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Resetting dash warning lights

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Sandberm:
Rather then write out a novel I will make a short first post asking a question and then expand if necessary in subsequent posts.

If I disconnect the negative and positive battery cables from the battery and touch them together will it reset the dash warning lights? I've heard what this does is discharge capacitors.

Will doing this do damage?

CP:
That probably won't hurt anything. 

Accomplish the same thing by disconnecting the negative terminal.  Wait 10 minutes then reconnect. 

Or use a code reader to reset everything.

Smokeploe:
If you don’t have a code reader with a reset, use this procedure  disconnect the negative battery cable then turn on your headlights for 10 minutes, turn off headlights then connect cable to battery. Next start your engine let engine run for 10-15 minutes before driving, this resets the sensors and computer. While waiting you will need to reset your radio for your stations. 

Smokeploe

Sandberm:
Thanks for the response CP. I might as well get to writing that novel i mentioned  :chuckle:

I have heard how important it is for newer vehicles to have a good battery in them to keep all the various electrical do dads running smoothly.

So last February when it was about 7 degrees out i went to start my 2010 4wd Chevy Colorado after not driving it for a week. It cranked over slowly once and then fired up and ran fine but I knew it was time for a new battery as my 6 year battery was now at 7.5 years of life and i had gotten my monies worth.

But....after it fired up in that 7 degree weather after a slow crank, the ABS light, Traction control light and Stabilitrac light were on and stayed on for the duration of that mornings short drive. I got a new battery later that day but the lights were still on. I drove it for a day but they never went off.

By the way, there are NO CODES, never has been since this happened in February.

I then unhooked the negative battery cable and left it disconnected over night. Lights are still on. Later on I unhooked the negative cable and pulled some related fuses and left them out over night. Lights are still on.

I used a multi meter to check ALL the fuses and they are good.

I pulled both front wheel speed sensors out and cleaned them and put them back in. Lights are still on.

I have heard, though not confirmed that what is needed is a fancy(expensive) GM code reader to reset the lights OR to even diagnose these specific problems.

My older brother suggested connecting the positive and negative cables(after unhooking from the battery of course) and leaving them connected and that would drain the little batteries in the various computer modules and it would reset things but he cautioned me to look into it before  doing that as he wasn't sure about it.

Vehicle drives fine by the way but at only 123k miles I hate to start ignoring things but i really dont want to spend any money either if I can help it. I figured if i reset the lights and they came back on a couple days later then i really do have a problem, not just that it was coincidental with having a nearly dead battery.

baldopepper:
Just get a code reader or take it by auto zone and use theirs for free.  Code readers are cheap to buy.  I always have one in my truck because those warnings like to come on when I'm out in the bush. Nice to know if it's something serious or one of those no big deal warnings. Easy to erase with a reader.

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