ignition.