How Long Does a Battery Need To Be Disconnected to Clear a Check Engine Light?

[morsetaper2]

Changed out the leaking thermostat housing out of my 4.0 sohc. While I was in there, I changed out the front cam chain guide tensioner. I pulled the fuel pump relay fuse. Then cranked the engine about 10 seconds to prime up and fill the new tensioner w/ oil pressure. Put fuse back in and started it. Started right up, nothing unusual, but dash was showing a check engine light (CEL) and the traction control light (not the "off" light). Let it run a minute or two and shut it off. Checked under the hood, checked all connectors and looked things over.....

Doh! I forgot to plug in the connector on the throttle body. I was finishing up in the dark. Plug that connector in, start it back up and CEL is still on, TC light is out. All runs normal otherwise.

So I disconnect the battery to try and clear that CEL. Thinking that TB connector is the likely culprit.

Getting some dinner now. So if that unplugged connector is in fact the culprit for the CEL, how long should battery remain disconnected to clear the CEL?

 

[pentode]

It'll clear itself after a few drive cycles if 15-20 minutes disconnected doesn't do it, assuming all the faults are fixed.

 

[morsetaper2]

Thanks. Batt was left disconnected for about 50 minutes. Started it up, no CEL