Check Engine light trick

[madhat]

I heard from someone that there was a way to "hot wire" the check engine port under the dash using a paperclip so I could see what code it was trying to display...and I was hoping one of you knew that trick.

 

[FastRegalWE2]

yep, put the clip in the A and B terminals, they are the last 2 on the right side of the DLC.

 

[Pat Adkins]

Put in paper clip with key off, then turn key on light will blink once pause then blink twice (= code 12) it will do this 3 times then it will give out codes if there are any. for example if it blinks 3 times then a pause then blinks 1 time it would be a code 31 it will give whatever code 3 times, also watch it after that it could give another one if you have multiple codes.

 

[madhat]

The very right? aka top/bottom or two top left/bottom?
I could not get it to work...it did flicker at me for a bit a couple of the times though....but it did that when I took it out too.

 

[rb68rr]

Go to www.gnttype.org. Click on trouble code ref. Good explanation.

 

[6pack]

Originally posted by madhat
The very right? aka top/bottom or two top left/bottom?
I could not get it to work...it did flicker at me for a bit a couple of the times though....but it did that when I took it out too.

The 2 very last top right terminals in the aldl block

 

[XLR8]

That is of course unless your aldl block was factory installed upside down like mine was.

 

[ttypewe4jim]

Originally posted by XLR8
That is of course unless your aldl block was factory installed upside down like mine was.

thats the first time i have ever heard of this..... do u know of any other cars that were like this one

 

[gofstbuick]

Every single GM C4 (1st generation OBD1) or C3 (2nd generation OBD1) computerized engine controlled vehicle, from as early as 1978. Though the concept is basically the same, there are different methods of activating self diagnosic code retreval.

 

[XLR8]

No. I think mine is one of those rare factory freaks.

 

[RareT]

Originally posted by ttypewe4jim
thats the first time i have ever heard of this..... do u know of any other cars that were like this one

Mine came that way....and as a matter of fact, it is still upside down.

Ed

 

[madhat]

well, this is odd... it did the 12,12,12 then it did flash...flashflashflashflash(14) followed by 2 15s!!!!!! I dont get it...I though it flashed 14 three times then 15 three times. This is not a misread...I watched it several times to double check that it wasnt me just misreading. These are the temp level high/low...does that mean my CTS is dead? Its like 45 degress here... I dont think it is overheating...and besides, the fan doesnt stay on when car goes off.

 

[gofstbuick]

The codes are not the catch all cure all. They just point you in a general direction to begin diagnosis. Each series of codes will flash 3 times and then proceed to the next highest number code and then back to 12. For each code, a service manual will describe a diagnostic flowchart, that may point to a suspected defect.