SES light just came on, on a '99 Lumina with a 3.8 V-6 engine. I haven't been able to find a list of codes on the net. Anyone got a URL for these?
I haven't found the diagnostic connector yet, but I know on the mid
90's models you could jumper the A and B terminals to get the codes. Will I need to buy a code scanner for this car?I assume I can find the diagnostic connector, but just in case... where is it?
Thanks, Christopher
Christopher wrote in alt.autos.gm
On the old OBDI systems, you could do this. They were phased out in
96 and replaced by OBDII. Except some gm's in 94-95 used a strange OBDI system with OBDII connectors. For OBDII you need a scan tool. Auto Zone, and perhaps other auto parts places, will scan for free. But they will not diagnose the problem, only tell you what the codes are. As someone else said, post back with the codes and people can help. The connector should be under the dash, to the right of the steering column.Thanks all.
Went to AutoZone last night and they scanned it, for free. No codes stored in the computer. Not sure about that, but I have a few theories.
First of all, while driving to AutoZone the SES light went out. It was also out on the return trip home.
This is my girlfriend's car and she hasn't bothered to reset the Change Oil Soon warning light. I change oil based on the mileage, and she normally resets this light when it comes on. My thoery was that this Change Oil light has been on for a few weeks now, so perhaps the SES light comes on after so many miles of the Change Oil light being on, just to get your attention even more. I reset the Change Oil light when i got home.
Second theory is that the AutoZone tech did not know how to use his scanner correctly.
If the SES light keeps coming on, I'll have it rescanned, or buy my own scanner, and will post codes later.
Christopher
"Christopher3" wrote: > Thanks all. > > Went to AutoZone last night and they scanned it, for free. No > codes > stored in the computer. Not sure about that, but I have a few > theories. > > First of all, while driving to AutoZone the SES light went > out. It > was also out on the return trip home. > > This is my girlfriend's car and she hasn't bothered to reset > the > Change Oil Soon warning light. I change oil based on the > mileage, and > she normally resets this light when it comes on. My thoery > was that > this Change Oil light has been on for a few weeks now, so > perhaps the > SES light comes on after so many miles of the Change Oil light > being > on, just to get your attention even more. I reset the Change > Oil > light when i got home. > > Second theory is that the AutoZone tech did not know how to > use his > scanner correctly. > > If the SES light keeps coming on, I'll have it rescanned, or > buy my > own scanner, and will post codes later. > > Christopher
I would go with theory no. 2
Any code generated is still in the computer even if the light goes out. Some will reset after many drive cycles. If you are planning to service it yourself get a Helm manual. It has all this information. You also don't have to wait until the oil change light comes on to reset the timer. Just go thru the reset procedure when you change oil and it resets the counter. You will then never see it come on unless you forget the oil change...
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