Hi. The timing belt on my 740 GL just broke. No valve damage. Whew. Anyhow, I replaced the belt and the alternator belt at the same time but now the engine light won't turn off. I know there's nothing wrong with the engine now... what could the light be for?

No "whew." The B230 is a non interference engine.

Which light remains on? You have an "alt" light, a "check engine" light, and a "service" light.

If it's the alternator light, it means that the alternator isn't providing a charge. A wire might be loose on the back.

If it's the service light, it merely means that your engine has reached the 5000 mile interval for routine service. That light is like an alarm clock -- it only reminds you to do something, and then you must reset it.

If it's the check engine light, then you should read the codes from the computer. The FAQS has a section describing the codes and the reset procedure.
--
Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Thanks for the note Don.

Does the fact that it's a non-interference engine mean that the valves can't be damaged or that they're likely damaged. I'm not getting the drift of your "no whew" comment.

Anyhow, it's the check engine light that won't go off. I thought it might just be a carry-over from the belt breaking. I replaced the alternator belt too so it's not that.

I'll check the codes.

On my 1990 740 GL, the "check engine" gets turned off manually. Close to the center of your instrument panel, there should be an inconspicuous black rubber circle, apparently doing nothing (This is not the trip odometer reset, clock adjust or instrument panel illumination dimmer). Get a fingernail underneath the circle and pull toward you. DO NOT PUSH THIS BLACK RUBBER CIRCLE IN TOWARDS THE ENGINE as it will drop to the "floor" of the instrument panel, behind the clear plastic cover, forever to laugh at you. When it is out of the way, stick in a ball point pen. This resets the lamp. It will light again in 5000 miles.