checking engine codes - 96 century

[bigG]

Can you still check the engine codes by shorting the diag port to the grnd port? which ports are which, there are 3 on the top of the connector and 4 on the bottom. where can I get a list of the codes?

[bignoisey]

NO. You can't get the codes by shorting pins any longer.
From '96 on, the systems are ODBII. You need an ODBII scan tool. And actually its worth the investment if you do much of your own work at all. I shopped around and found a basic tool which is really a cable with a box in the middle that I hook up to my laptop computer. I paid less than $90 and it works on any of the three ODBII standards. Also you often can only reset the check engine light with this tool. If interested look at http://obddiagnostics.com/index.html. If you want to see more info on many ODBII scanners do an internet search on "ODBII" there's a ton of information on all kinds of products. Saving 1 or 2 trips to a diagnostic center usually pays for it.

[bigG]

Originally Posted by bignoisey

NO. You can't get the codes by shorting pins any longer.
From '96 on, the systems are ODBII. You need an ODBII scan tool. And actually its worth the investment if you do much of your own work at all. I shopped around and found a basic tool which is really a cable with a box in the middle that I hook up to my laptop computer. I paid less than $90 and it works on any of the three ODBII standards. Also you often can only reset the check engine light with this tool. If interested look at http://obddiagnostics.com/index.html. If you want to see more info on many ODBII scanners do an internet search on "ODBII" there's a ton of information on all kinds of products. Saving 1 or 2 trips to a diagnostic center usually pays for it.

Thanks for the info. I am glad I did not try to short out the pins like I used to do with older models.