Fix It

You can reset the service engine light on your Chevrolet S10 by using an OBD-II scan tool. This on-board diagnostic tool can be purchased from your local auto parts retailer, although many such stores will check the code and reset the light at no charge.



The service engine light will turn on at regular intervals when your vehicle needs routine maintenance. After the maintenance is completed you will need to manually reset the light to turn it off. This is an easy adjustment that will only take a few moments.

Instructions

1

Look for the OBD II port located near the emergency brake on the lower dashboard. The OBD II port will be the receptive end for the connector on the OBD II scanner tool. Examine the connector end of the tool and the receptive port to make sure you have the correct port. Plug the OBD II scanner tool into the port.

2

Close the doors, roll up the windows and turn on the OBD II scanner tool. Put the key into the ignition and turn it to "on," but take care not to start the engine. Turning the vehicle on will start the electrical system which will power the OBD II scanner tool and allow it to do its job. The engine needs to remain off for the scanner to work.

3

Wait for the screen on the scanner to stop flashing. The service engine light will have turned off. Turn the key in the ignition to "off" and unplug the scanner.

4

Restart the engine and verify that the service engine light is still off on the instrument panel. Turn off the car.

The General Motors Oil Life Monitor System first appeared in GM trucks in the 2000 model year. The system measures the remaining service life of an engines motor oil based on several factors, including the number of engine starts, miles driven at operating temperature and total hours of engine operation. The Oil Life Monitor System determines intervals between oil changes based on operating conditions. You should reset the oil light to initiate a service interval after you change the oil.

Instructions

1

Turn the ignition key to the "on" position.

2

Depress the accelerator pedal three times to the floor in rapid succession within five seconds. Turn the ignition key off and wait for ten seconds.

3

Turn the ignition key to the "Start" position, and start the engine. The Oil Life Monitor system has been reset.

The mid-size Mazda 6 was in its second generation as of 2010, having grown a bit over the previous generation of the car. There are seven trim models, with the more top-of-the-line variations equipped with niceties like alloy wheels, Bluetooth connectivity and xenon headlights. Most Mazda 6 cars, though, will have halogen bulbs. Exercise caution when changing halogen bulbs, as they are easily damaged if scratched or dropped.

Instructions

High-Beam Headlight

1

Turn off the ignition and the headlights.

2

Open the hood and remove the bolts from the coolant reservoir. Using your wrench, turn the bolts counterclockwise to remove.

3

Disconnect the bulbs electrical connector. Press on the connector tab and pull downward to remove.

4

Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise to remove the bulb. Then insert a new halogen bulb, turning clockwise to install.

5

Re-install the coolant reservoir.

Low-Beam Headlights

6

Turn off the ignition and the headlights.

7

Move the steering wheel to the right if youre replacing the left-hand light and vice-versa.

8

Open the hood and remove the bulbs plastic container screws. Turn counterclockwise to remove the six screws.

9

Turn the bulb cover counterclockwise.

10

Detach the electrical connector of the bulb by pulling it to the rear.

11

Pull downward and away to remove the bulb from the spring.

12

Remove the adapter from the bulb and attach a new bulb onto the adapter.

13

Insert the bulb into the bulb socket, connecting the electrical connections.

14

Insert the bulb cover, fastening the screws clockwise.

The Civic SI is a small sports coupe introduced by Honda in 2003. This stylish addition to the Civic line of vehicles came with optional fog lights. One of the joys of owning a sports car is being able to customize it with your own personal touches. If you are a car repair novice, but still want to experiment, a good project is to install new or upgraded aftermarket fog lights. This do-it-yourself undertaking requires nothing more than some basic tools and a fog light kit.

Instructions

1

Park the vehicle on a flat and level surface, turn off the engine and engage the emergency brake.

2

Feel the top of the hood. If it is still hot wait about 20 minutes before beginning the installation.

3

Place a blanket on the ground beneath the front end. Lie on the blanket and slide under the car so that you can see the back of the bumper where one of the fog lights is attached. Locate the wiring harness plugged into the rear of the fog light socket. Squeeze the sides of the harness plug and pull it free.

