Check Engine Light

Hello,

The Check Engine Light came on in my Blazer today. It’s a Canadian ’96 LS 6-cyl “W” motor with 166,200 Kms (100,000 miles) on it.

By doing a search on this forum I have found that in the US you can go to places like Autozone and have these codes read for free – but I haven’t been able to find any such place here in Canada that will do that for me. Every place I called today wanted $70 to $80 just to scan the codes! So I guess I have three questions…

Firstly, is there anyone that knows of a Canadian chain that does the free code reading? (Or is there anyway to do it myself?) I know there can be some differences between the Canadian and American vehicles.

Secondly, what are the chances that this is just a code triggered by mileage? I had a Canadian Jeep YJ that had an emissions light that came on after about 160,000 Kms -- this was done by Jeep as a way to get you to change the O2 sensor in the vehicle at a set mileage point. Do these Canadian Blazers have the same sort of set up?

Thirdly, everything seems to be running fine, but not knowing what the problem is, should I keep driving the Blazer until I can get it scanned, or should I just park it? I don’t want to do any more damage if something is actually broken.

Thanks for the help.


Z

If the light was flashing, or is still flashing as you drive, DON'T drive it until you can pull the codes. If the light's on as soon as you crank the engine over, and stays on steady, it is not a serious fault, but may still be a hard component failure. As soon as possible, get that code read, and there is no appreciable difference between the Blazers sent to Canada and the one's here in the US. Unfortunately, until you locate and borrow a Scantool of some sort to hook up to the computer plug under the driver's side knee bolster - nope, you cannot do anything in the common home garage to diagnose the code itself.

I would try alot of mechanical shops.
I got a transmission shop to scan my codes for free.

Auto Value scans codes for free.

Scan the codes BEFORE you start diagnosing the problem.

Okay,

I looked at, checked and played with just about everything I could think of -- gas cap, vaccuum hoses, wires, connectors, etc. But each time I started it up yesterday the check engine light still came on.

Today I had decided to break down and go spend the $80 and have the codes read, and of course when I go out and start up the Blazer this morning there's no Check Engine light on anymore!

Does this mean I have fixed the problem (like maybe just a loose gas cap)???

I know the codes are stored in the computer's history, but I guess what I'm really asking is, should I still hand over $80 to have the codes read (so I have a better idea of what caused the problem), or should I just wait to see if the light comes on again and then get it scanned then. I just don't want to spend the 80 bucks if I have already fixed the problem!

Thanks,

Z

If the light went out and you're thinking about having the codes read for $80 just go out and buy a scantool for the same price. Advance Auto Parts sells the "Pocket Scan" for like $70 and it comes with a CD containing information on almost all ODBII codes. Good luck. Peace-

He is in Canada.

You probably had a loose gas cap.

He is in Canada.

You probably had a loose gas cap.

But, places like Advance auto, Auto Zone, etc... have web pages that you can order from anywhere in the world. Or eBay or any number of places online you can buy a scan tool from. Or I'm sure there are auto parts stores in Canana that sell scan tools. It just doesn't make sense to pay $80 to have it diagnosed one time when you can buy the same ODBII scanner for as cheap as $60 and scan many cars as many times as you want. Peace-