I picked up my new new to my Dakota last night, I am so excited. I now have a truck that I want to keep driving instead hurry and get there so I can get out of it...

The check engine light came on on my way to work this morning, It was on when I test drove it and I asked about it. The dealrship told me it was because the gas cap wasent on correctly. They filled up the tank last night before I took it so I was wondering if it was a gas cap so I took it off and put it back on. If thats it with the light go off by itself?

also where is the plug for the scan tool to check the cods?

 

Yeah the gas cap is possibly throwing the MIL light. From my understanding, as long as you correctedthe gas cap and thenthreegood trips of the monitoring system, the light should go out. The plug for the scan tool is to the right of your hood release. I pasted a section from the repair manual that explains the MIL and how it works an such.

MIL Illumination

The PCM Task Manager carries out the illumination of the MIL. The Task Manager triggers MIL illumination upon

test failure, depending on monitor failure criteria.

The Task Manager Screen shows both a Requested MIL state and an Actual MIL state. When the MIL is illuminated

upon completion of a test for a third trip, the Requested MIL state changes to OFF. However, the MIL remains

illuminated until the next key cycle. (On some vehicles, the MIL will actually turn OFF during the third key cycle)

During the key cycle for the third good trip, the Requested MIL state is OFF, while the Actual MILL state is ON. After

the next key cycle, the MIL is not illuminated and both MIL states read OFF.

Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs)

With OBD II, different DTC faults have different priorities according to regulations. As a result, the priorities determine

MIL illumination and DTC erasure. DTCs are entered according to individual priority. DTCs with a higher priority

overwrite lower priority DTCs.

Priorities

²

²

²

²

fault.

²

misfire.

Non-emissions related failures have no priority. One trip failures of two trip faults have low priority. Two trip failures

or matured faults have higher priority. One and two trip failures of fuel system and misfire monitor take precedence

over non-fuel system and non-misfire failures.

DTC Self Erasure

With one trip components or systems, the MIL is illuminated upon test failure and DTCs are stored.

first test, the Task Manager enters a maturing code. If the component fails the test for a second time the code

matures and a DTC is set.

After three good trips the MIL is extinguished and the Task Manager automatically switches the trip counter to a

warm-up cycle counter. DTCs are automatically erased following 40 warm-up cycles if the component does not fail

again.

For misfire and fuel system monitors, the component must pass the test under a Similar Conditions Window in order

to record a good trip. A Similar Conditions Window is when engine RPM is within ±375 RPM and load is within

±10% of when the fault occurred.

NOTE: It is important to understand that a component does not have to fail under a similar window of operation

to mature. It must pass the test under a Similar Conditions Window when it failed to record a Good Trip for DTC erasure for misfire and fuel system monitors.

DTCs can be erased anytime with a DRB III. Erasing the DTC with the DRB III erases all OBD II information. The

DRB III automatically displays a warning that erasing the DTC will also erase all OBD II monitor data. This includes

all counter information for warm-up cycles, trips and Freeze Frame.

Trip Indicator

The

operating conditions that must be met for a specific monitor to run. All trips begin with a key cycle.

Good Trip

The Good Trip counters are as follows:

²

²

²

²

²

²

²

Specific Good Trip

The term Good Trip has different meanings depending on the circumstances:

²

completed in the same drive cycle.

²

vehicle must be operated in the Similar Condition Window for a specified amount of time.

²

Sensor Monitor, Catalyst Monitor, Purge Flow Monitor, Leak Detection Pump Monitor, EGR Monitor or

Oxygen Sensor Heater Monitor), a good trip is when the monitor is passed on the next start-up.

²

Oxygen Sensor Monitor and Catalyst Monitor have been completed, or two minutes of engine run time if the

Oxygen Sensor Monitor and Catalyst Monitor have been stopped from running.

Fuel System Good Trip

To count a good trip (three required) and turn off the MIL, the following conditions must occur:

²

²

²

²

If all of the previous criteria are met, the PCM will count a good trip (three required) and turn off the MIL.

Misfire Good Trip

If the following conditions are met the PCM will count one good trip (three required) in order to turn off the MIL:

²

²

Warm-Up Cycles

Once the MIL has been extinguished by the Good Trip Counter, the PCM automatically switches to a Warm-Up

Cycle Counter that can be viewed on the DRB III. Warm-Up Cycles are used to erase DTCs and Freeze Frames.

Forty Warm-Up cycles must occur in order for the PCM to self-erase a DTC and Freeze Frame. A Warm-Up Cycle

is defined as follows:

²

²

²

 

There is the links to the service manual and parts catalog, hope this helps also. I would recommend saving them to your computer.

 

thanks for the info files saved.....

 

No problem