4

Use an adjustable wrench to remove the three mounting bolts securing the fog light assembly to the front bumper. Slide the assembly out of the bumper.

5

Insert the new fog light and secure it with the bolts that came with the kit. Connect the wiring harness with the socket. Move to the other side of the vehicle and repeat the process to install the other fog light.

You can reset and turn off the "Service Engine Soon" light on your 1997 Saturn L1. The On-Board Diagnostics computer keeps track of regular service intervals. Its important to always do the servicing first before resetting the light. This will allow the vehicles computer to keep accurate track of when the next service is due.

Instructions

1

Pop open the hood of the vehicle. Find the battery. Behind the batter is a black fuse box. Release the retaining clips and lift off the top of the box.

2

Look for the "Reset" button below a reddish-orange block. Press the button and hold it for five seconds.

3

Put the key in the ignition and turn the vehicle on, but dont start the engine. Wait one minute. The light should have turned off. If not, turn off the vehicle and turn the ignition to the "ACC" setting. Press the "Reset" button again and hold it for 15 seconds.

4

Turn off the car and remove the key. Put the key back in the ignition and start the engine. Let it run for at least two minutes. The computer should now have registered the reset and the service engine light should now be off.

In 2004, Nissan introduced the Titan, a full-sized pickup truck available in the North American market. This truck comes standard with daytime running lights that are set low in the front bumper. If you want to install aftermarket lights either because the originals were damaged or you simply want to personalize your Titan, do not take it to a garage. This repair is easy to do at home making it the perfect do-it-yourself project for a Saturday afternoon.

Instructions

1

Park your Nissan Titan on a flat level driveway or parking lot. Apply the parking brake and turn the engine off. Depending on how long the truck has been running, you may need to wait up to 30 minutes for the truck to cool.

2

Slide under the front end and look directly behind the running light lens. Here you will find an access panel covering the inner workings of the running light assembly. Pry it off with a flathead screwdriver.

3

Locate the wiring harness which connects the Titans electrical system to the running lights socket. Grab the harness by the plug end. Squeeze the two side tabs and pull to release the harness.

4

Unscrew the three retaining bolts holding the light assembly to the Titans bumper. Use an adjustable wrench for this step. Place the bolts aside, but do not lose them as youll need them to secure the aftermarket running light.

5

Slide the old light assembly out and then insert the aftermarket assembly. Secure it with the three retaining bolts. Plug the wire harness into the socket. Snap the access panel back in place. Then repeat this entire process for the remaining running light.

The headlight replacement process for a 2007 Mazda 3 depends entirely on whether or not the specific vehicle has a turbocharger. Although both types use the same HB3 bulbs for the the high beams and H7 bulbs for the low beams, accessing the lights is what differs. As the headlights on any vehicle are important for the safety of the driver and passengers, they should be replaced as soon as they burn out.

Instructions

Accessing the Headlights (without Turbocharger)

1

Turn the ignition switch off and open the hood.

2

Rotate the screws counterclockwise and remove them from the headlamp assembly, using the screwdriver. Remove the cover.

3

Disconnect the electrical cord from the rear of the assembly.

Accessing the Headlights (with Turbocharger)

4

Turn the ignition switch off and open the hood.

5

Remove the plastic clip above the headlamp assembly and pull the slide mount up to a position where it does not interfere with the frame. If replacing the left-side headlight, remove the strap and take out the air filter.

6

Disconnect the electrical cord from the rear of the assembly.

Replacing the High-Beam Bulb

7

Rotate the socket and bulb assembly counterclockwise to remove it.

8

Remove the headlight bulb from the socket by pulling it straight out.

9

Disconnect the bulb from the electrical connector by pressing down on the tab with your finger and pulling the bulb upward.

10

Connect the electrical connector to the new bulb and place it back into the socket and the assembly.

11

Rotate the socket and bulb assembly clockwise to lock it.

Replacing the Low-Beam Bulb

12

Pull the sealing cover off of the headlamp bulb.

13

Unhook the bulb retaining spring and swing it outwards to free the headlight bulb.

