Forester Check Engine Light on

Hi, Is your gas tank cap closed tight? You have to plug in OBD code reader. Do a google on this. I use a code reader interfaced(USB port) to my laptop. Accompanying software tells me what's wrong, allows me to reset the code. I can also read stacked codes if there is more than one code stored.

thats the first thing i checked ... seemed ok, but Mrs did get petrol about a day before the light went on, fingers crossed its all it s :)

what kind of reader do you use and did the lappy software come with it?

OBD code readers are simply a small hand held device the size of your average calculator, and they plug in to the diagnostic port of your vehicle. They're designed to do nothing other than retrieve the various codes, and while I don't know of any that plug into a laptop (other than elaborate tuning machines that have a code reader as part of their kit) I also don't know what you'd hope to gain by plugging one into a laptop either.

They simply output the codes directly on their small screen, and that's all they do.

-- Regards, Noddy.

well i am hoping that it is nothing and that i can just reset the code ... i don't wanna go to a dealer if i can avoid it :)

If it's a "one off" problem, the code reader will reset the codes, or have a button to do a manual reset. However, if the problem keeps occurring the fault light will keep coming on.

-- Regards, Noddy.

If you have OBDII installed, if the light is steady, it is emission-related. If it is flashing, it is engine-related. But if you have a code reader, you can isolate exactly what is wrong.

The OBDII connector looks like a large DIN plug under the steering wheel. Also the manual should tell you.

There are lots that plug into a laptop and they can output the codes to a laptop application that will look up the codes, tell you what they actually mean, and output a series of potential problems depending on which series of coulds were generated.

I also use a laptop diagnostic tool with my code reader.

Hi, Some software is shareware, some are commercial. I assembled a interface kit and wse it with Proscan or Digimoto II. Or you can have simple handheld code reader.

Did she overfill it right to the top?

That will put the light on as the carbon cannister is saturated.

I built an interface for which hooks up to the serial port of my laptop (for my VR) and it works with EFIlive which is free for the limited version.

Since I now have access to a Hanatech and Tech1/2 so I don't really need it anymore but it's handy to have at home all the same.

So will the manual that comes with a hand scanner.

OBDII codes are a standard regardless of the make of vehicle.

It'll take a "best guess" you mean?

Nice. And you need that because?

You like to play around with shit that won't do jack to solve your problem you mean?

Fine with me. If looking at all the fancy blinking lights floats your boat then more power to you, but knowing what the codes are that *aren't* a problem is useless information for the most part.

-- Regards, Noddy.

You are taking what I said out of context. If you aggregate codes, it leads to a diagnosis; no hand scanner will do that.

It will give you options. Most code aggregations lead to very few potential faults; the more codes, the fewer potential different problems.

I need it to tune the car.

It does lots to solve my problem, and I don't need the dealer to fix it for me.

To you, maybe. To some people, knowing their tire pressure is useless too; unless the tire is flat. I don't happen to think so.

i am not sure if she did, but the light came one a day and a halh later if thats possible.

cheers ... its most likely nothing, but i just wanna make sure and reset the light, too

Not really. The codes are fairly basic.

In other words, if you don't have a clue what you're doing, the software will try to guess for you. Hey, I don't have a problem with that, but I find it largely unneccessary.

How does reading the codes elimitate *potential* problems?

The very puropse of such codes are to tell you if something is working okay or not, and if it's not the problem has already occured. I don't know of any OBDII code that equals "Will most likely fail pretty soon".

And how do you do that?

Reading the codes allows you to check the status of certain components, not adjust them.

Hey, if it floats your boat....

Like I said, if it works for you, fine. However, using a laptop is making the whole affair *far* more advanced than it needs to be, and gives you a lot of useless information that isn't necessary to fix an issue.

Hey, but at least it looks fancy :)

-- Regards, Noddy.

Here's a link to some trouble code info;

Around here, Autozone and maybe some other parts retailers will read the codes at no charge - hoping to make a sale occasionally I guess. maybe the same is true in your locale?

good luck

Carl

well if the fault comes back i'll have to take it to the dealer

i wish aussie mechanics were that generous :)

You're just being argumentative now. His tool is following standard troubleshooting situations, probably making guesses based on some collected history of codes, plus some expert opinion...I assume. Sure it's subjective, but so are the diagnoses made in your head, right?

-John O