read codes... w/o a scanner?

[ninety7gst]

i've had my check engine light on for awhile now, i pulled out the chilton's manual to see if there was a way to check the codes w/o a scanner and sure enough there was. it said to cycle the ignition key from on-off-on-off-on in under 5 seconds and it'll blink and stuff to give you the codes. so i did over and over and the check engine light just stays illuminated. would this be because my ecu is ### or what? also this will only work on the 95-99 cars (excluding mine! ) i have a '97 GS-T if this matters. please someone tell me whats wrong cause im just getting more and more mad at my car.

 

[TurboAxe]

I'm not quite sure and don't quote me on this, but it seems like I heard somewhere that that only works on the non-turbo cars, because the ecu is different. I know this procedure doesn't work for me. You are probably going to have to go and get it checked and cleared. (If it can be cleared!)

later

 

[jrivard00]

Chilton manuals are good for refrence, but they aren't always correct. You will need to use a scanner to retrieve the codes. If you have an autozone near you, then they will scan it for you for free.

 

[xXeclipstasyXx]

that method only works on 95-99 NT models b/c the ecu is completely different... its too bad because ive used the feature several times...

 

[TurboAxe]

jrivard00

You mean to tell me Auto Zone will do it for free?! I paid 40 bucks to have mine read and cleared. I wish I'd have known this sooner. But hey, maybe next time huh

 

[Defiant]

Yeah, search here first next time. It's all over the discussions here.

 

[chriw21_2000]

they will read them but not clear them.

Laterz

 

[TurboAxe]

I was curious about them clearing them. Now I know.

Hell by the time I pay 40 bucks a visit for 4 visits to a car shop I could buy a pocket logger! I may just do that now.

 

[ninety7gst]

well thats probably why it wouldn't work then, thanks... i took off my negative battery cable 2 clear my codes...it worked like a charm. my engine light stayed off for about a day or so then came back on today, so i took off the negative battery cable again and the engine light stayed off all the way home and so far its off yet...

 

[TurboAxe]

You have to be cautious about resetting the computer. When I reset mine that's when I got a bunch of cel codes. As your car gets older, when you reset it, it will also take a few days of driving to get your computer to get the idle and stuff right again. It's best to have the cleared through the OBII datalogger and if they don't come back its false alarms and if they do come back, its time to replace what's broken. Unless it's obviously broken in the first place. If your codes come back on, go ahead and have some one clear them for you and then see if they come back. Hope i was some help on that!

 

[xyzzy72]

From what I read in another thread, AutoZone stopped doing free code pulling.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=82590

BTW...don't leave your battery cable off for too long, or you'll have to put in your radio's anti-theft code (if you have it! )

 

[TurboAxe]

If they can't really clear them then its not really a loss anyway. You need to clear them and wait for the codes to come back to determine if you have a problem anyway. Damn, I'd really just like to have that pocketlogger. Maybe the next item on my list after, uh everything else!

 

[gstspyder1998]

Originally posted by xyzzy72
From what I read in another thread, AutoZone stopped doing free code pulling.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=82590

BTW...don't leave your battery cable off for too long, or you'll have to put in your radio's anti-theft code (if you have it! )

This is true, I recently visited an Autozone near my house and they no longer do it for free. The guy said other shops around were complaining and losing money cause they would usually charge $60.00 to read the codes and Autozone did it for free.

 

[AWDPetmitsu]

I believe Autozone stopped pulling codes for free in California, but not in other states.

 

[1g dsm d22]

yup........not in colorado.
i work there z and its still free.

 

[Defiant]

You should ask AutoZone corporate supply to send a current calendar.

 

[Boomer420s]

OBD 1 computers you can jump the connector and read the codes by the pulse on an Analog meter. For example, if the needle jumps twice real fast, and then three times faster, the code is a 23. Look that up in your Chilton's book, and it will give you corresponding trouble code.

Yanking the negative battery cable will clear codes, and also reset any driving habits your car has "learned" and the degradation of your sensors, which you computer compensates for.

OBD 2 computers, you need a scan tool.

It is not a recommended practice to clear codes by pulling the battery cable. There are other methods to do it. Such as running the car through drive cycles and warm up cycles.

 

[z24frank]

I heard the same about autozone here in cali,but why here?And what is a good pocket logger to get I just might get one now as well!