Both my wife and I had cars where the check engine light came on with no discernable cause and repeatably did so. The sometimes draconian Massachusetts annual inspections do not consider check engine lights to be disqualifying if that gives you any comfort.
We have emissions tests, but the check engine light being on is an automatic failure.
I have never had to undergo an emissions test in Wisconsin. I’ve lived here since 1989. Maybe in the larger cities you do?
Wow, I never new that, but, yup, you’re right.
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/vehicles/im.htm
And I never knew that there are some places in WI that have to undergo that. I know MN does - I went with my Mom once when she had to get hers done.
My car’s check engine light has been on since shortly after I bought the thing, five years ago. I’ve had four different mechanics check it out at various points over the years (Five, if you count the one who wanted to charge me $180 just to run the diagnostic computer check. He never actually touched the car, though.) and none of them have ever found anything amiss. Kinda defeats the purpose of the thing if it’s always on and consistently ignored.
I’m good friends with my mechanic and have always been very, very good about keeping up with routine maintenance and regular service checks. It runs as nicely as it did the day it drove off the lot and couldn’t be in better shape. Who knows?
Honda, too. I have to tighten the cap until it “clicks” three times.
My light will go on for scheduled maintenance, as others have said. I take it to the dealer for those check ups, so I don’t know if regular mechanics can make hte light go off after a check up.
Since OBDII is a standard, anyone should be able to turn it off. Including yourself if you buy a OBDII scanner. But I wouldn’t recommend turing it off unless you know what you’re doing.
That’s good to know- thanks! I wouldn’t turn it off myself because I thought it was just time for a check up- I’m sure that would be a karmic signal for my engine to explode. 