How to Reset the Check Engine Light on a Dodge Charger
The short answer
To reset the check engine light on a Dodge Charger, read the stored trouble code with an OBD-II scan tool, repair whatever caused it, and then clear the code with the same tool. If the fault is fixed and you do not clear it manually, the light will often turn off by itself after the car completes several normal drive cycles without the fault reappearing. Clearing the light without fixing the cause only hides the warning. If the fault is still present, the light will come back.
This guide covers general OBD-II behavior that applies to Chargers sold with on-board diagnostics. No procedure specific to a model year, generation, engine or market was available for this article. Details such as the exact number of drive cycles before the light self-clears, or any dashboard-based code display, can vary. Check the owner's manual or a service source for your particular car.
Ways to clear the light
Use an OBD-II scan tool (recommended): Plug it into the diagnostic port under the dashboard on the driver's side, turn the ignition on, read and record the code, make the repair, then use the tool's clear or erase function. Let it self-clear: Once the underlying problem is corrected, the engine computer rechecks the system as you drive. If the fault does not return over several consecutive drive cycles, the light typically switches off on its own. The stored code may stay in memory as history for a while. Check the fuel cap first: A loose, damaged or missing cap can set an evaporative emissions (EVAP) code. Tightening or replacing it may let the light go out after some driving, but it will not turn off immediately. Disconnect the battery (last resort): On many vehicles this erases stored codes. It can also reset radio, clock and other stored settings. How reliably it clears codes on a particular Charger was not documented in the material available here, so a scan tool is the more predictable method.
What to know before you clear it
Write down the code before erasing it. Once it is cleared, you lose the clue to what went wrong, and a technician has less to work with if the light returns.
Clearing codes also resets the car's readiness monitors. These are self-tests the computer runs on emissions-related systems. Until enough driving has been done for them to complete, the car may not pass an emissions or inspection test that checks monitor status. Avoid clearing codes just before an inspection.
A steady light means the computer has detected a fault that should be diagnosed soon. A flashing light generally signals an active engine misfire severe enough to damage the catalytic converter. In that case, reduce engine load and have the car checked promptly rather than simply resetting the light.
Information gaps
This article does not include model-year-specific details. Those include the number of drive cycles needed to self-clear, the location of the diagnostic port on every Charger generation, any Charger-specific method for reading codes without a scan tool, and how battery disconnection affects each model's electronics. Confirm these for your exact vehicle before relying on them.