I read somewhere that I could attach something to some part under the dashboard to get a trouble code and then use a graph of different trouble codes to find out why my check engine light came on. I have the graph (an example would be trouble code 12 means there is no distributer reference pulse). Does anybody know how to do this/where to get the tools to do this?

 

this should be helpful

 

yes you can do this. for example on my 88 firebird on the right hand side of the steering wheel under the dash there is an opening with a plug that has many plug ins in it . i think they have 19 holes in them. there are tools that you can buy that plug into them, but you can easily get the codes with a paper clip. first bend it into a straight line. then bend it around so both ends are about 1/4 inch away from each other. on the plug located under your dash there will be 2 rows of holes you will see little metel things inside each hole. find the last 2 holes on the top row of the plug and put one end in each of the holes. with ur key turned forward but with the car not on you will first get a code 12 then you will get any other code after it.you must keep the paper clip in it to get the codes. if you have a standard car the shift like will come on also

how to read them

each code will blink itself 3 times.(there will be a noticable pause between each time it blinks 12). then go to the next code

12 -Blink..quick pause..blink blink then after it does that it will go on to the second code..

sayy 32 blinkblinkblink..quick pause.. blinkblink once all the codes are finished it will start all over again at 12

_____________
|o o o o o o o o| <----these last two
|o o o o o o o o| (what the connector looks like)
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this will only work on OBD-1 (On Board Diagnostics) equiped cars
which are cars from 1982 to 1995 i beleive

hope i helped message me if you dont understand something

 

my mistake i have a hard time seeing words that are links