1992 400E California Smog Check and Check Engine Light (CEL) On
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10
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From: Sunnyvale, CA
1992 400E
1992 400E California Smog Check and Check Engine Light (CEL) On
1992 400E California Smog Check and Check Engine Light (CEL) On
I have a 1992 400E with 184K Miles on it. The car runs well and starts easily. I need a California Smog Check and have to use a Test Only Station.
The Check Engine Light (CEL) is On Continously (has been for quite a while) and the Smog Check shop says the Check Engine Light (CEL) On will definitely cause the car to fail the Smog Check.
1: How to reset the Check Engine Light (CEL) on the 1992 400E? I was told that disconnecting the battery for a minute or so will reset the light, but no success thus far.
2. Will the Check Engine Light ON cause the car to fail California Smog? This car is always near the limits on the Smog Test. Warming it up thoroughly with some high-speed driving etc. really helps.
3: Does the 1992 400E have the Push Button and LED for getting a trouble code output? How does it work? I have read lots of posts and it is unclear to me how it is setup on the 1992 400E.
Thanks,
Kim
I have a 1992 400E with 184K Miles on it. The car runs well and starts easily. I need a California Smog Check and have to use a Test Only Station.
The Check Engine Light (CEL) is On Continously (has been for quite a while) and the Smog Check shop says the Check Engine Light (CEL) On will definitely cause the car to fail the Smog Check.
1: How to reset the Check Engine Light (CEL) on the 1992 400E? I was told that disconnecting the battery for a minute or so will reset the light, but no success thus far.
2. Will the Check Engine Light ON cause the car to fail California Smog? This car is always near the limits on the Smog Test. Warming it up thoroughly with some high-speed driving etc. really helps.
3: Does the 1992 400E have the Push Button and LED for getting a trouble code output? How does it work? I have read lots of posts and it is unclear to me how it is setup on the 1992 400E.
Thanks,
Kim
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Sunnyvale, CA
1992 400E
How to Clear Check Engine Light (CEL) on 1992 400E
1992 400E California Smog Check and Check Engine Light (CEL) On
Important question for me is:
1: How to reset the Check Engine Light (CEL) on the 1992 400E? I was told that disconnecting the battery for a minute or so will reset the light, but no success thus far.
If disconnecting the battery does not clear the Check Engine Light (CEL), what is the correct procedure to clear it?
Important question for me is:
1: How to reset the Check Engine Light (CEL) on the 1992 400E? I was told that disconnecting the battery for a minute or so will reset the light, but no success thus far.
If disconnecting the battery does not clear the Check Engine Light (CEL), what is the correct procedure to clear it?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,907
Likes: 2
From: So Cal
92 500e, 95 E34 525I Touring
I am postig from my phone, so cannot provide links or pictures, but will try to address you problems.
1. Your car should be equipped with an LED diagnostics box that will provide you with any fault codes related to the emissions system. The great thing about this box is: It allows you to clear a CEL by yourself. The procedure, off the top of my head, is to hold the button for I believe 7-10 seconds, and let the LED blink until it stops, counting them so you can find out what the problem is. Repeat the process until the box does not blink any more. If you have a recurring issue, this may take a very long time. Some people have success unhookong the battery over night, but that did not work on my 300e. The blinker box is located behind the secondary fire wall on the passenger side just forward of the computer box. There should be a small cover on it you will have to remove.
2. Yes, a CEL is an auto-fail in CA.
1. Your car should be equipped with an LED diagnostics box that will provide you with any fault codes related to the emissions system. The great thing about this box is: It allows you to clear a CEL by yourself. The procedure, off the top of my head, is to hold the button for I believe 7-10 seconds, and let the LED blink until it stops, counting them so you can find out what the problem is. Repeat the process until the box does not blink any more. If you have a recurring issue, this may take a very long time. Some people have success unhookong the battery over night, but that did not work on my 300e. The blinker box is located behind the secondary fire wall on the passenger side just forward of the computer box. There should be a small cover on it you will have to remove.
2. Yes, a CEL is an auto-fail in CA.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10
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From: Sunnyvale, CA
1992 400E
Thank you. This is helpful.
I got 6 Flashes and 26 flashes (engine started at idle)
Holding the button for say 10 seconds or so seemed to clear the flashing LED from these 2 codes, but the Check Engine Light (CEL) remains on throughout.
Anything else I need to do to reset the Check Engine Light (CEL)?
When you pull the cover that includes the plug for the Diagnostic,
the module on the left has a spot for 4 10-Amp plug-in type fuses
Positions F1, F2, F3, F4.
F4 is empty. Should I replace it?
Thanks so much,
Kim
I got 6 Flashes and 26 flashes (engine started at idle)
Holding the button for say 10 seconds or so seemed to clear the flashing LED from these 2 codes, but the Check Engine Light (CEL) remains on throughout.
Anything else I need to do to reset the Check Engine Light (CEL)?
When you pull the cover that includes the plug for the Diagnostic,
the module on the left has a spot for 4 10-Amp plug-in type fuses
Positions F1, F2, F3, F4.
F4 is empty. Should I replace it?
Thanks so much,
Kim
Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
400E
My recollection is that there's only supposed to be three fuses there - base module I believe. It's 3 seconds to read the codes, 8 to delete, then turn off the ignition for a few seconds, then repeat for next code. Once the codes have all been sucessfully deleted you should get one flash only, and the CE light should be gone, at least for a while. Six is idle speed control faulty, 26 is upshift delay faulty.
