How to check engine codes without scanner?

89SCNJ

Registered User
Same question as title, i use to work at a service station so i always had a scanner at my disposile, well thats a thing of the past so i need to find out how to check engine codes on my SC without the scanner.

Did a seach on here and couldnt find if this question was posted before, sorry if it has been answered before but i really wanna get this car back on the road =x

Thanks
Lou
 
Last edited:
Pulling Codes DTC DTC's Error Codes MIL Idle Check Engine Light

The following are some links to some of my posts where I've tried to present what my experience was in learning how to pull codes, and troubleshoot a poor idle. I remember when I first got my car, that I had never worked on newer engines and their controls before. My experience was with SBC and carbs "back in the day." Engines are still engines and horse power is still horse power, the only differnece is now it's actually easier to "tune" an engine once you know what earch part does, how to recognize it, and how to test each component independently, and then as a whole. There is no "Quick Fix" or a "Fast Answer" to these system because without first knowing what is good, can you determing what is bad. But, once you've tested everything and know how they work, it is much easier to "guess" what might be wrong, but it is still a guess until you test everything.

Had I not tried the hunt and peck method of troubleshooting (i.e. a miss means a bad plug or wire?) and instead approached the process of troubleshooting my car as a whole made up of systems, whereby each system must be evaulated first and then together, I would have learnd much faster how to fix my car.

It's the basics really, just in a broader scope. For instance, an engine needs air, fuel, and spark to live. By first looking at the intakes system and the emission controls, I was able to see how they all worked together and how to test each component. Then, I delved into the fuel system, checking for proper fuel pressure at the rail, and the KOER weak cylinder test (weak injector). Then I looked into the ignition system. After changing my plugs and wires, and cleaning my CPS and taping up the loom to it, and looking for any other broken loom spots I knew that my ignition system would not be an issue, and if I did have a miss or poor engine function, that it would be somehting else. Basically, what I was doing without knowing it was eliminating all of the PCM and EEC stuff and then if I still had a problem, it would be mechanical. To sum it all up, my first instinct was to find a mechanical problem and when that was not present, I started picking things a random that might be the problem because I didn't know how everything worked together as a whole with regard to the PCM, EEC, SFI. The point is, learn first how the engine is managed, check out the WHOLE of each system, and then move on to possible mechanical problems. I know it sounds like a lot of work, ut it really is much easier to apporach newer cars this way. Jeesh, I can't believe how long winded this is, but I felt it important enough to take the time to present my thoughts in hopes it will help anyone that is just starting out trying to get to know what is going on under the hood of their SC without resorting to using ESP and a magical fix for their mysterious engine problem. Learn the systems, test and clean the components, and pull the codes and the mystery will be gone.

http://www.sccoa.com/forums/showthread.php?p=375100#post375100 http://www.sccoa.com/forums/showthread.php?p=366699#post366699 http://www.sccoa.com/forums/showthread.php?p=370377#post370377 http://www.sccoa.com/forums/showthread.php?p=375110#post375110 http://www.sccoa.com/forums/showthread.php?p=370397#post370397
 
Back
Top