So, I've had an SES light on for about 9 months now. I had the code pulled, and it showed as an exhaust leak. I don't have to deal with emissions testing, so I ignored it. It went away a couple of weeks ago when I swapped my steering wheel. Magic steering wheel?

The light was on when I disconnected the battery to swap the wheel, and off when I reconnected everything and started the car again. It just occurred to me that it's more likely disconnecting the battery cleared the code than it is that I bought a magical steering wheel, isn't it?

 

Ya having the battery unplugged for like 30 seconds will reset the ECU and clear all the codes. If the problem still persists it will come back eventually.

 

Disconnecting the battery clears the codes. It will come back if there is still a problem.

 

Ummmm no, disconnecting the battery does not clear the codes on OBD 2 cars, it did on the OBD 1 system though. The code is still stored in the computer, the light just went out because of the power loss. If the problem that caused the SES light to go on in the first place is still present, you'll be seeing the light again.

 

I once again stand corrected. Should have said it clears the light. I should know better. I feel so dirty now. D@mn me and my obd1 mindset.

 

Well, like I said: that was two weeks ago, and I have yet to see the light back. I don't really know what to think.

If the problem had gone away, the light should have too, right? Without me needing to disconnect the battery.

 

It could have been a glitch or hiccup that made the light go on. If the problem was no longer present, the error would clear itself after a number of start/stop/drive cycles.
You gotta ask yourself something though, did the exhaust leak that originally tripped the code magically fix itself too?

 

That's why I'm curious/suspicious. It came and stayed for months and months. Why did it clear now? If I have a self-healing exhaust, maybe I should look into copyrighting that...

 

Speaking of curious, did you ever look for an exhaust leak in these last nine months while the light was glaring at you?

 

I used to get a misfire code on occasion in my old car but the light would only stay on for maybe 2 days then go out and then be months before it came back on again. I checked it out and found nothing wrong so it was prob just the system being stupid.