Well just a little rant here people. I finally get a chance to get my codes read for my check engine light. I go to autozone in Manchester, and ask them if they can read my codes. They're like sure, what year is your car, and I'm like, it's a 2000. so this chick comes out with the code reader, pulgs it into my OBDII port and switches my ignition to the on position. Nothing. Tries it 2 more times, wiggle the plug a little bit and goes hmmm, your port doesn't work., and walks back inside the store. So now after I go to get a second opinion, if it still doesn't work, what do I do? I'm so mad right now. I really need to get my codes read so I can find out what sensors and how many I'm gonna need to replace. Any suggestions prople? I looked behind the port and all of the wires seem to be fine. Does anybody know how many pins there is supposed to be coming out the front of the port? Mine has 7 I think. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks guys!
____________________ "Men and boys alike love burnouts because they involve machinery, loud noises, and destruction."
Well I called Dan and Chelly and apperently she was doing it back asswards. You're supposed to plug the scanner in adn then turn the ignition on. She had me turn the ignition on and then she plugged it in. I'm gonna go back tomorrow and try again, and hopefully I'll get somebody that is at least halfway competent. If that doesn't work I'll just have to buy my own scanner and be the most popular guy on TF cause I could read codes and shut CEL's off!.
____________________ "Men and boys alike love burnouts because they involve machinery, loud noises, and destruction."
I had similar problems with the dolts at Autozone so I bought my own. Dan has one too. Totally worth it if you ask me. Got mine on ebay for about $120 if memory serves.
Turn off all extra equipment like radio or lights before you turn off the car..., plug in the OBDII reader, turn ignition to on, turn OBDII reader on if need be, hit "Link" or similar button on OBDII reader to read the car's computer, done. Really quite easy, but clearly too hard for the "pros" at Autozone.
I bought a PDA and Dyno-Scan from auterraweb.com and I cant think of a better automotive investment I have made. Ive even been able to help out several friends when their CEL's came on and give them an idea as to where they should start.
Along with the Scan Tool functions, the Dyno-Scan has a great Dyno meter built in with 1/4 mile times, horsepower / torque curves, 0-60 measurements and so on. I love it and it stays with me in the glovebox. I spent maybe $225 for the Software and the PDA and as far as Im concerned it was worth every penny. Its one of the more universal systems out there too. As long as it is a 1996 or newer vehicle, I can hook up. Whether its Ford, GM, Chrysler, foreign or domestic. That was one of the bigger selling points for me. I didnt have to buy a module for each manufacturer.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
Some chicks shouldn't be allowed to play with tools! Gimme that thing...I'll show her how it's done!
Anyway, Mikey, let us know what's up and if you can talk to the manager or something.
As Daniel said - be sure everything is off and your ignition is off and then let the person at AutoZone check it.
CKA - So long as the person @ AutoZone actually knows what they are doing and their equipment is fine...there is no reason to pay an hour worth of labor for a 2 minute proceedure just to get some codes that many you can fix yourself.
I refuse to pay extra for an easy fix.
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
SS-I didn't know that thing could dyno stuff. I was planning on getting a G Tech sometime for 1/4 mile times and such. I have a scan tool already. What does that thing do that a regular scan tool for codes doesn't do?
Basically what it does that a regular scan tool wont is the dyno stuff. I can do 1/4 mile ET's with 60' and 1/8 mile marks. Gives me Time and Speed. I can do 0-60mph accelerations. I can do the dyno stuff, horsepower and torque measurments. The 1/4 mile stuff seems pretty accurate. It was right in line with my track times. I did my scan tool runs on a really flat road and the track had a pretty good incline. So given those factors the Scan Tool was right on.
The horsepower and torque curves are a litte tricky to dial in but once you have all the numbers that are needed you can get a fairly accurate idea of where everything is. It can do data logging too on several different parameters that you can import into Excel and then graph. I posted some graphs a long time ago on the old board of my oxygen sensors when I was having a bit of a tiff with them.
I like it, and it was worth the money. I do wish it did some of the extended OBD II data, but for what I paid and for what I got I aint going to complain. Im thinking that I may eventually get another set up for my laptop and buy one that can do the extended data for Ford. I really want to do some real time testing on aftermarket mods like intake, pullies and so on. See in real world use what difference they make, not just hp and torque.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
