First of all, I know what I did was stupid, so please don't remind me on that front.

In the course of doing some other stuff, I disconnected the 3 and 4 spark plug wires. I finished the other stuff, then started the car with the wires disconnected. Not surprisingly, the engine ran rough. I tried revving the engine to solve the problem, then finally discovered the disconnected wires.

I reconnected the wires, and now everything feels fine. Still, the SES light won't go off. It was flashing when the wires were disconnected, and now it is solid on at all times.

Might I have caused some sort of permanent problem here, or is there something I can do to reset the light? I figure that if there is not really anything wrong, then resetting it won't hurt anything, as the light will just come on again if something really is wrong.

Could I have caused a real problem with my stupidity, or is there a reset option that will let me live to be stupid another day?

 

Should be no harm done. Get an OBD scan tool, or go to Autozone, and the code can be cleared.
I just did the same thing, on purpose, to see if the SES was functional.

 

What do I need to do to clear the code?

 

One of these will do it, they pretty much pay for themselves, you can get more sophisticated one's but this will do the basic job and will clear your SES light:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Enhan...25711482QQrdZ1

 

^^ What he said. Or, if you aren't into spending the money right now, Autozone provides the service free of charge (except in CA, so I'm told).

 

First, thank you both for providing quick and inexpensive solutions to my problem.

But second, d#mN you Ovrezee for exposing me to a whole new world of toys I got along without just fine until now, but which I clearly must spend the rest of a lovely Sunday researching and buying. Sure, I could just buy the one you suggested from the vendor with a spotless rep at a good price, but hey, he has some other more expensive models too. Or, I could pay 4 times as much at Autozone and have my new toy today. And that's not to mention the possibility of finding another eBay vendor who will sell me something similar for $1.37 less if I am willing to accept a slightly lower seller rating.

I think I need a new signature line: "Hello, my name is Phil and I'm addicted to toys..."

 

Welcome to the addiction

 

Merely my latest addiction. I just placed a bid on a 'professional' version for $13 more. Not only does it read codes, but it slices and dices as well. Who knows, I may already have won...

 

I hear you! I'm the same way, as mentioned there are models that do more! I actually purchased this model a couple years ago: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GS400...spagenameZWDVW

What I like about this one is it gives you the actual definitions on the reader you don't have to look up the codes in a manual. I appreciate that in the USA you have Autozone and it's free but no such luck here so a visit anywhere to get the code spilled is $75 = no brainer, good luck in your search. Just make sure it's "CAN" compliant so you can use it in the future on (post 2008) vehicles.

 

What do you mean, make sure its CAN compliant? If I do that, I won't have to shop for a new one when I get a new car. It seems to me you don't really know how to plan ahead. If you choose one that will have to be replaced later, then later you can get one with even more bells and whistles with a clear conscience.

 

Did you win your reader?? I just bought one today for $99--though I saw that Amazon had it for $88 and free shipping. Innova 3100a. Of course their website shows the current model is 3100c. But I bought mine knowing that it was upgradable using the included USB cable so it wouldn't get obsolete as fast.

I like mine a lot--gives me all the info I need without having to look anything up. It just doesn't do ABS or Airbag codes--more money could have solved that, but I wasn't interested.

Richard

 

Yup, won the auction, and it shipped quickly. In the meantime, I had to take the car to Lucky Dog Garage for a bunch of other stuff, and so they reset the SES light, and the OBD scan tool is still in the nuclear blast resistant plastic packaging. Hate that stuff...