Ignoring CEL

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MasterSolenoid

Joined
Sep 26, 2017
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I don't understand it.
I'm always doing PM to my car.
Taking personal pride in knowing it's well maintained.

My brother on the other hand is the opposite.
One year ago, he tells me his CEL keeps coming ON.
He drives a 2018 Subaru Outback with 140,000 miles.
His fix is to disconnect the battery and the CEL goes out.
One day he's driving and I say, "pull into this AAP and they'll check for codes"
Something about - cylinder #3
My brother is cheap, but did then purchase a Code Reader.
He takes it to a machanic who threw parts at it.
Then, he went to who I suggested (they are very good at diagnostic work).
All was fine, but eventually the CEL came back ON.

Now my brother uses his Code Reader to 'delete' the codes.
His friend tells him to just ignore it and only worry when the yearly inspection is due.

I just had to get that off my chest.
There is NO chance my brother will read this and recognize me.

Question: Anybody have a horror story from ignoring the CEL ?
 
Last edited:
MasterSolenoid said:
I don't understand it.
I'm always doing PM to my car.
Taking personal pride in knowing it's well maintained.

My brother on the other hand is the opposite.
One year ago, he tells me his CEL keeps coming ON.
He drive a 2018 Subaru Outback with 140,000 miles.
His fix is to disconnect the battery and the CEL goes out.
One day he's driving and I say, "pull into this AAP and they will check for codes"
Something about - cylinder #3
My brother is cheap, but did purchase a Code Reader.
He takes it to a machanic who threw parts at it.
Then, he went to who I suggested (they are very good at diagnostic work).
All was fine, but eventually the CEL came back ON.

Now my brother uses his Code Reader to delete the codes.
His friend tells him to just ignore it and only worry when the yearly inspection is due.

I just had to get that off my chest.
There is NO chance my brother will read this and recognize me.

Question: Anybody have a horror story from ignoring the CEL ?
Click to expand...
If the CEL is flashing then you could damage an emissions component like the cat. I do not think I have every had a flashing CEL however.
 
Meh, depends on the vehicle. And whether you have inspections.

And I dunno why but anytime Subarus have problems they want to throw #1 and #3 before #2 and #4. I realize that's the head layout but I don't know why #1 and #3 are always first.
 
Up here that would not fly. Resetting the light will clear readiness monitors andthat will cause a fail.

I wouldn’t ignore a misfire as that can damage the cat, but for other codes I have ignored—at least until inspection time.
 
MasterSolenoid said:
I don't understand it.
I'm always doing PM to my car.
Taking personal pride in knowing it's well maintained.

My brother on the other hand is the opposite.
One year ago, he tells me his CEL keeps coming ON.
He drives a 2018 Subaru Outback with 140,000 miles.
His fix is to disconnect the battery and the CEL goes out.
One day he's driving and I say, "pull into this AAP and they'll check for codes"
Something about - cylinder #3
My brother is cheap, but did then purchase a Code Reader.
He takes it to a machanic who threw parts at it.
Then, he went to who I suggested (they are very good at diagnostic work).
All was fine, but eventually the CEL came back ON.

Now my brother uses his Code Reader to 'delete' the codes.
His friend tells him to just ignore it and only worry when the yearly inspection is due.

I just had to get that off my chest.
There is NO chance my brother will read this and recognize me.

Question: Anybody have a horror story from ignoring the CEL ?
Click to expand...
Not myself personally but when I was an emissions Inspector years ago a lady came in with her oil light on. Apparently it had been on for a while. Typically they won't test it as people will come in hoping it breaks and the emissions center will foot the bill. The lady asked me if it was an Issue and I told her yeah it's on for a reason. I told her well if your engine self destructs you won't have to worry about passing emissions testing.
 
I use a lot of Ubers when I'm on vacation or business trips and see a lot of Uber cars with CELs lit. Sometimes it's just a loose gas cap and sometimes it's something serious.
 
In general if the code isn't flashing the check engine light, you can ignore them for a while, but I'm sure some minor things can become bigger issues over time.
My focus throws a light for P2274 every couple weeks, then it shuts it off its self after a couple days. I've got a small leak in the exhaust flex pipe which has got the second cat running lean. If I was keeping the car long term I would put a new flex pipe on, but its days are numbered, so I'm not unless it becomes a bigger leak.
 
MasterSolenoid said:
Then, he went to who I suggested (they are very good at diagnostic work).
All was fine, but eventually the CEL came back ON.
Click to expand...
These very good diagnosticians, got bro to "fine" then the light eventually came back ON?

Talk about an unsatisfying story!
How much time was "eventually"?
He didn't go back to them?
You jumped away from the situation? I'm not guilt tripping you. It just sounds like some details are missing.

My SIL ignored the clicking caused by being down 3 qt. oil (4 qt. w/filter change)....Was there a CEL on her '95 Saturn?
 
I can see ignoring the CEL, but what I can't understand is ignoring it, while not knowing what the code(s) is. There's no excuse for that when you can get your own code reader for as little as $20.
 
Kira said:
These very good diagnosticians, got bro to "fine" then the light eventually came back ON?

Talk about an unsatisfying story!
How much time was "eventually"
Click to expand...
Yes .... CEL came back ON after 3 months.
Kira said:
He didn't go back to them?
Click to expand...
No, he doesn't want to spend any more money.
After the 'good' diagnosticians worked on it, various other codes were showing up (3 months later)
So, Yes, he should have gone back.

You jumped away from the situation? I'm not guilt tripping you. It just sounds like some details are missing.
Several times he went to his own mechanic 'first' and was told-
-There is fuzz on the MAF sensor
-A ground wire was broken
-The porcelin on plug 3 was cracked.

My brother is overdue for a plug change but was satisfied when only one was changed (doesn't want to spend the money)
That's OK, I don't feel quilty / I offered him advise (take it to mechanic .... again) and he ignored it (doesn't want to spend the money)
Kira said:
My SIL ignored the clicking caused by being down 3 qt. oil (4 qt. w/filter change)....Was there a CEL on her '95 Saturn?
Click to expand...

Kira said:
These very good diagnosticians, got bro to "fine" then the light eventually came back ON?

Talk about an unsatisfying story!
How much time was "eventually"?
He didn't go back to them?
You jumped away from the situation? I'm not guilt tripping you. It just sounds like some details are missing.

My SIL ignored the clicking caused by being down 3 qt. oil (4 qt. w/filter change)....Was there a CEL on her '95 Saturn?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
I have been ignoring the CEL in my Corvette for the past few years because it only pops up about once or twice a year and I know exactly why. It’s for a faulty transmission temperature sensor. My transmission temperature on the dash never shows it going above 150F and that’s a common issue with the C7 Vettes. But it’s a bit of an expensive fix and I’m out of warranty so I just ignore the light when it pops up because it always goes away after about ten restarts and then it might not come back for six months. It hasn’t triggered yet this year.
 
Mine has been on since 2020 for oxygen sensors. Problem is the car is from New York and really rusty and the oxygen sensors just round off when I try and take them out. So I don’t want to spend the money on a new exhaust with 230,000 so I’m just going to ride it. I mean yeah gas mileage suffers but it’s more pain than it’s worth to replace the exhaust.
 
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