14

Pull the bulb straight out and replace it with a new bulb.

15

Swing the spring back into place and reattach the sealing cover.

The license plate light bulb on a 2002 GMC Envoy is directly above the rear license plate inside a small, plastic housing and comes on when the headlights are on. At night, the light bulb illuminates the license plate information. In many states, it is illegal to drive a vehicle with a burned-out license plate light bulb. A replacement light bulb can be found in any store that sells automotive parts. Replacing the light bulb is very easy and should be done as soon as you discover the light bulb is burned out.

Instructions

1

Shut off the engine and make sure the vehicle is in park. Apply the parking brake.

2

Use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the two screws securing the license plate light assembly to the tailgate. Put the screws in a secure place.

3

Gently pull the light assembly out of the tailgate to expose the light bulb. Pull the faulty light bulb out of the socket and discard it.

4

Push the new light bulb into the socket and make sure it is tight. Reposition the light assembly on the tailgate and secure it with the two screws. Tighten the screws; do not overtighten.

5

Turn on the headlights to make sure the license plate light bulb illuminates.

Having a faulty license plate light can cause you a lot of problems. A burnt out license plate light can result in fines and possibly having to make a court appearance. There are two main causes for a non working light. They are a bulb that is blown or a worn light socket. It pays to know how to fix this problem quickly.

Instructions

Replacing a Blown Bulb

1

Remove the cover from the bulb. This will differ from vehicle to vehicle but it is normally a tab that slides out.

2

Remove the bulb from the socket.

3

Check that the old bulb matches the connections on the new bulb.

4

Click the new bulb into place in the socket.

5

Replace the cover until you hear a "click."

6

Turn on the ignition and test the light.

Replacing a Socket

7

Remove the cover from the bulb. This will differ from vehicle to vehicle but it is normally a tab that slides out.

8

Remove the bulb from the socket.

9

Remove the actual socket from the vehicle. This will be held in place by one or two screws.

10

Remove the connected wires from the back of the socket either by untwisting the connectors, or cutting them apart. Most will be attached using connectors, but some will be hard wired and need cutting with a wire cutter.

11

Attach the new socket to the connections. If the vehicle was hard wired then you will need to color match the wires and splice and solder to the back of the new socket.

12

Reattach the socket to the vehicle using the screws.

13

Insert a working bulb into the socket.

14

Replace the cover.

15

Start ignition and test light.

A timing light uses a strobe flash to determine the ignition timing of a car, which is the frequency of spark plugs firing. The timing light illuminates marks that the car manufacturer has placed on the engines crankshaft pulley or flywheel. The position of the marks when the engine is running indicates the timing of the spark in relation to piston position. The Equus Xenon, also called the Innova, uses a xenon bulb to read settings and connects to the spark plug with an inductive pickup. While timing analysis can be performed at home, a repair manual for the vehicle make and model is necessary to determine if the timing is set correctly.

Instructions

1

Locate the timing mark and erence pointer, which are typically located on the crankshaft pulley, vibration damper or on the flywheel. Make sure the timing mark and pointer are clean and visible, using chalk to define the marks if necessary.

2

Connect the timing light battery clips to the vehicle battery, placing the red clip on the positive (+) battery terminal and the black clip on the negative terminal. Attach one end of the supplied inductive pickup leads to the bottom of the timing light handle and the other part to the number one spark plug cable.

3

Start the engine and run it until normal operating temperature is reached. Turn on the timing light by pressing the "On/Off" switch, and the timing light will begin flashing. Adjust the timing light barrel to direct the light toward the timing marks.

4

Note the position of the rotating timing mark in relation to the erence pointer. If the readings are within the range advised in the vehicles repair manual, the ignition timing is correct. If the timing reading is not in range, an adjustment or part replacement may be necessary

5

Press the "On/"Off switch to turn the light off after use, then turn the car engine off and remove the battery clips.

