Check engine light not working.

[Sandman87]

Hello everyone. having an issue lately where I have no check engine light. Normally that wouldn't be an issue haha. But I do not believe it's working at all as it doesn't come on with the key in the start position without the engine running either. I have changed the bulb I know it to be good. Any ideas? Car starts right up and runs just fine. I have not found any blown fuses.

[Fierofool]

Sometimes the trace on the membrane wears through at the point of contact with the bulb holder.  Try rotating it slightly to get the bulb fixture contacts on a good part of the trace. 

Edit:  I've also had some luck by springing the wire contacts on the bulb outward so they make contact with the leads inside the bulb holder. 

[AJ_87Fiero]

Interesting situation - in the cars of the old, before electronics totally took over, was there anything that goes on when the check engine light fails?

....which makes me poinder- is there anything for more current cars, right now? I have a 2000 Toyota Avalon, close to 200k miles and I know there are some known issues with it (P0442 - EVAP FUMES or Oxygen Sensor leaking or something related - i.e the charcoal cannister thingy is malfunctioning) but the Check Engine Light is still not turned on.

[Fierofool]

I only remember there being an oil pressure light, a battery light, and some cars had a temperture light when it was beginning to overheat.  Later they got brake fluid lights, door ajar lights, parking brake and seat belt lights, but they weren't through a computer.  They were hard wired into the circuit. 

Some sellers will remove the check engine bulb when a car has an uresolved issue.  Could that be the issue with the Avalon?