Is the light still on? If not, you might have had just a minor glitch that
has corrected itself. A code 12 can also occur when you try to crank the
truck and have trouble such as it is very cold, have a high electrical load
at the time of cranking (lights on, etc.), or there is a little corrosion on
one of the battery terminals and it open circuits momentarily. If the light
is now out, I would not worry about it, especially if only code 12 is
showing. This code will erase itself in 50 key on/off sequences and then
only code 55 should appear.
I couldn't find any reference to a check engine light at 36,000 miles.
The 97 Dakota shop manual says:
"Additionally, the PCM (same as SEBC) may reset (turn off) the MIL
(malfunction indicator light = check engine light) when one of the following
occurs:
PCM does not detect the malfunction for 3 consecutive trives (except misfire
and Fuel sysetm Monitors)
PCM does not detect a malfunction while performing 3 successive engine
misfire or fuel system tests. The PCM performs these tests while the engine
is operating within plus or minus 375 RPM of and within 10% of the load of
hte operating condition at which the malfunction was first detected."
Hope this helps.
Mike
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