help with car reader

[NiceCold]

can someone help me how to use a car reader? it is named digital obd2 car reader

lazy to register in car forums.

i already plug it in the car. take it off and put the cd in the computer and install. then connect the usb to the device and the other end to the computer. the device lights up and says "data" and thats it!

oh also thier website pops up and doesnt say any info i can understand and telling me to register but i think thats optional.

edit:
96 corsica

please help me tell what the problem is. the code is PO300. and is it unessessary to connect the device to my desktop computer after obtaining the code from the car?

 

[punjabiplaya]

are you trying to read a CEL?

as long as it supports your vehicle model, should be able to just plug into your vehicle's odb2 port and then press the button on the device or whatever to read the code

might be helpful to provide what specific device you have and your vehicle make/model/year

 

[Mike Gayner]

<----- Garage.

 

[AMCRambler]

Sounds like the one he bought is so cheap it doesn't have an lcd. Worst thread ever. You didn't even tell us who the manufacturer is. How are we supposed to guess at how it works? What you posted is akin to someone asking how to set the clock on their dvd player. INSTRUCTIONS ARE DIFFERENT FOR EVERY PLAYER!

Oh and wrong forum...

 

[NiceCold]

it is a 96 chevy. the device name is ditgital OBD2 car reader.

so you saying all i need to do was plug in the car and it shows the code in the device? and i look up the code for what it translate to the problem? no need to plug it in my desktop computer? no need to install the driver disc in my computer?



the one that connect the device to the car says the code is PA300 but not sure. where do i look at the code PA300? i look up the manual and dont see. what PA300 mean?

 

[punjabiplaya]

96 chevy what

 

[davmat787]

Are you positive the code is PA300 and not P0300?

 

[NiceCold]

96 chevy what

ok i got more info. the car is 96 corsica. when connect to the car..... it says po300

i dont have to connect the device to the desktop computer right? i did and it jus says data.


now all i have to do is find out the code what it means? PO300. does anyone know?


yea dav not pa. po. went check again it is po. how do i check the code for what it mean?

 

[davmat787]

So the code is now P0300, at first you stated PA300? That is why I asked if the code was P0, as that is a common code prefix apparently. Anyway, you might start looking here:

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0300

 

[NiceCold]

So the code is now P0300, at first you stated PA300? That is why I asked if the code was P0, as that is a common code prefix apparently. Anyway, you might start looking here:

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0300

yeah is ay pa300 wrong before. it is po300.

do you ever have po300 before? what it usually mean? i click the link and it have too many posibilities. what is the higher percent of actual problem is?

 

[lxskllr]

Does it piss anyone else off that makers don't supply $100 worth of computer parts, and an LCD screen so codes can be easily retrieved by the end user? The LCD could be used for other information also. I got lucky with my Jeep. 97 was the last year you could get the trouble codes off the odometer.

 

[lxskllr]

yeah is ay pa300 wrong before. it is po300.

do you ever have po300 before? what it usually mean? i click the link and it have too many posibilities. what is the higher percent of actual problem is?

You're gonna have to test stuff. Blindly replacing parts is how monkeys do work, and unless you get very lucky, it'll cost a lot more to fix.

 

[davmat787]

yeah is ay pa300 wrong before. it is po300.

do you ever have po300 before? what it usually mean? i click the link and it have too many posibilities. what is the higher percent of actual problem is?

No idea, never used an OBD reader before. I just googled "chevy corsica 1996 obd2 pa300" and came up with that link. I am not a car guy at all, it is just amazing what you can type into your browser bar and come up with. Just start searching like that and you will probably find your answer.

Also the garage forum here on AT will probably give you much better help.

 

[AMCRambler]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=1996+corsica+obd+codes

 

[AMCRambler]

Oh and don't forget there are some nice up and down arrows if it has a screen. You may have more than one code and you have to scroll through them. P0300 is usually accompanied by a second code which tells you which cylinder is misfiring. Then you just replace that spark plug.

 

[wischeez]

Random/multiple cylinder misfire..... Check/replace spark plugs and/or wires.

When is the last time you did a tune-up on the car?

 

[MtnMan]

P0300 - random cylinder misfire.

P030x - specifies the cylinder number.

 

[LTC8K6]

Does it piss anyone else off that makers don't supply $100 worth of computer parts, and an LCD screen so codes can be easily retrieved by the end user? The LCD could be used for other information also. I got lucky with my Jeep. 97 was the last year you could get the trouble codes off the odometer.

IIRC, the modern ones with the EVIC also display the codes.

My 08 GC does as do the Wranglers.

 

[NiceCold]

Random/multiple cylinder misfire..... Check/replace spark plugs and/or wires.

When is the last time you did a tune-up on the car?

replaced new spark plug and it have this error code. could this be something wrong with the spark plug? install wrong? but how?

and is it unessessary to plug in the device to my deasktop computer? why it have the connector to deasktop computer at the first place? whats it for?

 

[wischeez]

1 new plug, or ALL new plugs? Could also be a bad plug wire.

 

[davmat787]

Does it piss anyone else off that makers don't supply $100 worth of computer parts, and an LCD screen so codes can be easily retrieved by the end user? The LCD could be used for other information also. I got lucky with my Jeep. 97 was the last year you could get the trouble codes off the odometer.

Yea, seems like a weak way to ensure some additional revenue, as the end user will most likely take the vehicle into a dealership or service center to have it investigated. Conversely, all the dealership has to do is plug in the inexpensive reader to the vehicle to "diagnose" the problem and charge the customer for the privilege of reading info of off their own car.

 

[wischeez]

Auto Zone and a few other parts places will "scan" for nothing> At least around here they do.

 

[NiceCold]

1 new plug, or ALL new plugs? Could also be a bad plug wire.

all 6 plug brand new

 

[wischeez]

Again, is there a bad spark plug wire maybe? Or more than 1? Did you replace the plug wires too? Is the "gap" set correctly?

 

[exdeath]

Multiple misfire with no other codes = ignition module, distributor, monolithic coil, or crank/cam position sensor,etc. Things that affect all cylinders.

If it only started after you changed plugs, put the old ones back, clear the code and see if it comes back. May be the wrong plugs for your car. Gap, heat range, resistance, etc.