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dsr70
10-14-2005, 09:36 PM
I've got a stock '03.5 and up popped the check engine light today. 27k on the ticker. Not a peep of trouble till now.

I'll have to get an OBDII scanner from Autozone on Sat. and see what's up.

Any wild guesses?

Doug
kcbhiw
10-14-2005, 10:15 PM
I've got a stock '03.5 and up popped the check engine light today. 27k on the ticker. Not a peep of trouble till now.

I'll have to get an OBDII scanner from Autozone on Sat. and see what's up.

Any wild guesses?

Doug

O2 sensor? EGR system? Who knows. It's impossible to tell from this vantage without the codes being pulled.
dsr70
10-14-2005, 11:02 PM
O2 sensor? EGR system? Who knows. It's impossible to tell from this vantage without the codes being pulled.

Are the OBDII codes specific enough that I'll know what is wrong with 95% certainty? This is my first OBDII car. The old OBDI codes were so vague. Any number of things could cause one of those codes.

Doug
mp3josh
10-14-2005, 11:04 PM
OBDII codes pin point 95% of the problems unless you have something that multiple sensors ;) Like the EVAP systems. Then that could have one code for like 5 things that could be wrong.
Captain KRM P5
10-14-2005, 11:08 PM
at that low of miles it may be a freak thing and just vanish after a few days or less
mp3josh
10-14-2005, 11:09 PM
could just be that you didn't tighten your gas cap. ect.
Captain KRM P5
10-14-2005, 11:12 PM
common jeep problem
mp3josh
10-14-2005, 11:14 PM
You wouldn't believe it but it is a problem for the old Lexus owners too :-D they are too old to know when or how to tighten up their gas caps.

The other day I had a car come in for a leak of clear fluid. Which was where the AC drain, drained out. I laughed so hard because I wasted my time! HAHA

-Joshua
Captain KRM P5
10-14-2005, 11:23 PM
unspent fuel was shooting from the rx-7's muffler tonight. i put my hand down there and when i pulled it back it was dripping wet. something tells me the carburetor requires adjustment...
kcbhiw
10-14-2005, 11:25 PM
As stated, the OBD codes help a lot in pin pointing the problem.

Pull the code and have a look at the FSM (links can be found on this site) to assist in finding the exact problem. The FSM will give a step by step diagnosis procedure.
aMaff
10-15-2005, 12:48 AM
I've got a stock '03.5 and up popped the check engine light today. 27k on the ticker. Not a peep of trouble till now.

I'll have to get an OBDII scanner from Autozone on Sat. and see what's up.

Any wild guesses?

Doug
Like, ur gonna buy 1, or do they have them for you to rent / borrow? Just curious, this may be a good tidbit for if I ever throw a code (I'm sure it'll happen eventually...). If either of the first 2, how much $$ are they?
GNO
10-15-2005, 01:41 AM
They'll come out to your car and scan codes. They also loan them out.

You can get a scanner that'll just give codes for $30. Mine lets me check the sensors specific readings real time, but it has to hook up to a PC. . . $180.
Bijou-MP5
10-15-2005, 01:55 AM
did you spray under the hood?
check spark wires and plugs.
aMaff
10-15-2005, 08:40 AM
They'll come out to your car and scan codes. They also loan them out.

You can get a scanner that'll just give codes for $30. Mine lets me check the sensors specific readings real time, but it has to hook up to a PC. . . $180.
I did not know that. Good info!
dsr70
10-19-2005, 10:11 PM
could just be that you didn't tighten your gas cap. ect.

Incredibly I think this was it. The code was P0442 - Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (small leak). Comes up as likely gas cap. I cleared it and no new CEL in a few days.

Doug
mp3josh
10-19-2005, 10:45 PM
glad that I could help ya!
SecondTwoNone
10-26-2005, 09:07 PM
Is there anyway to diagnose the cause of a CEL if you don't have a OBDII device?
dsr70
10-27-2005, 01:13 AM
Is there anyway to diagnose the cause of a CEL if you don't have a OBDII device?

In the old days of OBD I, it was possible to use a paper clip to trip the computer to blink out the code via the CEL. But there are so many OBD II codes now, possibly into the thousands. No reason why the blinking couldn't work, though. But in practice I know of no OBD II car that does it.

Autozone offers free reader loans if you have one near.

Doug
aMaff
10-27-2005, 08:44 AM
can't u use a voltometer and check the code through there...or was that just ODBI?
mogi
10-27-2005, 10:53 AM
voltmeter to read codes? wtf?
how is that supposed to work?
SkinnyJoint
10-27-2005, 11:22 AM
my wifes p5 had the same thing, it has to do with the charcoal canister i forgot what its called but i think it deals with emissions obviously lol, but yea i just reset her ecu and hasnt appeared since, this happend about 2-3 months ago so yea i wouldnt worry