Has Your Jeep Wrangler Check Engine Light Come On?

So you're Jeep Wrangler check engine light just came on, now what? Nothing can ruin your day faster than looking down at your gauges and noticing something is wrong.

If you’re like I used to be, about now you can feel the dollars flying out of your wallet. Something somewhere is not functioning properly. The problem now is to figure out the cause. Back in the day you had two choices. First, you could start throwing parts at what you thought might be the cause. Second, you could take it to a shop for an expensive diagnosis.

Fortunately for us those days are long gone. In the last few years several manufacturers have brought to the market inexpensive and effective engine trouble code readers. Retailers, like NAPA, Harbor Freight , and Sears to name a few, offer effective code readers for around $100. Of course, this type of inexpensive scanner can't compare with a Snap-On or Mac variety - nonetheless they work and they work well.

What a code reader does is read and clear trouble codes. Any OBD2 scanner will read engine codes for all 1996 or newer vehicles. The whole process is quite simple.

So your Jeep Wrangler check engine light is on. First, you need to locate your Wrangler’s OBD2 plug. You will find the plug just under the dash to the left of the driver’s knee. Plug in your code reader and follow the simple step-by-step instructions.

Once you use the reader to scan your Jeep’s computer it will return one of several possible trouble codes, specifically it will identify the system that is not functioning properly. Some scanners give more detailed information than others, however, most will provide you with the manufacturer’s trouble code to help you diagnose the problem.

Armed with the exact trouble you will be able to isolate the problem. With a little time on the web you can research the offending code to narrow down the malfunctioning system.

Unfortunately, inexpensive code readers won’t always point you to the exact part that needs replacing, however, it will help you to identify which system is malfunctioning and causing your Jeep Wrangler check engine light to come on.

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