what code reader?
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 446
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From: Germany
what code reader?
Hi folks,
seems like the "take two asperins and call me in the morning" of this group is "pull the codes". Is it as simple as getting/plugging in a reader and find the problem? Or can this make you dangerous? I've got a 90 F250, a 98 dodge Stratus, and a 1991 Jeep Cherokee. Is there a universal reader to work on all or is it best to have one for each vehicle (the two Chryslers may/may not be the same)? Found a reader in JCW for the ford for 29 bucks but nothing for the other 2. I was reading on a couple of sites (opinions) and comments on amazon that the Haines, Chiltin, etc books on the F250 weren't worth buying. What do you folks think? I haven't been able to find a shop manual used yet, wondering if I should just get off the money and buy a new one.<O
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<O</O
Thanks, Dave <O</O
seems like the "take two asperins and call me in the morning" of this group is "pull the codes". Is it as simple as getting/plugging in a reader and find the problem? Or can this make you dangerous? I've got a 90 F250, a 98 dodge Stratus, and a 1991 Jeep Cherokee. Is there a universal reader to work on all or is it best to have one for each vehicle (the two Chryslers may/may not be the same)? Found a reader in JCW for the ford for 29 bucks but nothing for the other 2. I was reading on a couple of sites (opinions) and comments on amazon that the Haines, Chiltin, etc books on the F250 weren't worth buying. What do you folks think? I haven't been able to find a shop manual used yet, wondering if I should just get off the money and buy a new one.<O
</O<O
</OThanks, Dave <O
</O
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
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Pulling the codes is just the first step in trouble shooting. It gets you started, but need to use lot of good judgement and experience to complete the process. You can draw on the combined experience of folks here, but without reading the codes, hard for anyone to really help. An example: '94 Chrysler K car, gave code for bad o2 sensor. Changed it and everything wonderful for few days. Then running bad and same code. Talked to mechanic. He asked are you loosing coolant? Yea a tiny bit, but the heater core leaks. He said bet ya big money you have leak in head gasket putting small amount of coolant into exhaust and killing o2 sensor. He was right. Code would never show leaking head gasket, but code and experience pointed right to it.
On the Chrysler, it was possible to read the codes by turning the ignition on and off several times quickly., then counting the check engine light flashes.
On my F150, a paper clip works ok, but I did buy a cheap reader.
It took some time, but I found service manuals on Ebay for my '90 F150 for about $35. Don't need them often, but when I need them I really need them.
On the Chrysler, it was possible to read the codes by turning the ignition on and off several times quickly., then counting the check engine light flashes.
On my F150, a paper clip works ok, but I did buy a cheap reader.
It took some time, but I found service manuals on Ebay for my '90 F150 for about $35. Don't need them often, but when I need them I really need them.
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Bend,OR
