No Check Engine Light on Startup – Bad? What to Do?

When you are starting your car, there are a few things that you expect to happen. On startup, you should expect the dashboard to light up with all manner of warning and informative lights momentarily. The check engine light is one of the lights that illuminate for a moment before going off as the engine starts running.

Check engine light highlights

• Common reasons:vast choice of different problems
• How to fix:read the codes to narrow down the issue
• Possible consequences:depends on the actual culprit
• Priority level:Medium
• Can you drive?Carefully
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$150-$1,000

Check engine light (CEL) at startup

The check engine light will turn on whenever you are starting the car. The CEL will stay on for a few seconds before turning off. We are used to seeing the CEL on, and only then do we know the vehicle has an issue affecting the engine and other related parts or systems. Rarely will a lack of CEL cause alarm for most drivers. Few drivers will notice a blank CEL on startup the minute it happens for the first time.

When the check engine light remains illuminated even on startup, it is time to consider checking what's wrong with the engine. The same case goes for the oil level and pressure or the ABS. When you start the engine, there is some sort of roll call on all the car parts and systems. When a car system or part has been checked to be working fine, its corresponding message or light goes off on the instrument cluster.

It is imperative that the CEL shows on startup because, as mentioned above, this is an indicator that the engine is being checked. When the CEL doesn't show, you can't tell whether the engine is working fine or not. It is for this reason that this light should appear on startup.

No check engine light on startup

When you start your vehicle, you might notice the check engine light has not illuminated as it normally does. This is not a common problem, and even its failure to appear may not alarm many drivers. However, it should be a cause for concern because it can mean the engine is faulty or something is not working as it should with the car.

Is it a bad thing when the CEL doesn't appear on startup?

We have seen that failure for the CEL to appear on startup is not a good thing. The first thing that should pop into your mind is whether your car will pass the air emission test. During this test, the CEL must be working as expected; that is, it must light up on ignition and go away after a few seconds. Failure for this light to behave this way means you will be fined heavily. It is incredibly important to have the CEL working before you take your car for this test.

The other reason why you should be concerned when the CEL doesn't work on start is because something might be wrong with the car, which is preventing the light from turning on. The instrument cluster might be faulty, or the ECM. It could also be that the vehicle wiring is faulty, hence making the CEL not appear.

Ignoring this light could mean you won't know when the engine is malfunctioning. While it might appear a simple thing, you might end up with a huge mechanic bill because you might not have been warned of an overheating engine or faulty ignition coils.

Possible reasons for no CEL on startup and how to fix them

When the CEL is a no-show during startup, you should be open to several possible causes. Some of the causes are manmade, while others happen naturally. Depending on the cause of the issue, it should be easy to find the ideal solution.

1) Unscrupulous used car sellers tampering with CEL

If you recently bought a used car and can't locate the check engine light even during startup, you should be very worried. Unbelievable as it might be, some used car sellers disassemble the instrument cluster and disconnect some warning lights so that the driver is no longer able to see such warning lights when a related part or system malfunctions. In the case of the CEL, the bulb is painted matt black. It becomes nearly impossible to detect anything fishy with the instrument cluster. 

If you are not keen, you might be driving a vehicle that doesn't show the CEL even though the light is on the whole time. You will be in for a rude shock when you take your vehicle for an air emission test where the CEL is supposed to be operational. Besides, failing to pass the test, you will be fined heavily, and you may have a junk car in your hands.

Solution

While it is easy to assume that every car owner takes good care of their cars, you must also appreciate the fact that many people neglect their cars. When a serious part breaks down, and the mechanic bill proves to be astronomical, the owner opts to dispose of the car to unsuspecting buyers-what better way to conceal the problem than painting the annoying CEL. When buying a used car, ensure that the CEL lights up on startup and goes away when the engine starts running.

2) A faulty instrument cluster

Some who have encountered this problem discovered the instrument cluster to be the one malfunctioning. There are numerous soldering points on the instrument cluster which can become loose and which have been seen to cause the board to malfunction. Among the lights whose soldering point can become loose is that one going to the CEL.

Solution

If you are very good at soldering and understanding how the instrument cluster works, then you can give repair a try. In most cases, though, where the instrument cluster has been discovered to be faulty, the solution has been to replace it. The price can be anything from $200 to $1,000 or more.

3) Connectivity issue

The connection between the instrument cluster and the ECM is by a wire. At the cluster, there is a connector which can malfunction. There is also a connector at the ECM that connects the wire running to the cluster. If one of the connectors is faulty or if the wiring between the two is corroded or deformed in some way, you may end up without a CEL on startup.

To confirm the right connector that goes into the ECM from the instrument cluster, you may need to peruse the service manual of your car. In most cases, the wiring going out of the ECM to the instrument cluster is one. Sometimes, a soldering joint in the connector might be the one causing all the trouble.

Solution

The answer to our problem will be found in repairing or replacing the affected connector or wiring. In most cases, you only need to buy the cable with connectors that run from the ECM to the instrument cluster. It is unlikely the problem is with the ECM because a faulty ECM comes with all manner of symptoms, including stalling and the engine not starting.

4) Burned out bulb

A good number of car owners faced with this issue have found the problem to be a blown bulb. The bulb lighting up the CEL symbol on the instrument cluster can burn. This would mean the engine outline will not show even when the engine malfunctions.

The connection to the bulb on the instrument cluster board has been made using solder. This then means it might not be simple to establish whether the bulb is the one at fault or not. However, the part that might prove challenging for you is removing the dashboard and the instrument cluster to have access to the bulb.

Solution

The answer to this issue is to replace the bulb. The cost of the bulb is small, and replacing it should not cost you a lot either. Where you are unsure how to remove and put back the dashboard and the instrument cluster, it would be advisable to engage the services of a professional mechanic.

Conclusion

While it is not extremely alarming to find that there is no CEL on startup, it is still of great concern, and you should address the issue as soon as possible. When you discover the CEL is off on startup, you should imagine that if the engine were to malfunction, there would be no way of knowing. In addition to this, your vehicle does not meet the emission test requirement when it's in this state.

Whenever you realize you have this problem, the first thing to do is look for the root cause. Proper diagnosis will save you money and time. Start the diagnostics from the simplest going to the toughest. While running the diagnostics, it is imperative to note that the ECM may fail to record any trouble codes.