Engine codes

[Hearts88]

Hey, I got a 99 Lumina with the 3.8L.

Recently my Engine light came on. I went and got a book from my local library. In the older GM's you could jump the com plug and read the flashes of the engine light. There is nothing of this in the book. All are letter and numberic codes.
No where around here lets you "loan" a code reader.
So is there a way to jump it and read them yourself?
Or am I SOL and need to get it into a garage?

Thanks for any help.
Hearts88

[Blue Bowtie]

There is no diagnostic request routine which will display error codes like the ECM cars used. You do have options, however. There are various code scanners available for $40-50 which will retrieve stored codes, display them, and turn off the MIL. The down-side of that it that they don't display the freeze-frame data from the conditions which set the DTC. However, given the sophistication and broad monitoring capabilities of most modern PCMs, simply having the error code is frequently enough to point you in the right direction. It's certainly as good or better than the older ECMs and "paper clip" system.



Further, many chain auto parts stores like AutoZone and Advance Auto Parts have error code scanners which will do this, and most of those will provide a free code scanning if you simply drive in and ask. Again, they don't produce a print-out of data, nor the historical data, but do provide error codes. I suspect these places offer the service to help them sell parts. You can use this to your advantage.

[gw84]

just something I've noticed from one autozone to the next. I have asked at a couple of different Autozone stores, if they can do anything for check engine lights. One said "your vehicle is too old" They don't know jack s***. At another Autozone however, the lady was most helpful with the question. She pulled a code, showed me how to do it and gave me the "key" to pull my own codes. This store was in Mount Vernon, Indiana. They are great!!