Check engine light on? Wanna find out why?

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: ak3883
The way I found out what the CEL light on my Honda was involved a paper clip, if you jump 2 of the pins it makes the CEL light flash a series of long and short flashes, from that you can find the code and thus the problem. So at least you know what it is before you go shell out $80 at the dealer to find out what was wrong


Ah what you can do with Google and a paper clip

LOL, can't do that with OBD-II nub.

 

[manno]

Originally posted by: AceTKK
There is no reason for the average person to buy a code scanner. As mentioned previously AutoZone, PepBoys, Advance Auto, etc. will all pull your code for free, on the hope that you'll buy the replacement part from them. If you are using this device enough to justify it's cost then you'd be better off putting the $ towards a new car.

I don't get this? Where's the logic in buying a new car rather than paying $80? What if you don't want to drive the car to one of those shops? We are talking about $80 about 1/2 of 1% of buying a new car right?

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: kamranziadar
Not a HOT deal

Find one that does the same exact thing just as well, for cheaper, jackass. None of your threads are hot? Get bent.

 

http://www.gratiskados.nl/index.php?ref=17168

 

[Easygoing]

I think this is a hot deal. I have a scanner that I paid a lot more than this. I use mine all the time. Not only will this tell you what turned on the light, it will also allow you to reset the code and turn the light off. If you work on your own car, this is a must have item IMO.

 

[labgeek]

I paid about 1/2 of this for mine. There on ebay all the time $30 to $70 depending on model. Mine was right around $40 shipped. And having it is MUCH easier than going someplace and standing around for 20-30 minutes for one of them to pull the codes. Plus if you read the codes x times (3 or 5, I forget) it clears the codes, which is something you want to do before trying to diagnose a problem. Clear the codes, drive until the light comes back on, pull the code. Often 1 code will cause others to occur as well. So you want the root cause - 1st code after a clearing.

Seach "OBD II" and "OBD2" on ebay...

Just checked, and the model I bought a while back is now selling on there for $25 plus $8 shipping. $33 total... So it's less than 1/2

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: labgeek
I paid about 1/2 of this for mine. There on ebay all the time $30 to $70 depending on model. Mine was right around $40 shipped. And having it is MUCH easier than going someplace and standing around for 20-30 minutes for one of them to pull the codes. Plus if you read the codes x times (3 or 5, I forget) it clears the codes, which is something you want to do before trying to diagnose a problem. Clear the codes, drive until the light comes back on, pull the code. Often 1 code will cause others to occur as well. So you want the root cause - 1st code after a clearing.

Seach "OBD II" and "OBD2" on ebay...

Just checked, and the model I bought a while back is now selling on there for $25 plus $8 shipping. $33 total... So it's less than 1/2

Great idea for a hot deal thread, funboy. I was sitting on the edge, trying to make up my mind. (I need to reset the codes on my car)

Thanks for adding to the thread, labgeek. It's great when one hot deal leads to another.

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: labgeek
I paid about 1/2 of this for mine. There on ebay all the time $30 to $70 depending on model. Mine was right around $40 shipped. And having it is MUCH easier than going someplace and standing around for 20-30 minutes for one of them to pull the codes. Plus if you read the codes x times (3 or 5, I forget) it clears the codes, which is something you want to do before trying to diagnose a problem. Clear the codes, drive until the light comes back on, pull the code. Often 1 code will cause others to occur as well. So you want the root cause - 1st code after a clearing.

Seach "OBD II" and "OBD2" on ebay...

Just checked, and the model I bought a while back is now selling on there for $25 plus $8 shipping. $33 total... So it's less than 1/2

This is a great deal too but remeber what I mentioned. this reads OBDII codes and CAN codes. You CAN find a cheaper one then I have mentioned but if you own a newer car you MUST have one that reads CAN codes as well. This IS the cheapest one I found that reads both codes. Also in 2008 CAN will be manditory on ALL cars so sooner or later you will need one to read so why pay $40+ shipping now and then down the line or sooner shell out another $40+ for one that does CAN?

