# No "check engine light" **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** altima\ **Created:** [August 7, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-check-engine-light/17810 "2008-08-07T19:15:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![macbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9f8e36/32.png) [@macbth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/macbth)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-check-engine-light/17810/1 "2008-08-07T19:15:39Z")
2002 Altima 6 cyl. 110,000 mi. I went in for an admission test, and it failed do to “check engine light” not coming on when the key was turned. Now Nissan wants to charge me $600 to fix it. They are putting in a new dashboard. Do I have any recourse? ---
**Author:** ![macbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9f8e36/32.png) [@macbth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/macbth)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-check-engine-light/17810/2 "2008-08-07T19:18:53Z")
I meant “Emissions test” ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-check-engine-light/17810/3 "2008-08-07T20:06:22Z")
Go to an independent for a lower price. The dealer, evidently, has decided that the dash has to come out to replace the LED light, or something. First, check fuse #14 (10A). The LED lamp for the check engine light may be burned out. If you are handy, you could try to change it. If not, let the independent shop do it. ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-check-engine-light/17810/4 "2008-08-07T21:40:01Z")
I don’t see the need for a new dashboard to fix this. I assume you mean something else. I don’t have any experience with your model car but I have worked on Subarus with a similair problem. The problem on them was inside the ECU. The CEL light is controlled by a switched ground lead in the ECU and the component controlling the ground lead was bad. Normally the entire ECU would have to be replaced then. I was able to replace the bad component in the ECU and fix the trouble. The system for your car may work in a similair way and if so a replacement ECU is needed. The repair cost you showed is about right for that kind of thing. If it is the ECU you may be able to find a replacement at a salvage yard or purchase a refurbished unit at a lot lower cost than the new dealer price.