In order to remove and reset the air bag light, also known as the SRS light on a BMW, a reset tool is needed. The Service Light Plus airbag reset tool, which is available for purchase at most auto parts stores, is designed to work on the BMW E36 and is easy to use by connecting it to the BMWs data link connector, located under the vehicles dashboard beside the hood release latch.

Instructions

1

Park the BMW on level ground.

2

Attach the air bag reset tool to the BMWs data link connector, under the dashboard.

3

Switch the BMWs ignition on.

4

Anticipate for the tools screen to illuminate and select "BMW" on the screen with the scroll buttons on the tool and press the reset tools "OK" button.

5

Use the scroll buttons to select the "E36" model and press the "OK" button.

6

Use the scroll buttons to select "Reset of Airbag" and press the "OK" button.

7

Wait for the message "Reset OK." Switch the BMWs ignition off and remove the air bag reset tool.

The 2003 Cadillac CTS features three brake lights, as do all modern vehicles. The "neon" third brake light sits on the vehicles trunk lid and not in the back window bay as is common in many other cars. If you want to install the light yourself, it should only take a few moments. If you have not worked with taking apart any pieces of a cars body, however, you may want to let a professional take care of the replacement.

Instructions

1

Remove the cover that surrounds the license plate area and runs along the bottom of the light assembly. Use a small flat head screwdriver to start the removal, taking care to not scratch the paint on the cover.

2

Use the screwdriver to pop the light assembly out of its retaining clips. Be especially caul when loosening the light assembly, since it can crack if you apply too much force.

3

Press on the clip on the light assemblys plug that is joined with the wiring harness inside the trunk. Place the old light assembly to the side on a soft cloth.

4

Insert the plug on the new light assembly into the socket in the wiring harness. Line the tabs on the back of the light assembly with the retaining clips on the trunk lid.

5

Press the light assembly into place gently, listening for the retaining clips to snap. Make sure the light assembly does not jiggle at all; otherwise, remove it and install it again.

6

Press the cover that goes around the license plate area and underneath the light assembly back into place so its retaining clips snap into place. Make sure the cover does not jiggle when you press on it.

Replacing a tail light lens on your Oldsmobile Ciera requires removing the entire tail light assembly. The lens is molded to the rest of the assembly and cannot be removed separately. The assembly comes off the car very quickly and replacement light assemblies are readily available from the dealer or through some auto parts retailers. If you are on a budget, a more affordable option is to source this part through a salvage yard.

Instructions

1

Open the trunk of your Oldsmobile and locate the two retaining screws on the inboard edge of the tail light assembly. Remove both screws using a Phillips screwdriver and set them aside for later reuse.

2

Pull the tail light assembly away from the body and locate the bulb sockets on the rear of the assembly. Rotate the bulb socket counterclockwise to unlock it from the assembly, then pull the socket and bulb out of the assembly.

3

Install the bulb sockets into the rear of the new taillight assembly; rotate them clockwise to lock them in place. Now is a good time to replace any bulbs in the rear that may not be working.

4

Position the new tail light assembly on the rear of the car and install the two retaining screws through the tail light, threading them into the body. Tighten the screws with a Phillips screwdriver until they are snug, but do not over-tighten them or you will crack the plastic.

5

Repeat the process for the opposite side assembly, if needed. Close the trunk of the car.

The Mini Cooper is a small, sporty vehicle made by BMW. The Mini comes standard with a Service Interval Display, or SID, located on the dashboard control panel. The SID lights up to let you know that its time to have your Mini Cooper serviced. After you complete the maintenance on your Mini Cooper, you will need to manually reset the service light, which is easy to do and requires no tools.

Instructions

1

Put the key into the ignition. Press in the trip odometer knob.

2

Turn the ignition key to the first or "I" position while still depressing the trip odometer knob. Look for a message that says "51A" on the dashboard control panel next to the mileage counter.

3

Release the trip odometer knob and wait about three seconds.

4

Depress the trip odometer knob again and wait about 10 seconds. Wait for a message that says "RST" on the dashboard control panel next to the mileage counter. Release the trip odometer knob.

5

Press in the trip odometer knob and wait for "15,000" to appear on the control panel. Release the knob and turn the ignition key to the "Off" position.