Thats what makes this one IMO super hot because the closest one to this that reads CAN codes is $150+. And if you work on your own car you need to have this no matter what. I am not one to go to the Auto zone and wait for them to pull it out. I can do it myself and at times there may be pending codes that havent triped the CEL on yet. If your going to take a trip and own one you can save your A$$ by finding out you may have a pending code. This could save you from making your fun trip one from hell sitting in the middle of nowhere because the part finnaly failed on you. This also would pay for itself if it found one sensor that was starting to go bad once in a while and hasnt yet thrown the light on.

In most case with new cars the sensor has to fail 3-4 times before it will throw on the light. If it works every now and then it will store that info and this will let you know before the light even comes on. This one also monitors your system and can tell you what is going on instead of doign the free one where they pull out the code and nothing more. There may be more stuff wrong and need more info then a code.

So HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT and if you think otherwise STFU

 

[quikah]

Originally posted by: ak3883
The way I found out what the CEL light on my Honda was involved a paper clip, if you jump 2 of the pins it makes the CEL light flash a series of long and short flashes, from that you can find the code and thus the problem. So at least you know what it is before you go shell out $80 at the dealer to find out what was wrong

Yeah, my Neon will flash the codes by turning the key on/off 3 times in a row. The only problem is it will only show the generic code. The last time my CEL was on it just flashed the Oxygen Sensor code, but it doesn't tell you which Oxygen Sensor. So I just unpluged one and the problem went away, so I replaced that one, problem solved.

 

[MrX8503]

What i dont understand is, why cant the car tell you this? I think its dumb that i would have to buy something else so i would know why my check engine light was on. It should show a code and i would be able to look up the code in my manual.

 

[Zim]

Just go to your local AutoZone and they'll read the code for free. Alternatively they will give you a reader if you leave a deposit which is returned in full.

 

[randyo156]

not a hot deal
all the auto parts chains have these at this price or better
almost every week

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: MrX8503
What i dont understand is, why cant the car tell you this? I think its dumb that i would have to buy something else so i would know why my check engine light was on. It should show a code and i would be able to look up the code in my manual.

You dont have to. You can make your own device to read them, the specs are publically availible. The car makers dont want to a) spend the money to make a display, and more importantly b) they dont want the unwashed masses coming into the car dealership (and same sentiment from the repair places) saying "look my check engine says its a brake sensor problem" when really the root cause might be something else entirely, like just a brake fillup, or a master cylinder thats going bad. For some things the code is fine and great and leads you right to the problem, but for other things its fairly difficult to figure out. Some codes you end up just having to replace parts until it goes away, which is a pain.

Actually if the car makers had thier way, it would all be proprietary and only able to be read at the dealership. They actually tried that a while back (multiple times), but congress said no, you have to able to take it to any car repair place, and the stuff has to be standardized.

Originally posted by: guy1nj
I HAD THIS ENGINE LIGHT ON PROBLEM LAST WEEK.
someone helped me read the code and it said cylinder#1 misfire,cylinder#3misfire. and then i did an engine tune up for $150...now it is working great!! so if anyone get this kind of problem, doing an engine tune up may fix it...

Originally posted by: guy1nj
I HAD THIS ENGINE LIGHT ON PROBLEM LAST WEEK.
someone helped me read the code and it said cylinder#1 misfire,cylinder#3misfire. and then i did an engine tune up for $150...now it is working great!! so if anyone get this kind of problem, doing an engine tune up may fix it...

I think you are still having the misfire problem. You posted that twice

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: randyo156
not a hot deal
all the auto parts chains have these at this price or better
almost every week

Not one that reads both they dont asshat
Prove me wrong then talking sh!t. K?
HOT DEAL HERE FOLKS GET YOUR HOT DEAL HOT AND FRESH!

Damn I am in a wierd mood today

 

[TestGuyCT]

Can't the codes be cleared by disconnecting the vehicle battery temporarily ?

Link to some code scanners ...

