How Many Miles to Drive After Resetting Check Engine Light for Inspection
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The check engine light is an infamous signal that car owners have come to dislike. It may signify a problem, but it might also come on for reasons that mean absolutely nothing to you. Often, owners will reset this item for inspection. After, you will need to drive. Car owners might wonder how many miles to go after resetting the check engine light.
Keep reading to learn more about how many miles to drive after resetting a check engine light for inspection. This information will help you determine whether or not you are experiencing a serious issue or if your car is acting out. After reading this piece, you should be able to help yourself if this issue ever arises again.
What Makes a Check Engine Light Come On?
When you reset a check engine light for inspection, you are checking to see if there is anything wrong with your car. Many drivers might not be aware of the problems that make this light come on in their vehicle. This understanding is especially difficult for those who are not familiar with the components of their car.
According to Edmunds.com, the most common reasons for a check engine light to come on that are not flukes include:
- Issues with the oxygen sensor
- Problems with the mass airflow sensor
- A broken thermostat
- A loose gas cap that might need to be tightened or replaced
- A catalytic converter that needs to be replaced with an OEM catalytic converter
All of these are genuine reasons why a check engine light might come on. More commonly, it comes on for reasons that cannot be fixed by anything but a reset.
In truth, there are a million different reasons why a check engine light may come on. This abundance is why a reset is so valuable. It will allow you to determine if there is something wrong or if you can breathe easily. A reset can be done by anyone, no matter the experience level. You can also allow a professional to do it if you have no idea what you are doing.
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Why Do I Need to Drive After Resetting the Check Engine Light?
You might wonder why you need to drive after resetting a check engine light. Doesn’t it just fix itself? The simple answer is no. You need to prompt the system to work properly and determine if the problem has been fixed or not. This requires a certain number of miles, which we will dive further into next.
By driving, the car computer can scan everything and see if the coding is back up to par. After you drive for a specified amount of time, the computer will be able to determine if there is an issue or not. If the light comes back on, there is a chance that you do have an engine problem. If it goes away, you don’t need to worry about the component anymore.
Miles Needed to Drive After the Reset
If you are attempting to clear a check engine light, you might wonder how many miles to drive after resetting the check engine light for inspection. While this can vary based on a lot of things, there is a general number that you should drive the vehicle before you can see if the light will go away.
Of course, some things might impact the miles you need to drive. These can include:
- The overall size of the car
- The condition that it is in
- The miles it gets to the gallon
We will go over all of these next so that you can have a better understanding of what your particular car might require to get rid of the check engine light. All of these and more can alter the distance that you need to go to see what is going on.
In general, you will need to drive between 50-100 miles after you clear your car’s computer. Hopefully, this will get rid of the check engine light once and for all. If it doesn’t, there may be a more critical factor causing this item to turn on. You may need to take it to a professional to see what the true problem is.
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What Might Affect the Required Miles?
What, exactly, might affect the number of miles that you need to drive for the reset? Many things could impact this. We will go over a few of them so that you can adjust accordingly.
According to autoguysland.com, factors that could impact the miles you need to drive include:
- The type of engine that you might have, as different engines work in varying ways
- The condition that your car is in, as a struggling computer, might be detrimental to the overall process
- The miles that it gets to the gallon, which could cause the drive cycles required to increase as a result
All of these can impact the required miles that you should drive.
You should do a little bit of research on the model that you have before beginning your drive. This way, you can plan. Knowing the required distance will serve you well when attempting to see if there is anything wrong with your vehicle.
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Conclusion
With any luck, you now understand how many miles to drive after resetting the check engine light for inspection. The standard is 50-100 miles, but you can determine what is best for your car based on many factors. Driving will allow the car computer to monitor the situation and determine if the check engine light is still necessary for you to see.
If the light is not fixed after you drive the proper number of miles for your vehicle, you may need to take it in to see a professional. It will cost you a little more, but it is better than destroying your vehicle because of an engine problem. Take all of the measures that you can to protect your car from any further damage so it will not cost you a fortune to repair.
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