(please help) 1995 Jetta - Reading the Check Engine Codes

[bperazich]

Call for Help.

I've got a 95 Jetta, and the check-engine light just started intermitently turning on.

I've read various postings and checked my book, and I'm told that I should do the following to read out the codes:

1. open up the "port" next to the ash-tray
2. turn the ignition on
3. short out pins 4 and 15 fpr 3 seconds
4. read out the "flashing codes" as a morse-code from the check-engine light.

I have followed these insturctions numerous times to no avail. All that happens is the following:

1. when the ignition is on, the check-engine light is on.
2. when i short out pins 4 and 15, the engine light turns off
3. when i subsequently short the pins, the light turns on, but only when shorted. otherwise it's off.
4. when i turn off the car and turn on the ignition again, the light comes on again.

I've tried this with various combinations of delay times, turning-on the ignition/engine, etc. The stupod thig doesn't flash out the codes!

I've culled through these postings, and found the following link which had a similar problem.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/t284806.html

However, this individul never figured out how to get this work.

Anyone else have this problem? How did you overcome the issue? Thanks for you help ...


later,
-Branko.

[nicoleos]

I had tried the same exact thing. Boschman told me that some cars, like ours, wont work with the mickey mouse way of reading the codes. Need an obd II reader.

[jstbecauz]

Where are you? If you close I will read them for you. I am in Florida

[bperazich]

I'm in the San Francisco Bay area ... my driving plans don't include a drive by through Florida, but thanks for the offer!

Is there a way to definitively identify for *which* 95 Jettas this "Mickey Mouse" methodology won't work?

[bperazich]

I'm also considering buying a VAG-COM. will cost $250 ... any suggestions on if this is worht it?

[rhaleblian]

hiya - Chilton's 97 Jetta book calls the mickey mouse method "flashing diagnostic codes" or "jumper cable mothed" and says these Digifant I models allow it:
1990-1993 Fox
1991-1993 Cabriolet

it implies that a 95 Jetta cannot be flashed - a diag tester is mandatory. as an aside, ODBII came into effect in 1996.

Folks here suggest going to AutoZone to get them to read codes for free, that worked for me, they let me borrow a generic tester.

[bperazich]

In California, AutoZone cannot read the codes for free - some stupid law.

I "rented" their ODB-II reader ... but of couse, the 95-Jetta is ODB-I compliant.

Will AutoZone "rent" a reade that will work for non-OBD-II compliant cars?

[rhaleblian]

Dayum! For you LA people: in my case the Culver City AutoZone said they were not allowed to touch my car, but instead traded my license for the tester and let me traipse off and read codes myself.

[boschmann]

The VAG-COM is the best alternative if your '95 won't flash the codes. There are people that sell other (cheaper $) interfaces seperately on eBay & other places. The VAG software is downloadable shareware & will work in basic mode with any interface, just don't expect tech support.

[bperazich]

How reliabale are the ebay interfaces? I've looked them over ... some are being sold from China, other (more expensive) ones are made in the US-of-A.

[boschmann]

I have the VAG-COM, HEX-COM+CAN cable. People say any properly made cable will basically work. It might come down to if you want the CAN capability or a USB connection which aren't available on the non-RossTech units. Also the shareware version of the software is not full function, it costs $99 "registration" to get all the functions. Hope this helps some.