Car Gurus Please Help... Trying to diagnose 'check engine' light...

[Analog]

I have a '95 Pontiac Transport that is giving me the 'service engine soon' light. Now back in my beloved Fiero, I could short a pin to ground and get the code to flash to tell me what's wrong. The Transport has a completely different connector. The unfortunate thing, is that since its pre '96, it is not OBD-II compliant, so I can't use the cheap OBD-II scanners available everywhere. The connector seems to only have 3 of its connections populated with metal contacts, so it must be a transitional model. In any case, I'm sure there is a scanner somewhere that can read these codes, and I hate to have to take it to Mr. Goodwrench.

And yes, I took it to autozone, and they said that my car was an in-between model and that I had to take it to a 'shop' for further help.

Thanks for your inputs.

 

You need a specific scanner to extract the codes out of that vehicle, there is no way around it.


(These were the years that G.M. was finalizing the design of OBD II, unfortunately they chose to experiment with there designs on production vehicles)

 

[KMurphy]

Gas cap not sealing right. That is what was wrong with my 1997 GM vehicle a week ago. The gasket was worn out. Check the simple stuff first, it takes 3 consecutive drives with no fault condition present to clear the fault automatically.

 

Or, take it to autozone and have the fault code diagnosed for free.

Please read his post.

And yes, I took it to autozone, and they said that my car was an in-between model and that I had to take it to a 'shop' for further help.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: KMurphy
Gas cap not sealing right. That is what was wrong with my 1997 GM vehicle a week ago. The gasket was worn out. Check the simple stuff first, it takes 3 consecutive drives with no fault condition present to clear the fault automatically. Or, take it to autozone and have the fault code diagnosed for free.

it could be hundreds of things but thanks for coming to that scientifically-achieved conclusion.

 

[KMurphy]

Thanks.

I relpied before reading the post since I just had this trouble. It could be a multitude of failed sensors, there is no way of knowing unless you get the fault code from an interface module.

 

Thanks.

I relpied before reading the post since I just had this trouble. It could be a multitude of failed sensors, there is no way of knowing unless you get the fault code from an interface module.

You mean scanner, right ?

 

[KMurphy]

A scanner is usually used for swiping bar codes. I mean the device that interfaces with the onboard controller.

 

[Pepsi90919]

i don't think OBD I cared about the gas cap.

A scanner is usually used for swiping bar codes. I mean the device that interfaces with the onboard controller.

yes they call them scanners, or 'scan tools' or whatever.

 

A scanner is usually used for swiping bar codes. I mean the device that interfaces with the onboard controller.

A scanner is a tool I use on a daily basis in my shop for extracting codes, erasing codes and reading live stream data on running vehicles.

Here is a cheap example

Onboard controller ?, you mean the E.C.M. (Electronic Control Module)

 

[KMurphy]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
i don't think OBD I cared about the gas cap.

A scanner is usually used for swiping bar codes. I mean the device that interfaces with the onboard controller.

yes they call them scanners, or 'scan tools' or whatever.

I know the II does, not sure about I.

 

I know the II does, not sure about I.

O.B.D. I does not monitor fuel vapor pressure, only O.B.D. II does.

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: Roger
You need a specific scanner to extract the codes out of that vehicle, there is no way around it.


(These were the years that G.M. was finalizing the design of OBD II, unfortunately they chose to experiment with there designs on production vehicles)

So I guess they're big $$?

 

So I guess their big $$?

If you have a O.B.D. I scanner, you can purchase a plug in module and cable adapter for the vehicle, if not, then yes, big $$$.

In your case, it may be wise to have G.M. extract the codes for you, most likely you will have to pay a flat rate of one hour at what ever your local Pontiac rate is.

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: Roger

So I guess their big $$?

If you have a O.B.D. I scanner, you can purchase a plug in module and cable adapter for the vehicle, if not, then yes, big $$$.

In your case, it may be wise to have G.M. extract the codes for you, most likely you will have to pay a flat rate of one hour at what ever your local Pontiac rate is.

Thanks Roger.

 

Anytime

 

[Ylen13]

btw what city are u in?