My SES light has been coming on now in the past few days after the car is warmed up . I know there is a way to read the codes with a paperclip .But , does it throw out the actual numbers of the codes where the SES light is or how does this work ? Im too much of a cheapskate right now to buy a code scanner I feel like I almost have continuous problems with this damn car ! But I love it to much to get rid of it ! :hail:

 

ttt:lala:

 

come on guys , I know someone can help me

 

Yes -- the paper clip method will give you the # of the code. the SES light will flash a code 12 (one flash, pause, two flashes) three times. Then it will give you the trouble codes in the same manner (ex. code 14 = one flash, pause, four flashes). If there is more than one code it will give each code once then go back and give them again (ex if you had a 14, 32, and 54 the SES will flash 14-32-54-14-32-54-14-32-54). You will be done when the SES light flashes three 12 codes. The tech article on the main page should tell you all this

 

Only the $300 code scanners will show you a number. The $40 ones flash a light, just like the paperclip method.

 

Thanx guys !

Man , thanx Tom for telling me the $40 only flashes like the paperclip method , I was still thinkng about buying a code scanner , but what's the point if I can just stick a paperclip in it ?

 

Ok , so lets just say I have a code 54 , would I get 5 flashes pause then 4 flashes ? I didnt see this on the tech page , maybe Im overlooking it ?

Thanx for all the help guys .

 

Now your cookin'

 

No problem, Wayne! The big selling point of those scanners is that they come with a big book that tells you the codes... but you can get code info here, and in the Haynes manual, and you get the full diagnostic charts (like my code 32 and 54 charts) in the GM service manual.

Ever look into the adapter that lets you read the computer from a laptop? A couple guys on this v6 forum did it, and it worked for them... I've gotta do it one of these days. I have two cheap laptops that can barely run DOS 6, let alone Windows 3.1! If you find a laptop (like say an IBM Thinkpad, like this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=2046836584 ) for cheap, make your own cable, and you'll have a scanner just as good (if not better) than the $300 ones they sell! Only drawback is that it could only work for GM cars... but that's what we own. The $300 scanners can work on ford, dodge, imports, etc...

 

Thanx guys !

 

Ok guys , I am totally dumb when it comes to this code thing . Mine works I can follow it when the sequence some , but then I get totally lost and dont know if its repeating the 12 thing again or now . . I HAVE to get this car fixed before Mon because thats when I start driving it to school . IM not going to put it in the shop because thats just a complete waste of time , they never find out whats wrong with it , or it does not act up for them .Here's what its doing again , It's been doing this for prabably 2 months now . When I take off , it hesitates real bad and kinda backfires a little , not loud , but noticable . Last time it was in the shop a fuel gauge was put on it and the fuel pressure was fine . Everything ignition wise is good , i just put on anothe fuel pressure regulator , my old one broke in two pieces when I took it off , the one I have now , when I took it off the other car it stayed in once piece .The timing was also set on the car the last time it was in the shop . I just unpluged my mass airflow sensor , it still acted up so I dont think its that , but Im about to go test it with my tester . Would my fuel relay make my car act up like this ? This car is driving me crazy , it has not run good in two months .

 

If the SES light is coming on, there will be a code in addition to the code 12. It would be extremely helpful to identify and fix that code first before chasing the driveability issue. Chances are, whatever is causing the code is causing the driveability issue. Do you have a manual (Haynes, Chilton)? If not, :nono: ... Well count the flashes and the pauses and post it here....

 

Will it keep just going on and on and on . or will it flash forever then stop when its done flashing ?

Im sorry Im being a pain in the *** today .

 

yes it will keep going on and on as long as you leave that clip in there. When I check my codes I usually let it cycle through 2 or three times. When it goes back to flashing three "12's", it has cycled through. My check method goes like this

three "12's--- codes ---- three "12's" ---- codes --- three "12's" (pull clip out) -- done

 

I think Wayne's having a bad day... he can diagnose a bad fuel pressure regulator (hard), but can't get the computer codes out (easier job)! Just bustin' on ya dude! Yeah, the computer will repeat the codes forever, until the battery dies, or you turn the key to off. Each code repeats three times, when there's no more codes, they repeat from the first code. Say I've got error code 32... I'd see the following sequence-

12, 12, 12, 32, 32, 32, 12, 12, 12, 32, 32, 32, 12, 12, 12...

(flash, pause, flash flash, pause pause pause, flash, pause, flash flash, pause pause pause, flash, pause, flash flash, pause pause pause, flash flash flash, pause, flash flash, pause pause pause, flash flash flash ...)

if I had no error codes, I'd see

12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, agh!

Did you run thru that code 54 chart I mentioned before? That'll check out the whole fuel pressure electrical system. And yep, you'd see 5 flashes, a pause, then 4 flashes. I usually count the flashes out loud (one, two, three, (pause) one, two = 32) to make sure I don't lose track. One other thing; you're not starting the car with the paperclip in, right? That puts the ECM into field service mode, and the SES light flashes differently. You only want to turn the key from "off" to "run", where all the dash lights come on, and you could use your radio.

 

I think your right Tom , heh .
Yeah , im doing this with the car off and the key in the on positon .

I printed off how to do it from the FAQ section , could not figure it out for hell or high water !!!! LoL Just then I got my haynes manual out , and figured it out on the second try . I pulled up codes 32 and 34 .

im translating this now in my manual ...

 

Just to make sure Im looking off the right chart . code 32 egr system , i think i have a loose hose or something is not hooked up right there .

code 34 MAF sensor . I tested my MAF with my sensor tester , and it failed the test where I rev the engine but passed the other two test . Just to make sure my MAF is not working I want to check it also with my multimeter .

 

Yep, 32 & 34 are right... hopefully it's just a cracked hose on the EGR system. Hey if the EGR is stuck open it could cause the car to stall; I had that problem... you can feel the diaphragm from underneath the EGR, the bottom is cut "open". But i don't think you'd set a code 32 if the valve was stuck open.