One more Check Engine Light question

[Sheldon]

Well, the light has been off and on for several days now, so my mechanic
wants me to bring it in. My question, however, if more about those code
readers and reseters that you can buy off the Net.

They seem to cost around $60 and will give you the error code (you can look
the codes up on the Net), and will allow you to reset the light. I don't
plan on simply resetting the light and going on my way, and I firmly believe
any problem needs to be checked out. BUT, are these devices worth it just
to have so you, as the car owner, at least have an idea of what you're in
for when you do go to the mechanic? Or, you could even use them for an easy
reset if you forgot to tighten your gas cap.

Thanks.

Sheldon

 

[Michael Pardee]

Well, the light has been off and on for several days now, so my mechanic
wants me to bring it in. My question, however, if more about those code
readers and reseters that you can buy off the Net.

They seem to cost around $60 and will give you the error code (you can
look the codes up on the Net), and will allow you to reset the light. I
don't plan on simply resetting the light and going on my way, and I firmly
believe any problem needs to be checked out. BUT, are these devices worth
it just to have so you, as the car owner, at least have an idea of what
you're in for when you do go to the mechanic? Or, you could even use them
for an easy reset if you forgot to tighten your gas cap.

Thanks.

Sheldon

I think so. The price differences, at least as they relate to a late '90s
car, are primarily feature and convenience matters. More expensive ones
usually display the english meaning of the codes while (in general) less
expensive ones show the code and provide a book to look up the code. I took
the middle ground and bought one for about $170 US that offers periodic code
deciphering updates. For your car the newer CAN versions don't offer any
benefit.

They really are nice things to carry in the trunk on trips, so if the
"something's wrong but I won't tell you what it is" light comes on you can
see what's up, and either deal with it - like tighten the gas cap - and
reset the code or know why.

The readers will also tell you about "pending" codes - disturbances that are
beginning to annoy the ECU but aren't hard failures. In the case of your
mystery light, that could be helpful. If the codes start to come back under
only certain conditions, like acceleration, idle, cold or warm situations,
whatever... those would be good clues.

Mike

 

[mulder]

Well, the light has been off and on for several days now, so my mechanic
wants me to bring it in. My question, however, if more about those code
readers and reseters that you can buy off the Net.

They seem to cost around $60 and will give you the error code (you can look
the codes up on the Net), and will allow you to reset the light. I don't
plan on simply resetting the light and going on my way, and I firmly believe
any problem needs to be checked out. BUT, are these devices worth it just
to have so you, as the car owner, at least have an idea of what you're in
for when you do go to the mechanic? Or, you could even use them for an easy
reset if you forgot to tighten your gas cap.

Thanks.

Sheldon

Yes a scanner/reader is a very handy thing to have. They will also
work on any '96-later OBDII vehicle not just Subaru, so if you have
more than one car it's even more useful. I'd suggest staying away from
the cheap ones though. Check out the Code Scout from AutoXray at
www.autoxray.com

 

[frank ray]

Some auto parts stores (national types) offer FREE CHECK ENGINE CODE
service.. ...

 

[mulder]

Some auto parts stores (national types) offer FREE CHECK ENGINE CODE
service.. ...

Autozone is the only one I know that does it for free. But it's much
more convenient to have your own scanner so you can do it yourself.
Also the scanner can provide you with the information you need to
actually track down the problem that caused the light to come on.

 

[Michael Pardee]

Some auto parts stores (national types) offer FREE CHECK ENGINE CODE
service.. ...

I'm glad both options are available. I have only used mine a few times, but
then I only have one car it works on... the other three in the family are
pre-96. I've also heard the Autozone service isn't available in Silicon
Valley - anybody confirm or debunk that?

Mike

 

[Sheldon]

I think so. The price differences, at least as they relate to a late '90s
car, are primarily feature and convenience matters. More expensive ones
usually display the english meaning of the codes while (in general) less
expensive ones show the code and provide a book to look up the code. I took
the middle ground and bought one for about $170 US that offers periodic code
deciphering updates. For your car the newer CAN versions don't offer any
benefit.

They really are nice things to carry in the trunk on trips, so if the
"something's wrong but I won't tell you what it is" light comes on you can
see what's up, and either deal with it - like tighten the gas cap - and
reset the code or know why.

The readers will also tell you about "pending" codes - disturbances that are
beginning to annoy the ECU but aren't hard failures. In the case of your
mystery light, that could be helpful. If the codes start to come back under
only certain conditions, like acceleration, idle, cold or warm situations,
whatever... those would be good clues.

Mike

I had the same thought. I took the car in today, and it keeps coming up as
the throttle position sensor (they drove it around hooked up), so they are
going to install a new one, no charge for labor.

I figure if I'm out in the middle of nowhere and the light comes on at least
I can get a code and know whether the car needs a tow or I can keep going.
I've heard stories about people driving for years with their light on, and
others who's engines blew up shortly after the light came on.

My mechanic wishes that they would make the light so when the failure is
critical the light glowed red instead of orange. That would be nice. He
seems to spend most of his days diagnosing Check Engine lights on newer
cars.

 

[mulder]

I'm glad both options are available. I have only used mine a few times, but
then I only have one car it works on... the other three in the family are
pre-96. I've also heard the Autozone service isn't available in Silicon
Valley - anybody confirm or debunk that?

Mike

From what I understand they do not do the free scans in CA. Something
about the shops getting upset or whatever. They may allow you to do it
yourself by leaving a deposit and borrowing the scanner then bringing
it back when you're done. I'd suggest calling or stopping by a local
Autozone to get the official answer.

 

[Michael Pardee]

I figure if I'm out in the middle of nowhere and the light comes on at
least
I can get a code and know whether the car needs a tow or I can keep going.
I've heard stories about people driving for years with their light on, and
others who's engines blew up shortly after the light came on.

My mechanic wishes that they would make the light so when the failure is
critical the light glowed red instead of orange. That would be nice. He
seems to spend most of his days diagnosing Check Engine lights on newer
cars.

Normally, the "check engine" light is only related to emissions systems and
doesn't herald anything so wrong you can't drive the car. Sometimes it will
be things like VSS failure, which can cause some cars to stick in low gear,
but more often the light is there to say you have an otherwise symptomless
failure that is causing you to pollute.

An exception is anything that causes the engine to run very rich - the
catalytic converter can be damaged by the excess heat. Still, the car can be
driven normally in town and gently on the highway with the "gently"
restriction lifted when the fuel economy is found to be normal.

Mike