The "Service Engine Soon" (SES) light will illuminate on the Fords instrument panel when the vehicle is ready for routine maintenance. The On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) computer receives trouble codes from sensors positioned throughout the vehicle. The "E-450" code corresponds to a service issue. Address the issue that triggered the code, then reset and shut off the light with an OBD reset tool. This tool can be obtained from any auto parts store. Resetting the light yourself will save you money and a trip to the dealership.

Instructions

1

Locate the fuse panel cover under the steering column. Open it by turning the knob and pulling down on it from the top by hand.

2

Plug the end of an OBD reset tool into the port inside the fuse panel. This port will be the same size and shape as the connector.

3

Insert the key into the ignition and turn it to the "II" position. Select the "Clear Codes" command on the reset tool.

4

Wait for the SES light to turn off. Unplug the reset tool and turn off the vehicle.

Numerous lights illuminate the Chrysler Town and Country minivan interior, from front map lights to the lights located in the rear-seating compartment. Occasionally it becomes necessary to replace the bulbs in these lights and although the bulb type may vary, the replacement process is similar. Save money by tackling the task of replacing any burned out van interior light bulbs at home rather than at the repair shop.

Instructions

1

Locate the plastic tabs that hold the light lens, or cover, in place. Insert the screwdriver into the gap between the lens and the light housing and gently pry until you can see in between the two. Reposition the screwdriver and repeat the process until you locate the tabs.

2

Remove the light lens carefully. Release the tab from one side of the housing using the screwdriver as leverage. Pry the lens downward until the lens is released. You now can release the other tab and remove the lens.

3

Remove the bulb from the socket. Turn the bulb or simply pull it out, depending on the bulb being replaced.

4

Insert the replacement bulb. You may want to test the bulb before replacing the lens.

5

Replace the lens by first securing the retaining tab on one side and then gently push the other side of the lens into place. You may need to use the screwdriver as leverage.

The 1993 Mercedes Benz lets you know when you need to have your engine looked at by a mechanic by illuminating the "Check Engine" light on your control panel. The cause of this light can be diagnosed using an OBD II scanner tool that reads trouble codes, telling you exactly what is wrong with your car. After the codes have been read and the problem repaired, you will want to clear the check engine light to turn it off. This can be done at home with no special tools required and just a few minutes of your time.

Instructions

1

Put the key into the ignition and turn the car on but dont start the engine. Notice the display on the instrument panel between the tachometer and the speedometer.

2

Press the button on the lower left side of the steering wheel. The display will tell you why the light is on.

3

Look for the button next to the one you just pushed and press it. This will verify the reason for the check engine light.

4

Find the reset button on the instrument panel. This is located on the left side of the panel. Press and hold it until you see the instructions telling you to hold it for 3 seconds to reset it. Let go of the reset button.

5

Press the reset button one more time and hold it until the display indicates that the check engine light has been reset. Release the button. The check engine light should now be off.

The Saturn Ion (manufactured from 2003 to 2007) uses an integrated low beam and high beam headlight per headlight assembly (drivers side and passenger side). The halogen headlight is inserted into the back of each headlight assembly and accessed through the engine compartment. While both low beam and high beam filaments rarely burn out at the same time, the headlight needs to be replaced when one or the other beams fails for optimal night vision.

Instructions

1

Park the Saturn Ion on a level ground surface, apply the parking brake, ensure the headlight switch is in the off position, and release the primary hood release latch from inside the vehicle.

2

Release the secondary hood release latch located underneath the center of the hood in front and lift the hood prop to rest the hood onto the prop.

3

Lift the two headlight assembly retaining brackets located at the back of the headlight assembly with the faulty headlight. The brackets only need to be lift up about an inch to unseat the headlight assembly retaining tabs.

4

Pull the assembly forward away from the Ion to unseat the ball socket headlight aiming guide pins.

5

Place towel under the assembly while resting it on the front bumper to avoid scratching the paint on the bumper.

6

Angle the headlight assembly outward far enough to reach behind it and disconnect the wire harness plugged into the headlight socket. Lift upward on the harness plug tabs and then pull it out of the headlight socket.

