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Question about manually removeing the 'check engine' light.

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Old 09-14-2004 | 02:15 AM
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KamaroL98's Avatar
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Cool Question about manually removeing the 'check engine' light.

Ever since i deleted a few emissions my check engine light has been on. Someone told me i could take the bulb out behind where it lights up.
Tonight i got bored and finially attempted it. I took the WHOLE gauge houseing out away from the dash. It appears the bulbs behind this houseing have nothing to do with those fancy "Check Engine" "Check Oil", or "Brake" lights. Regurdless there are about 4 bulbs on the side where the check engine light is and they all appear to light up the speedo, gas gauge, and work together to light up the entire dash, not the specific "check engine" light area, and removeing these bulbs would dim part of the gauges makeing it look ghetto. I took the see though cover off, then started to remove the piece the gauges are printed on off, i need to take this off to see what lights this feature up. But its glued on and is flimsy like its easy to break so i decided not to remove it. There appeard to be a orange light bulb behind this thing, how do i get to it?
I just put it all back together and put a piece of black electrical tape over where my check engine lights up as a temporary fix (which i may leave for good). But i did what people described to fix this and mine appears to be different. Has anyone done this?
Old 09-14-2004 | 04:21 AM
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Re: Question about manually removeing the 'check engine' light.

cut a piece of black electrical tape to fit over the check-engine light. Or get the codes shut off. It's like $35-65 depending on who does it.
Old 09-14-2004 | 04:22 AM
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Re: Question about manually removeing the 'check engine' light.

lol never mind, I see you already did the black electrical tape mod. great minds think alike.
Old 09-14-2004 | 10:45 AM
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Re: Question about manually removeing the 'check engine' light.

haha. yea.
Old 09-14-2004 | 05:56 PM
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Re: Question about manually removeing the 'check engine' light.

lol I did the same thing when my brake light wouldn't shut off no matter what. couldn't really even tell it was ever there.
Old 09-14-2004 | 07:34 PM
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Re: Question about manually removeing the 'check engine' light.

Yes the bulbs are not removable.
I cut some small pieces of stiff paper and slipped them in between the face and the cluster.
It worked great blocking the SES light as well as the ASR Off light that I didn't like since I have the reverse traction control module.
Makes for a neater solution than electrical tape.
Old 09-14-2004 | 08:17 PM
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Re: Question about manually removeing the 'check engine' light.

And why may I ask that you don't do it the proper way and have your PCM reprogrammed so that if something really does go wrong that you know about it?
Old 09-14-2004 | 08:22 PM
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Re: Question about manually removeing the 'check engine' light.

Originally Posted by 97FormulaWS-6
And why may I ask that you don't do it the proper way and have your PCM reprogrammed so that if something really does go wrong that you know about it?

I dont need the check engine light, becaus its always on. If it dosent run what it suppose to, dosent feel right like a sensor is messed up, i can scan for codes and find otu exatly whats wrong. ive been through alot with my car, and if i burn a valve, piston, head gasket, its pretty obvious something is wrong. so i dotn need a light.

Last edited by KamaroL98; 09-14-2004 at 08:27 PM.
Old 09-14-2004 | 11:57 PM
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Re: Question about manually removeing the 'check engine' light.

Originally Posted by KamaroL98
I dont need the check engine light, becaus its always on. If it dosent run what it suppose to, dosent feel right like a sensor is messed up, i can scan for codes and find otu exatly whats wrong. ive been through alot with my car, and if i burn a valve, piston, head gasket, its pretty obvious something is wrong. so i dotn need a light.
I agree that electrical tape is not the proper way to fix this problem. Many problems the system may have will not be noticable to your foot, but may affect other things like emisions or gas mileage. If you continue to "fix" you car by hacking it up, you'll never be able to sell it for much. Nobody wants a car with electrical tape covering up idiot lights that wont turn off. That would be a red light for most buyers, because it would be indicative of amature repairs and god knows what else.

example: if the MAF burns out, it will still run fine because it will default to speed density. Without a SES light, you may not even notice. The light was put there for a reason, right? reprogramming the PCM is not that hard, you know.

I guess my point is this: There are 2 ways to do most everything... the right way and the wrong way. You just did it the wrong way If your car is important to you as a hobbyist, shouldnt you take the time and effort to do it right? Show some pride and skill in your hobby, maybe?

I hate to sound so critical, but my father tends to "fix" things the same way, and I always have to go and re-do it correctly. It bugs me. And I love my father, so you are in good company. This is not a flame!

Last edited by TraceZ; 09-15-2004 at 12:04 AM.
Old 09-15-2004 | 12:04 AM
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Re: Question about manually removeing the 'check engine' light.

Originally Posted by 2cub49
Yes the bulbs are not removable.
...

LOL, they definitely are.
Old 09-15-2004 | 12:10 AM
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Re: Question about manually removeing the 'check engine' light.

Originally Posted by shoebox
LOL, they definitely are.
Correct... I removed my skip shift bulb a couple weeks ago because I disabled the CAGS when I bought the car and I was tired of the light flashing between shifts.

there is a black plastic sheet covering the back of the guage pod. It locks in the bulbs sockets for the dummy lights. Simply remove the black sheet and the sockets with bulbs will come out by rotating them 1/4 turn CCW. Replace the black sheet and you are done. I would be carefull about what you decide is not needed, though. Many of those light serve a good purpose.
Old 09-15-2004 | 12:25 AM
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Re: Question about manually removeing the 'check engine' light.

Originally Posted by TABAHR
I agree that electrical tape is not the proper way to fix this problem. Many problems the system may have will not be noticable to your foot, but may affect other things like emisions or gas mileage. If you continue to "fix" you car by hacking it up, you'll never be able to sell it for much. Nobody wants a car with electrical tape covering up idiot lights that wont turn off. That would be a red light for most buyers, because it would be indicative of amature repairs and god knows what else.

example: if the MAF burns out, it will still run fine because it will default to speed density. Without a SES light, you may not even notice. The light was put there for a reason, right? reprogramming the PCM is not that hard, you know.

I guess my point is this: There are 2 ways to do most everything... the right way and the wrong way. You just did it the wrong way If your car is important to you as a hobbyist, shouldnt you take the time and effort to do it right? Show some pride and skill in your hobby, maybe?

I hate to sound so critical, but my father tends to "fix" things the same way, and I always have to go and re-do it correctly. It bugs me. And I love my father, so you are in good company. This is not a flame!
lol, just make me sound like ghetto rigger of the year why dont ya!! lmao

LS1 edit and some tuneing software is on my list of things to get down the road, im in the middle of doing other things first. Sometimes, i do temporary fixes. To me that check engine light is just freaking annoying. I know why its going off, is becaus i removed some emmissions stuff.

Last edited by KamaroL98; 09-15-2004 at 12:32 AM.
Old 09-15-2004 | 07:26 AM
  #13  
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Re: Question about manually removeing the 'check engine' light.

Originally Posted by KamaroL98
lol, just make me sound like ghetto rigger of the year why dont ya!! lmao

"ghetto rigger og the year" OMG that is funny. I'll have to share that with my dad!! he needs a trophy!
Old 09-17-2004 | 06:39 PM
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Re: Question about manually removeing the 'check engine' light.

That Would't Fly Here In California

I've Found Lots Of Tape Over The Check Engine Light... Makes For Good Money

Calif Smog Tech
Old 09-17-2004 | 08:45 PM
  #15  
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Re: Question about manually removeing the 'check engine' light.

No smog tests here! thank god.


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