my obd2 doesnt work?

[50nic800m]

hello people of dsmt,

i just purchased a 1997 talon esi 420a 5 speed......it says 177k miles (odo stopped) the guy i got it from said the engine was rebuilt and has about 55k miles on it.....in a way i do believe him because it sure has good vaccum readings...

however, i have had this bucking and jerking when im at 3 grand (always in the same spot where i push the accelerator) i did the DVM reading and it turns out that the TPS is skipping (not climbing smoothly)....

but heres my main problem...my check engine light doesnt turn on and it should be on..... i took the car to get scanned at autozone and the scanner said error.....it turns out, that when i got a closer look at the obd2 plug, its been tapped into with a set of 3 wires......i dont know why.....theres a red, black, and white wire just hanging loose and a pink wire cut....

does anyone know why would someone do this? can it be because they dint want me to see the CEL?

also, im thinking its because these computers (97's) you cannot program them I THINK!

what can i do to get my obd2 to work? thank you people! DSM ALL THE WAY!

 

[reardrv]

I'm not sure why someone would do that, but my recommendation would be to remove any taps, solder the cut wire back together and heat shrink everything.

 

[turboboy4]

Fix the wires real quick with some heat shrink but connectors. Im not sure that the tps problem would neccesarily set a check engine light, easy way to see if your computer is working properly is to unhook the maf sensor or something like that it will definately set a check engine light for maf sensor performance. Just my 2 cents on things but an easy way to check operation

 

[Ceddy]

Check if the CEL lamp is in the cluster, people often remove it to pass inspection.

(I think the CEL should flash on for a second when you first insert the key)

also, im thinking its because these computers (97's) you cannot program them I THINK!

To my knowledge the 2G NT Chrysler ecus can not be Flashed/Programmed.

 

[boostd_mitsu]

Who ever did that to the wires maybe had gauges hooked up to it for power and ground, like the others said, take the other wires off And hook everything back up the way it goes on. Check the fuse for the OBD2 port. If there is no power at the plug, a scanner will not work. After you get a scanner hooked up to it, do a TPS sweap and if it jumps put a new TPS on.

Who ever did that to the wires maybe had gauges hooked up to it for power and ground, like the others said, take the other wires off And hook everything back up the way it goes on. Check the fuse for the OBD2 port. If there is no power at the plug, a scanner will not work. After you get a scanner hooked up to it, do a TPS sweap and if it jumps put a new TPS on.

 

[turboboy4]

Sounds like the fuse is good for the DLC connector if their scanner turned on even though it read error

 

[the_mork]

Check if the CEL lamp is in the cluster, people often remove it to pass inspection.

(I think the CEL should flash on for a second when you first insert the key)

When you turn the ignition to the on position without starting the car the CEL should be illuminated for as long as you have it in that position or until you start the car.


This is always the first test that I suggest for anyone with an early 90s Jeep when they don't start immediately. The ecus on those Jeeps go bad and then don't kick on the fuel pump or spark for starting but their status can be verified by looking for a dash CEL. Obviously we're not talking about a Jeep but it is a useful trick for checking the status of an ecu or CEL bulb in any car.