7

Turn the headlight retaining ring 1/3 of a turn counterclockwise and then extract the headlight and ring from the back of the headlight assembly. Discard the spent headlight.

8

Put on a pair of latex gloves before handling the replacement bulb. If skin accidentally contacts the glass bulb section of the composite headlight, a heat or weak spot will occur and shorten the life of the headlight.

9

Insert the replacement bulb through the center of the retaining ring and then align the tabs of the ring and headlight to the grooves in the headlight assembly. Turn the ring and socket 1/3 of a turn clockwise to tighten and secure the headlight in place.

10

Reconnect the wire harness plug to the socket of the headlight and test the headlight for proper operation before replacing the headlight assembly and retaining brackets.

The 2005 Honda Accord uses different light bulbs in each headlight assembly for the low beams and high beams. Changing a low beam bulb involves a different procedure than the high beam bulb. To ensure the correct bulb is being replaced, its best to locate the faulty bulb before purchasing and replacing it in order to obtain the correct part. The bulbs look the same but are intended for different uses. The low beam bulbs are on the outer edge of the headlight assembly, and the high beam bulbs are on the inner edge.

Instructions

Low Beams

1

Start the engine and turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction of the headlight being replaced. Turn it all the way to the right if replacing the drivers side low beam or all the way to the left if replacing the passengers side low beam. Turn the engine off and ensure the headlight switch is in the "Off" position.

2

Remove the two retaining clips holding the inner fender splash cover with a flat head screwdriver. Pop the center pin of the retaining clip upward then pull the clip assembly out of the fender splash cover.

3

Pull the fender splash cover away from the fender and bumper with one hand and reach in with the other hand to grasp the socket of the low beam headlight bulb.

4

Disconnect the wire harness plug from the headlight bulb by squeezing in on the sides to unlock it then pull it off the socket of the low beam headlight bulb.

5

Rotate the bulb socket a 1/4 turn counterclockwise to align its retaining tabs to the release grooves of the headlight assembly then remove the bulb.

6

Hold the replacement 9006 low beam headlight bulb by its socket to avoid touching the glass bulb. Oils and perspiration in skin will damage the bulb.

7

Align the retaining tabs of the bulb socket to the release grooves in the headlight assembly. Push slightly inward and rotate the socket a 1/4 turn clockwise to lock it in place. Reconnect the wire harness plug and test the headlight before replacing the retaining tabs of the fender splash cover.

High Beams

8

Open the hood and remove the two retaining clips from the air intake cover on the passengers side high beam with the screwdriver as noted in Step 3. For the drivers side high beam replacement, proceed to Step 2.

9

Detach the wire harness connection from the high beam bulb by squeezing the sides to unlock it then pulling it out of the bulb socket.

10

Rotate the socket of the headlight bulb a 1/4 turn counterclockwise to remove it from the headlight assembly.

11

Install the replacement 9006 headlight bulb (again, do not touch the glass bulb section) by reversing the removal procedure.

12

Reconnect the wire harness plug to the headlight bulb socket and test the headlight before replacing the air intake cover and retaining clips for the passengers side.

When the check engine light illuminates on your Jeep Liberty, it is the result of a problem code being sent from a sensor in the vehicle to the internal On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) computer. It means there is an electrical problem. You should have it looked at and fixed by a qualified mechanic before attempting to reset and turn off the light yourself. Once the problem is fixed, it will be very easy for you to manually reset the light and turn it off.

Instructions

1

Find the Diagnostic Link Connector, or DLC, to the right of and underneath the steering column. Plug the scanner into the port and put the key into the ignition. Turn the key to the accessory position.

2

Plug the pocket scanner into the DLC and then turn the ignition key to the accessory position. Turn on the pocket scanner.

3

Select "Erase" on the scanner to turn off the check engine light. You will know it worked when you see "Command Sent" or when the screen on the scanner is back to the main menu.

4

Turn the key to start the engine. The check engine light should now be off. If not, you will need to have the engine looked at again.