Accidentally cleared cel without getting the code - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

jiffyjhn · 07-11-2021, 01:00 AM

Hi all. Got a check engine light when I started my frs today.
I got my OFT to read the cel code. I think I might have accidentally mis-pressed buttons and cleared the code before I had a chance to remember and check the code(I can’t be sure I cleared it because it was bright outside and the oft screen was hard to see).

I then retightened the gas cap. And turned the car on again the cel light was off.
I tried to pull the code again from OFT. And there was no code.

I have a few questions related to the clearing of code.

1. If the problem is resolved(ie. gas cap loose). Does the cel go away by itself without manually clearing codes?

2. If a code is cleared does the CEL come back on if problem persists?

3. Is it still possible to Read the code after the CEL has been cleared(ie does the ecu keep a log of codes somewhere?

Thanks in advance!

soundman98 · 07-11-2021, 02:05 AM

I wouldn't worry about it unless it pops up again. Sounds emission/gas cap related, as you don't mention any drivability issues.

Normally for me at least, if there's something seriously wrong, I'll hear it in the engine note before it pops a code.

jiffyjhn · 07-11-2021, 03:12 AM

Not sure about drivability issues as I didn’t drive it since I was worried It might be something serious. I will drive it around tomorrow and see if I notice anything is off.
Hopefully it was just gas cap. The previous day when I filled e85 I gave the gas cap an extra twist after I heard the click. I wonder if that somehow caused the cel to come on.

jiffyjhn · 07-11-2021, 03:16 AM

Also Lasy night I was chasing a Evora in the back roads and pushed the car hard. Hope it’s not something serious.

soundman98 · 07-11-2021, 10:31 AM

i doubt it. computers aren't that smart.

bcj · 07-11-2021, 03:01 PM

If it's a serious issue, it will be back and you can check it then.

"Cosmic rays man"

murdoc · 07-11-2021, 04:17 PM

Which tune are you running and what mods does the engine have?

PetrolioBenzina · 07-11-2021, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murdoc

Which tune are you running and what mods does the engine have?

Curious as well. Why is a random CEL causing OP to assume his car is dead?

humfrz · 07-12-2021, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiffyjhn

Hi all. Got a check engine light when I started my frs today.
I got my OFT to read the cel code. I think I might have accidentally mis-pressed buttons and cleared the code before I had a chance to remember and check the code(I can’t be sure I cleared it because it was bright outside and the oft screen was hard to see).

I then retightened the gas cap. And turned the car on again the cel light was off.
I tried to pull the code again from OFT. And there was no code.

I have a few questions related to the clearing of code.

1. If the problem is resolved(ie. gas cap loose). Does the cel go away by itself without manually clearing codes?

2. If a code is cleared does the CEL come back on if problem persists?

3. Is it still possible to Read the code after the CEL has been cleared(ie does the ecu keep a log of codes somewhere?

Thanks in advance!

1. sometimes
2. sometimes
3. sometimes

That's all I know about it -

PS - if the CEL doesn't come back, I wouldn't worry about it -

humfrz · 07-12-2021, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiffyjhn

Also Lasy night I was chasing a Evora in the back roads and pushed the car hard. Hope it’s not something serious.

seeeeee...... your car threw you a code to caution you bout road racing ..... on public reads ...... at night!

Sasquachulator · 07-12-2021, 03:23 PM

the cel came on one time in my BMW and i suspected it was the gas cap since it came on after i filled it with gas.
I retightened it and then just ignored the CEL and eventually it went away on its own. I couldnt tell you how long it took before it went away cuz it took awhile.

jiffyjhn · 07-16-2021, 02:19 PM

Thanks for replies. Car is fine. I drove it around last week and CEL never came back. All data looks normal.

I'm running OFT Stage 2 E85 with catless headers

jiffyjhn · 07-16-2021, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

seeeeee...... your car threw you a code to caution you bout road racing ..... on public reads ...... at night!

No cyclists at night

07-11-2021, 01:00 AM	#1
jiffyjhn Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: White FR-S kosei k4r 17x8 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 47 Thanks: 14 Thanked 26 Times in 15 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Accidentally cleared cel without getting the code Hi all. Got a check engine light when I started my frs today. I got my OFT to read the cel code. I think I might have accidentally mis-pressed buttons and cleared the code before I had a chance to remember and check the code(I can’t be sure I cleared it because it was bright outside and the oft screen was hard to see). I then retightened the gas cap. And turned the car on again the cel light was off. I tried to pull the code again from OFT. And there was no code. I have a few questions related to the clearing of code. 1. If the problem is resolved(ie. gas cap loose). Does the cel go away by itself without manually clearing codes? 2. If a code is cleared does the CEL come back on if problem persists? 3. Is it still possible to Read the code after the CEL has been cleared(ie does the ecu keep a log of codes somewhere? Thanks in advance!

07-11-2021, 02:05 AM	#2
soundman98 ProCrastinationConsultant Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: '14 Ranger, '18 Tacoma 4Dr LB Location: chicago-ish Posts: 11,330 Thanks: 35,240 Thanked 13,673 Times in 6,781 Posts Mentioned: 98 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I wouldn't worry about it unless it pops up again. Sounds emission/gas cap related, as you don't mention any drivability issues. Normally for me at least, if there's something seriously wrong, I'll hear it in the engine note before it pops a code. __________________ "The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time"

07-11-2021, 10:31 AM	#5
soundman98 ProCrastinationConsultant Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: '14 Ranger, '18 Tacoma 4Dr LB Location: chicago-ish Posts: 11,330 Thanks: 35,240 Thanked 13,673 Times in 6,781 Posts Mentioned: 98 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	i doubt it. computers aren't that smart. __________________ "The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time"

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07-11-2021, 03:12 AM	#3
jiffyjhn Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: White FR-S kosei k4r 17x8 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 47 Thanks: 14 Thanked 26 Times in 15 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Not sure about drivability issues as I didn’t drive it since I was worried It might be something serious. I will drive it around tomorrow and see if I notice anything is off. Hopefully it was just gas cap. The previous day when I filled e85 I gave the gas cap an extra twist after I heard the click. I wonder if that somehow caused the cel to come on.

07-11-2021, 03:16 AM	#4
jiffyjhn Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: White FR-S kosei k4r 17x8 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 47 Thanks: 14 Thanked 26 Times in 15 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Also Lasy night I was chasing a Evora in the back roads and pushed the car hard. Hope it’s not something serious.

07-11-2021, 04:17 PM	#7
murdoc Sometimes I'm wrong. Join Date: Mar 2013 Drives: '13 FR-S/'96 240SX Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 366 Thanks: 91 Thanked 316 Times in 152 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Which tune are you running and what mods does the engine have?

07-12-2021, 03:23 PM	#11
Sasquachulator Pavement Grey Join Date: Dec 2011 Drives: 2020 Toyota 86 GT, 2017 BMW X1 Location: Calgary Posts: 3,084 Thanks: 109 Thanked 2,222 Times in 1,204 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	the cel came on one time in my BMW and i suspected it was the gas cap since it came on after i filled it with gas. I retightened it and then just ignored the CEL and eventually it went away on its own. I couldnt tell you how long it took before it went away cuz it took awhile.

07-16-2021, 02:19 PM	#12
jiffyjhn Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: White FR-S kosei k4r 17x8 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 47 Thanks: 14 Thanked 26 Times in 15 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Thanks for replies. Car is fine. I drove it around last week and CEL never came back. All data looks normal. I'm running OFT Stage 2 E85 with catless headers

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