Turning off the damn "check engine" light?

Every time I start my Civic on a steep downhill slope at high altitude,
the "check engine" light come on. It costs $80 bucks to find out nothing
is wrong and get the light turned off. Is there any cheaper way to
get it turned off? I need that indicator in case something were to
*actually* go wrong with the engine.

 

Spend about $100 one time and get a OBDII reader. Check Ebay or your
local auto parts store. Even the basic ones have a "reset" button
that will erase the codes and turn off the light. Are you sure there
isn't something wrong when the light comes on?

--Jeff

 

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Why not tell us the CODE? If you paid for it, it's on the work order.
Your computer is trying to tell you SOMETHING. In my country there's
several places that will read codes for free, just to get you in the door.
Without the CODE, wait 6 days and repost on Psychic Wednesday and we'll
see if the good guessers can take a shot at your 'cure'.

'Curly'

 

Disconnect your battery for a few minutes. This will reset the ECU and
clear any CELs unless the problem that caused the CEL hasn't gone away.

 

(Paul Ciszek) wrote in @reader2.panix.com:

Only because you don't know you can pull the Backup or Backup/Hazard fuse
to erase the ECM's memory.

But simply doing that would be extremely foolish.

See above.

Generally speaking, something *has* gone wrong -- with the emissions
controls.

The alphanumeric code behind the MIL illumination is significant and should
not be ignored, but investigated.

What codes did your $80 reveal?

 

I don't have a code, but I was verbally told "oxygen sensor". I'll bet
the oxygen sensor is calibrated for sea level.

 

(Paul Ciszek) wrote in

Which covers about twenty different specific alphanumeric OBD-II errors.

Nope.

You paid money, they owe you the code.
You posted here looking for advice, we cannot give any without knowing what
the dealership saw. Cough it up now, young fella, or go dry for advice.

By the way, you may want to give your year and model. This is quite
relevant, believe it or not.

 

You'd lose that bet.

 

If it's throwing a code, you probably have a problem that should be
addressed. It is not "nothing".

The Oxygen sensor will not likely affect your driving experience, and won't
likely hurt your car, but it will hurt your efficiency, and will keep your
car from being inspected.

And it is cheap to fix, relatively. Give the code here, and I am sure you
will get a pretty definitive answer. One thing you can be pretty sure of,
the Oxygen sensor is NOT calibrated for anything. Hondas work perfectly
well in the mountains, just as they do at sea-level. Many of the Oxygen
sensor problems involve difference in O2 levels between the 2 sensors.
This can indicate a failing sensor, or perhaps a failing cat.

 

indeed it is. especially if this is an obd0 vehicle. obd0's rely on
exhaust gas to reach working temperature. starting, then coasting down
a mountain will mean the exhaust stays cold [zero fuel injected], so
after a while, it'll throw a code as the sensor won't test properly.

 

Single-wire sensors do.

But Honda was using a 4-wire heated sensor in Accords and Preludes as early
as 1990.

 

Take a small piece of tape and cover over the warning light.
That way nothing can ever go wrong.
p.s. you're welcome