So, I was cleaning the TB today and completely forgot to plug in the MAF harness and fired up the car. It ran for a minute or so and stalled. I had to tighten the MAF section with that bolt and that's when I realized my mistake. I promptly plgged in the MAF connector, tightened everything and fired up the car. As expected, the CEL stayed ON.

I need to drive the car about 75 mile one way tomorrow morning. Is it OK to drive like that? A buddy of mine has the code scanner with the reset button but I can get that only on Tuesday.

I called AutoZones around me. First one said they are not allowed to reset the CEL. The second dude said the light should go OFF in a couple of days.

I know I can unplug the battery and all but I wanted to know if there is a problem with driving the car when the CEL got tripped due to MAF sensor being disconnectred and whether the light indeed goes OFF eventually if it discovers the working MAF sensor.

 

you'll be fine.

 

you can reset it by turning the screw on your ECU. Check the stickies.

 

Yes. I know. But I have never opened that panel to get to the ECU. And the pastic tabs that hold the panel in place do not have any screw like things to open that panel up. Worst case, I will do it but if there is no problem driving it, I can wait and just reset the light the easy way.

Besides mine is a 99 purchased in early 99. Lord only knows what 2000 parts are in it.

So, if the light will go away on its own, I am OK. If I cand rive the 150 or so miles without issues I am fine and then I can get it reset on Tuesday if it doesn't go away on its own.

 

the tabs pop out and for a 99 you need a mini phillips (like one you use to fix computers) instead of a flathead.

 

yea you just need a flat head screw driver to pop off those tabs holding the plastic piece over the ecu, or you can just pull on the plastic piece and it should just pull off

 

Eh i idled my car without the MAF plugged in...CEL came on, i plugged the MAF back in and the CEL turned off after a few days i think. Might of been a few hours or a few days, it was a long time ago. Either way, you'll be ok.

 

I hav e never had a problem at my autozone they actually give you the OBDII scanner and you go to your car and do it yourself.

 

That's what I did today.

The place I had to drive has a autozone right next to it in Hickory, NC. The drive up was a bit sluggish with the CEL ON. Since I saw the autozone right there, I stopped by and asked to borrow the OBD II Scanner. The older guy just gave it to me. Here in Charlotte, they bring the device out and scan your car for you (I remember them saying some one ran away with one so they now don't give it). Code was P0100 and I reset it. It hasn't come on and the ride back was a lot smoother and fun. (the sulggishness in the drive up and smoothness on the way back might just have been psycological )

Just got back. Thanks for your help guys.

 

if the ecu thinks something is still wrong its not going to make things worse by trying to run normally. least thats how it is with the knock sensor, and the retarded timing

 

The light will turn off after ~60miles of driving, dont worry. You can reset the ECU but just drive it as it is. If its just the KS the CEL will turn off. Done it a couple of times and measured the distance for the ECU to register the new changes.

 

^^^^^ It might be more than 60 miels...but yea after u have corrected the issues the ECU will reset itself