AutoZone no longer loan out the check engine light box :(

[QueBert]

My Check engine light came on today, so I went to AutoZone to use theirs and they informed me they no longer offer that. I really don't want to pay a repair shop $45 bucks, but I don't want to drive around not knowing what the problem is. Do any other auto shops in So Cal give free testing?

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Really? Damnit I was just going to head over there today and get it checked out. Is there anywhere else that does it?

 

[ballmode]

advanced auto does if you give them an id

 

[bruceb]

Just buy the tool. You can get just an OBD II Reader / Clearer for well under $100
Now if you have very new car with the Controller Area Network (CAN) then the tools are more costly.
But you can still get something decent for around $300... like Autotap which can not only read the
codes, it can see the real time engine data, like rpm, pulse width, engine sensors , etc

The one below is a full diagnostic tool

http://www.autotap.com/product...Trail=36&TrailType=Top

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This one is just a code reader, without the diagnostics feature

http://www.autotap.com/product...Trail=36&TrailType=Top

 

[StageLeft]

Harborfreight has a scanner for obdii, sometimes very very cheap, I think it was under $50 recently.

 

[Jabbernyx]

Advanced Auto read my codes when I had the CEL on in the LS (suspected it was a misfire caused by bad COP, wanted to confirm it).

 

[darom]

or $40 - think of all that saved gas and free beer

 

[Gillbot]

depending on the model of car, some have a "trick" to blink the MIL to show you the codes.

 

[QueBert]

I looked at the Odometer, my cars just above 85k It's a Taurus. I'm hoping it's just reminding me to get a tune up. No Advanced Auto's at all in California. I'd hate to buy one just to find out it's recommending I get the basic 80k tune up lol.

 

[RKS]

I thought this was a California only issue. BTW I bought a cheap one from Harbor Freight for about $20 or $30 a while ago.

 

[RKS]

I thought this was a California only issue. BTW I bought a cheap one from Harbor Freight for about $20 or $30 a while ago.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Harborfreight has a scanner for obdii, sometimes very very cheap, I think it was under $50 recently.

yep, i just saw it in my harbor freight email ad for like.. $40

edit: http://www.harborfreight.com/c...er=94169&r=4205_278156

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Gillbot
depending on the model of car, some have a "trick" to blink the MIL to show you the codes.

Yep, I know the 4th gen maxima had this, you could turn a screw somewhere and then the light would blink and you could read the code based on the blink count. This isn't possible on the 5th gen, but one could likely google on how to read their car specifically, to see if this approach is possible.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: bruceb
Just buy the tool. You can get just an OBD II Reader / Clearer for well under $100
Now if you have very new car with the Controller Area Network (CAN) then the tools are more costly.
But you can still get something decent for around $300... like Autotap which can not only read the
codes, it can see the real time engine data, like rpm, pulse width, engine sensors , etc

The one below is a full diagnostic tool

http://www.autotap.com/product...Trail=36&TrailType=Top

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This one is just a code reader, without the diagnostics feature

http://www.autotap.com/product...Trail=36&TrailType=Top

I think a netbook with that software would be a perfect shop tool, and can be done for under $1000 easy.

 

[Thump553]

This came up a little while back. I think the problem is your state (California) passed a law prohibiting the stores from providing this service. Why they would pass such a dumb-*ss law I don't know (probably to protect the repair shop business and disguised as a provision to prevent cheating on emissions tests).

 

[bruceb]

Autotap does work with a laptop computer. That is why it is relatively cheap, compared to say, a GM Tech II tool or a Ford dealer type tool.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Thump553
This came up a little while back. I think the problem is your state (California) passed a law prohibiting the stores from providing this service. Why they would pass such a dumb-*ss law I don't know (probably to protect the repair shop business and disguised as a provision to prevent cheating on emissions tests).

Could be AZ got in trouble for resetting the engine codes. I know in NC they were allowed to scan but could not reset the emission light, at least legally.

 

[BW86]

They still do it on Long Island - at least I think so, I heard a commericial advertising it this morning on my way to work.

 

[spidey07]

If it matters I heard an autozone commercial on the radio today, sounded like a new one. And they advertised they would check your codes.

LOL! BW86 - guess they started a new commercial today. I'm in KY.

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: bruceb
Just buy the tool. You can get just an OBD II Reader / Clearer for well under $100
Now if you have very new car with the Controller Area Network (CAN) then the tools are more costly.
But you can still get something decent for around $300... like Autotap which can not only read the
codes, it can see the real time engine data, like rpm, pulse width, engine sensors , etc

The one below is a full diagnostic tool

http://www.autotap.com/product...Trail=36&TrailType=Top

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This one is just a code reader, without the diagnostics feature

http://www.autotap.com/product...Trail=36&TrailType=Top

I think a netbook with that software would be a perfect shop tool, and can be done for under $1000 easy.

I love auto tap. My uncle has it along with a snap on brick. Now if I had that and my own dyno, I could spend 8hrs a day tuning.

 

[BW86]

Originally posted by: spidey07
If it matters I heard an autozone commercial on the radio today, sounded like a new one. And they advertised they would check your codes.

LOL! BW86 - guess they started a new commercial today. I'm in KY.

lol I guess so

 

[Aikouka]

Ooo that autotap thing looks pretty nifty... would actually give me a use for my EeePC too!

 

[AMCRambler]

Bought one the last time I was there since I got sick and tired of having to run down there to get a code pulled. Of course it sounds like the auto industry has already developed a new standard (CAN?) so my scanner is now worthless if I buy a new car. I have to look at my 05 GTO to see if that is still an OBD2. I think it is.

 

[Vetterin]

Well, Autozone still checks them in Chicago. They will not check ODB 1 cars (pre 1996) if that helps you any.

 

[Feanor727]

Originally posted by: QueBert
I looked at the Odometer, my cars just above 85k It's a Taurus. I'm hoping it's just reminding me to get a tune up. No Advanced Auto's at all in California. I'd hate to buy one just to find out it's recommending I get the basic 80k tune up lol.

A bit of basic info about the Check Engine Light (CEL):

The CEL indicates that your car's OnBoard Diagnostic (OBD) system has encountered an error, indicated by a four-digit code. They never illuminate just to "remind" you of a service interval. Some cars have a separate service indicator, but it is never the CEL.

There are two differenct versions of OBD: OBD-I (1995 or prior) and OBD-II (1996 or newer). If your car has OBD-I, then the car itself will report the code by blinking out a series of numbers. This is what Skoorb was referring to when he said the 4th-gen Maxima would self-report. Some cars require you to turn a screw, some require you to depress the gas pedal a certain number of times, some require the insertion of a jumper wire at a particular point. 9 times out of 10, an illuminated CEL on an OBD-I car that has no other apparent problems indicates a faulty oxygen sensor (especially after 85k miles).

If you have OBD-II, then the only way to read the fault code is with the code-reading device mentioned elsewhere in this thread. As has been mentioned, you can buy one for under $100. If you plan to keep the car, then just break down and buy one - it's well worth the cost, especially if parts stores in CA can't legally offer a free read.

Moreover, both OBD systems primarily monitor the various emissions systems of the car. This can be as easy/cheap as a defective or loose gas cap, it could indicate you need a new catalytic converter, or anything in between. Unless you read the code, there's no way of knowing for sure.