No matter what type of Pontiac vehicle you drive, at some point you’re going to go through a situation where the check engine light comes on and will require the error code to be cleared. These codes are activated when your Pontiac’s computer detects a mechanical problem with the car that causes the check engine light to come on. Once the problem is fixed, the code will have to be cleared for the check engine light to turn off. The process is the same regardless of the year, make or model of the Pontiac you drive.
Open the hood and familiarize yourself with the components under it.
Look for the battery, which will be in different places depending on the specific year and model. The battery is usually located in one of the corners of the engine compartment. It will be a square box with two wires connected to it. If you can’t visually locate the battery, consult your owner’s manual for its specific location.
Use the wrench to disconnect the negative battery clamp. It will be connected to a black cable, and the metal terminal coming off the battery will be marked by a minus sign.
Wait a minute with the negative battery clamp disconnected.
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Insert the key into the Pontiac’s ignition, and turn it on. Look at the instrument panel on the dashboard to confirm that the engine light has gone out.
Tips
If you don’t have time or don’t feel confident working around the battery, you can have the code cleared with a scan tool, either an OBD-1 or OBD-2, depending on the year of your Pontiac. Most auto parts stores have these scan tools and will erase the codes for you, free of charge. When you are working on the battery, and you notice a blue, green or white powdery substance on the battery terminals, use a wire brush to clean it off. This substance is corrosion and can restrict the flow of electricity from the battery to your vehicle. If after disconnecting and reconnecting the negative battery clamp the check engine light is still on when you start the Pontiac, it means the codes were not erased from the computer. Disconnect the battery again and wait 5 minutes before reconnecting the clamp. The extra time will be enough to clear the engine codes.
Warnings
Never attempt to disconnect the battery while it is running, as this can damage the electrical system. Never let the positive and negative battery clamps touch each other, as this can cause an electrical spark.