After replacing my thermostat (3.1L V6), the CEL came on when starting the car to return home from work (got there 20 miles away with no indicator light). The only thing I can think of to cause it was I broke off a fitting on the idle air control valve. I repaired it and it should not leak vacuum. Runs fine. However, the CEL light has not gone off and I have driven 15 miles over a couple of days. Will it eventually sense the problem is corrected and go out by itself, or do I need to reset it?

I have not had the code read because none of the parts stores will do it here in California, including AutoZone.

 

Well here I am answering my own post but I was just reading my Hanes manual and it says to cut battery power to the Powertrain Control Module anytime a CEL condition has been fixed. I'll do that and see what happens when I drive to work tomorrow. I just had a transmission problem on my 2001 Volvo and when fixed, it eventually sensed it and reset the code - I guess the Malibu is different.

 

The CEL did not go off at all, and is still on after driving to work.[sm=smiley13.gif]

 

Try taking the battery cables off....touch them together for about 15seconds and re-install them....

 

I read on another forum to take off the cables for 30 minutes. I took them off before going to dinner and when I came back - viola! Code is erased! Thanks for your help.

 

either will work. The reason being is that their are capacitors in the electronics of the vehicle that store a charge. They naturally deplete over a little while(30mins). But if you take the cables and touch them together, they deplete instantly