Check engine light in cluster is out
 

I have a 2002 986 base model 2.7L. As part of my previous owner finds, it appears he disabled the check engine light in the cluster somehow. It doesn't light up when there are codes present, and doesn't cycle when the ignition is first turned on.

The cluster is NOT the one that has replaceable bulbs sadly.

Wondering what my best path forward is here. I need the light to function correctly in order to pass the California SMOG test.

Are there known "tricks" to disabling this light that I can look for and potentially reverse to get it working again correctly?

I actually just noticed something this morning as I sat pondering this with the top down. The check engine light on the cluster looks physically different than all the other lights. They are all OFF in the picture below, but the check engine light looks "different" and "darker than the others.

Is it possible someone taped over the plastic on the backside ( or used something else to prevent the light shining through )?

Does everyone elses look like this and I'm just going nuts? :confused:


Attachment 23767

It looks like they may have taped it from the back. Pretty easy to pull the cluster and check. BTW, I sent you a PM regarding your rear window thread.

Typically its not the "check engine light" they look for, its the fault codes stored in the computer. Certain fault codes may not come back right away if you clear them. I've heard you can get enough "history' to pass emissions in a couple of hours and some brief highway runs, though I haven't verified this.

It's not terribly complicated to disassemble the cluster and see if someone blacked out the CEL spot. Be sure to drill a hole in the top to release the tab of the front bezel. You'll see what I mean if you get there.

I had to erase my codes after replacing a bad O2 sensor. This is what I did to get the sensors to register. I was blown away that it actually worked.
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1751055461.jpg

Mystery solved... :mad:

Attachment 23768

nm smmfh

.......

I've heard of unscrupulous dealers/sellers doing something like that. I've even heard of lazy ones taking the smallest-diameter drill bit and drill through the cluster to break the light.

But there is one simple, free trick all buyers should remember: Put the key on, engine off and look for the check engine light. If you don't see one, run away. A better way is to bring a scan tool, even a cheapo from Harbor Freight, that can display IM readiness. This way you'll know if they cleared the codes before you got there.

100% this! Could have saved myself a lot of headache and stress. Live and learn! :)

Now the interesting question: was/is there a reason to blacken the CEL?

Absolutely.

More codes than you could shake a stick at.

It's taken me 6 months to straighten it all out so I could get it registered here in CA, but it was a good learning experience for me and my 15 year old son, and we did all the work ourselves so it wasn't astronomically expensive.

This forum has been a godsend.

Great! Have fun!