91 euro , engine issues

[nancyc]

Saw on the news here in philly about the different code readers u can buy to ck codes yourself. trouble is they dont go below 96 and i have a 91. anyway I can ck codes myself BEFORE taking to mechanic and paying the HIGH fee of diagnostics?

My car is acting up and service eng soon lite comes on about 1-2x a month . goes on for a bit then goes out. had mechanic ck this last yr and he said nothing came up. so could it be a faulty something that is causing it to go on ? i dont think so.

when i drive its ok, when i come to stop and idle it feels like it shudders and may stall, but doesnt. then RPM gauge sits at line before 1 but the needle bounces and u can feel engine , its rough. if i put car in neutral its better or park. but as soon as i go back into drive it will shudder and feel like its going to stall.

my car has 128K on it. Id like to know how i can ck and change plugs and wires myself. i keep reading about O2 sensors and eng vacum cks for leaks. i guess i need a mechanic to do that for me. ck idle speed and mixture too.

any ideas on doing this myself and cking codes myself, even without those code readers?

thanks
nancy

[Manny_boy]

those code readers are for what is called OBDII, 91 cars are OBDI, you can check your codes with a paper clip (yes, I'm serious). just below your steering column is a black connector, called an ALDL (assembly line diagnostic link). The right side of the ALDL, on the top line of pins, are port A & B. IF you insert a paper clip into port A & B and then turn your ignition to on, but do NOT start the car, it will enter diagnostic mode. Your check engine light will flash any codes that are stored.

The first code you will see will be 12 (the check engine light will flash once, pause, then twice. the sequence will repeat three times, then if you have any other codes the next code will flash after a long pause after the third code 12) You should always see 12 - that's normal.

You can find the list of what the codes mean at Autozone.com in their repair section.

Autozone.com

Side note: The fact that you even asked how to check your own codes says you have potential, a lot of women don't even care; methinks you'll be turning your own wrenches soon.

[nancyc]

thanks, manny. im hands on but need a lot more of the right tools. a paper clip huh? im going to try it. when u say lite will flash any codes stored, do u mean in words or just numbers is what i will see? then look up the numbers to see what that code means? when the sequence repeats it will repeat exact as first? flash once then pause then twice and this will repeat 3x? why will i always see # 12?
thanks, nancy

[PepeLuche]

what you will see is the check engine soon lite flash, so what you have to do is actually count the flashes, code 12 means you are ok, no problemo, and so, and it flash 12 first, to indicate the code sequence, so say you put your paper clip, then it'll flash * _ * * ___ * _ * * ___ (where * is flash, and __ is space). Write the number down, and then check it out, io hope i was clear and it'll help you.

[Carwhiz]

Reading OBDI codes is a headaches sometimes. Simply take it to AutoZone where they can read the codes for free.