Tonight I took my '02 Wrangler with 48,000 miles up for a gas fill and a wash and the check engine light came on. Any ideas on where to start without having to take it to a mechanic? I have some mechanical abilities, but I do not have a diognostics machine! Last night I took the radiator cap off just to check the fluid, but that is the only thing that I have done in the 3 weeks that I have owned it, but i would assume that the cap has nothing to do with it, but maybe Iam wrong. Thanks for your time, Scooby

I'd just take it to an Auto Zone and have them scan your computer to see whats up. These guys here will be able to tell you what to do and what it all means. They are jeep gods!!

Take off your gas cap and put it back on. Sometimes that clears the check engine light.

Ditto on the gas cap. The CEL will illuminate if the engine is running with the gas cap off or if it's not on tight. The CEL can take a while to shut itself off if you don't reset it yourself by disconnecting the battery for 2-3 minuts. You can also display your own codes by quickly turning the ignition key On-Off-On three times within five seconds. Within 5-10 seconds after doing that, any stored codes will start showing up in the Odometer display.

I disconnected the battery for about 5 minutes and all seems to be good again. Thanks, I really appreciate the info. Scooby

Hey man-

If you ever want to check the codes on your 02, you can put the key in the ignition and turn it from the "off" position to the "on" position 3 times in a row and then the codes will pop up on the LCD mileage readout. You can write them down and then do an internet search for OBD Codes Jeep Wrangler and you will find them on a webpage somewhere and it'll tell you what's wrong. I have an 02 Wrangler also and my check engine light has been going on and off since I bought it last year and I have had no real problems with it. I don't really believe in those lights. They monitor the emissions control, for the most part.