Diagnostic anaylsis for a 93 sunbird

Hey,

This question is out there for those who know abit about doing a diagnostics on a car.
Well, my check engine is coming on, but it doesn't make my car stall. It comes on after accelerating, or even if the car is on for a few minutes. After parking my car, the ' check engine' light will turn off.

I'm trying to save alil' money here, and I'm trying to find ways to get the diagnostic codes through the ignition. I've been told to switch the key back and forth three times and then wait for the engine light to flicker so many times. Doesn't work. So, then I tried the paper clip under the steering colummn. Doesn't work.

Are there any ways to find out how to do this, by hand home type style on a 1993 PONITAC SUNBIRD.

Any reliable help would be fantastic, and greatly appreciated.

Won't work on a GM, you will need a code scanner. They make an inexpensive one for OBD 1 cars but I am not sure that they will work for OBD 2 cars that will allow you to read the codes via the check engine light. According to the book I have your car should be an OBD 1 car. They plug into the diagnostic port under the dash They are usually available at most auto retailers and online for around $50 US. If you have an Autozone in your part of Canada, they will scan it for you and tell you what is going wrong.