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: labgeek
I paid about 1/2 of this for mine. There on ebay all the time $30 to $70 depending on model. Mine was right around $40 shipped. And having it is MUCH easier than going someplace and standing around for 20-30 minutes for one of them to pull the codes. Plus if you read the codes x times (3 or 5, I forget) it clears the codes, which is something you want to do before trying to diagnose a problem. Clear the codes, drive until the light comes back on, pull the code. Often 1 code will cause others to occur as well. So you want the root cause - 1st code after a clearing.

Seach "OBD II" and "OBD2" on ebay...

Just checked, and the model I bought a while back is now selling on there for $25 plus $8 shipping. $33 total... So it's less than 1/2

Great idea for a hot deal thread, funboy. I was sitting on the edge, trying to make up my mind. (I need to reset the codes on my car)

Thanks for adding to the thread, labgeek. It's great when one hot deal leads to another.

 

[NucEm]

After some research, I bought the AutoXray model EZ-Scan 6000 in May of 2003 for $599.00. (Linky ) The price today is $549.99 and shipping is free. I've used it on several vehicles successfully and it has paid for itself. The firmware updates are free. The local TV station looked into auto scanners and the one they tested wasn't reliable. It was the same brand, AutoXray, but a different model. I was very surprised to see it fail. They had 2 main complaints. It didn't always read the codes and it didn't tell them what the code, when read, meant. The test they used was staged by a local shop with a pro version of the code reader. The pro version worked everytime and provided more information about the staged problem. Mine has worked everytime. The message that comes with the code may be a little lacking but you can look up the code either online or if you have the shop manuals in there. The EZ-Scan 6000 does OBD-I, OBD-II, and is completely CAN-compliant.

 

[bigboxes]

Originally posted by: MrX8503
I think autozone does it for free

Yeah... I took it to autozone the last time.

In respect to the OP though, this is a good deal if you want to own the device yourself. I'm a tool man myself. That being said, today's cars should give you all that information and more on their own displays. The more you know about what is wrong with your vehicle the better informed decision you can make when taking it in to make a repair or doing it yourself.

 

[gsethi]

Just need a screwdriver and a pair of eyes (thats needed for this thing also ) to get the code for my maxima.

Last year, my maxima's CEL light came on. Used the screwdriver to turn the knob (in a particular direction) and the CEL light flashed a few times (you have to count the number of times it flashes). Thats the code. Google it and voila, you have your problem. Problem was my Oxygen sensor.

My dad's friend is a mechanic who was a mechanic used one of his readers and told me that it was the Oxygen sensor and the knock sensor. I called up the dealership, and they said that knock sensor dont usually go out bad. So i just got the oxygen sensor replaced, reset the code and the light never came back on.

Lesson: Double check the codes and read them a few times after resetting them.

 

[Heckler 5th]

i have a 2000 dodge stratus. i took it to autozone and their CEL checker didn't work. it wasn't compatible or something. what would you guys do rather than take it to the dealer? what kind of checker do i probably need?

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: Heckler 5th
i have a 2000 dodge stratus. i took it to autozone and their CEL checker didn't work. it wasn't compatible or something. what would you guys do rather than take it to the dealer? what kind of checker do i probably need?

The one I mentioned in the OP

 

[oakfan52]

Most of the autozone and pepboys arround here still can't read CAN. This is a hot deal for a basic scanner.

 

[forkd]

I've been using this for years and love it.....

auterra....use it with a PalmPilot

You can also build your own OBDII reader quite easily

 

[Computergasm]

Get a code reader at Harbor Freight for $50, then look up the code on the internet.
Code Reader

 

[ncage]

I have a newer vehicle but anyone who has a vehicle about at the end of the life has had the dreaded check engine light flash on and off. When you go take it to get checked out of course the check engine light won't come on. Can you hook these things up while your driving and if the check engine light comes on it will read it instead of worrying if it will come on when you go to get it check out?

 

[funboy6942]

since this one says it monitors the computer systems I am guessing it is running so I cant see why if it is hooked up and you have someone with you and the light pops on why they couldnt get the code real quick.