Hi Guys! New here, owner of 2002 Monte SS Dale Earnhardt Edition. So engine light has stayed on for last 3 years. Told it was cat converter code, no worries, no longer need emissions. Had new battery installed today, and after driving for about 10 miles light went off! Curious why? Any thoughts! Thanks!

 

There's no way any of us could accurately say with the lack of data. Best guess is the battery swap reset the system and it'll come back once you start driving it more.

In general though its not a good practice to just flat out ignore a light for years on end like that for two reasons:

-An issue causing one code can cause changes to how the engine runs / potentially damage other systems

-You have no way to know when a new issue comes up. The light comes on regardless if theres 1 code or 35, so if something new broke on year 2 and was actively hurting the engine, you'd have absolutely no idea.

 

I think all the parts stores have code readers they will plug in and check the codes for you.