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paper clip wtf is it true

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Old Sep 1, 2011 | 09:50 AM
  #1  
jreyes916's Avatar
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Car: 89 camaro
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paper clip wtf is it true

can a paper clip read check engine light codes by its blinks
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Old Sep 1, 2011 | 09:57 AM
  #2  
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From: St. Louis, Missouri
Car: 1989 Firebird Formula
Engine: 383 Stealth Ram
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Re: paper clip wtf is it true

The paper clip doesn't "read" anything. It grounds the data port terminals causing the Check Engine light to blink. Do a search on this... it's been covered many, many times.
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Old Sep 1, 2011 | 10:28 AM
  #3  
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From: Pepperell, MA
Car: 1987 Trans Am
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Re: paper clip wtf is it true

on GM OBDI vehicles, there's no reason to spend money on a code reader (different than diagnostic tool) when a short piece of wire or paper clip will do the trick for much cheaper.
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Old Sep 1, 2011 | 12:10 PM
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Car: 87 z28 stock
Engine: 305 tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Re: paper clip wtf is it true

GM Check Engine light Codes without a Scan Tool

its all here
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Old Sep 1, 2011 | 12:25 PM
  #5  
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Re: paper clip wtf is it true

Originally Posted by z28romance

Thank you! I am going to read this link right now!

Didnt early third gens used to have a feature where you would turn the ingition on and off a certain amount of times and the codes would flash?
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Old Sep 1, 2011 | 02:30 PM
  #6  
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From: St. Louis, Missouri
Car: 1989 Firebird Formula
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Transmission: 700R4
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Re: paper clip wtf is it true

Originally Posted by JimRockford
Didnt early third gens used to have a feature where you would turn the ingition on and off a certain amount of times and the codes would flash?
I've never heard of that.
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Old Sep 1, 2011 | 02:32 PM
  #7  
lunaticinaZ's Avatar
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From: Hendersonville North Carolina
Car: 1991 Black Z28 G92
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Re: paper clip wtf is it true

dodge has that
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Old Sep 2, 2011 | 09:30 PM
  #8  
jreyes916's Avatar
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Car: 89 camaro
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Re: paper clip wtf is it true

so its true im gonna check that and what if your check engne light comes on when the car is in drive for a while
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Old Sep 3, 2011 | 12:07 PM
  #9  
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From: Macon, GA
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Re: paper clip wtf is it true

Just a little note. The paperclip works. The wire works. Solder, however, will not work. I had a 1 inch long piece of solder I tried to use once and it did nothing. Thought that was odd although Im sure tehre's a good reason for it.
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