Question about Engine Code readers

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4538476677&category=43989


This guy is selling a code reader... I want to know everyone's opinion that has a T-bird. I own a 1991 Ford Thunderbird LX , 3.8l automatic , Mileage: 151,000. I am just wondering If it'll work on my model and not only work but just give off codes on my engine,transmission,etc.

Please if you think you know something that I obviously don't feel free to speak you're mind.

All of the T-bird lovers dont want to lose their birds :grinyes:

That's not going to work on your car, It's only meant to read codes on cars built after 1996. You can go to Auto Zone and they sell a code reader for pre-OBD II Ford vehicles. I used to have a code reader for my '85 T-bird. When you find it, you'll only be able to pull up engine trouble codes, not transmission b/c Ford didn't start using electronics in the AOD until 1993.

thanks :) Im glad I'm not an impulsive buyer or else I would have had a 60$ paper-weight. Well, thanks to guys like you I now know what it really uses. How much do you think these run (price wise) at auto part stores?

I bought my code reader from Sears for $50. They're not that expensive and they're a dime a dozen.

A paper-clip won't cost you anything.

haha what do you mean by that?

This is what the guy on ebay said... (haha)


Hi, this will work just fine on your 3.8, as for the codes it can ID, it will retrieve ANY trouble code that your computer has stored. It has that much capability. Thanks for looking, and good luck, Ernest.


lol! yeah buddy. surre

Big difference between EEC and OBD.

Anyway, with a paperclip and a multimeter you can short 2 of the pins and connect the multimeter to 2 others and count the needle sweeps of the multimeter to read the codes. It has to be an analog style.

I cant find a PRE OBD anywhere online, know any sites ??? :smile:

Parts America and Pep Boys have them on their shelves.

www.toolsource.com/ost/product.asp?sourceid=googleactron&dept%5Fid=500&pf%5Fid=50112&mscssid=ABQQQM4D51TT9PGMF63DJUD2XEUJ9DC7
www.midwayautosupply.com/detailedproductdescription.asp?3829

thanks alot...

wow, those are pretty cheap too!

I think I paid $29.95 for my Actron at Pep Boys.

Big difference between EEC and OBD.

Anyway, with a paperclip and a multimeter you can short 2 of the pins and connect the multimeter to 2 others and count the needle sweeps of the multimeter to read the codes. It has to be an analog style.


hey i have a digital multimeter... where do I hook up the needles to get the codes? as you can tell I haven't done this before, but its under the dash somewhere, correct? Also, once I do get codes and learn this method. Will I be able to find them in my owners manual under "codes"? I see the section there. Is this method hard at all? (if you havent done it before). I can catch on pretty quick though.

The diagnostic connector is under the hood by the heater core. The codes won't be listed in the owners manual. It's been 15+ years since I've done it that way and don't remember but, if memory serves, I think I found the steps in a Mitchell manual at the library.

well, atleast I know the location now.