check engine light not working???

[bob1940]

have just purchased a 2001 rav4 petrol auto, 60000 miles runs very well, but check engine light not coming on at ignition. stored codes can be read, could somebody have disabled lamp, or is there a fuse?  many thanks  robert.

[gjnorthall]

If there are stored codes, then there is a good probability that the light has been disabled. This would often be done because the stored fault was difficult or expensive to remedy!! It would be interesting to know which codes have been stored.

The current MOT rules would record a fail if "the MIL light is inoperative or indicating a fault" - though it's possible that a tester may not notice that the MIL is inoperative during the check routine when the ignition is switched on. It's far less likely that the tester would miss an illuminated MIL during the MOT test.

There is no independent fuse for the MIL but there are a myriad of ways to disable the light - obviously check the bulb first

[HS78]

You may find that a previous owner has removed the light bulb from the dash or used electrical tape to cover over where the light would illuminate. As a former driving examiner I saw a few cars coming to the test centre where the driving instructor had used electrical tape to cover over various dash lights including air bag lights in an attempt to deceive the examiner . . .