Hi,
Newbie here... First post..

But before I just want to mention I scored a Escape 2002 XLT that I absolutely love! Years ago we wanted to buy it but was just too expensive for us. A few years later it's mine! all mine!!

Is there a way to check if the computer has error codes without a scan tool?
(here in Canada the Partsource store don't have the same free computer check as in the US, cause they're afraid they'll fry the computer or the scanner... )
I remember a few cars could do that by pressing the fuel gas ~3 times with the switch on or some combo like that..

Thanks!

 

I'm not sure if the 2002 models work the same but on my 2005 and 2006 Escapes you can get a whole lot of information by holding in the trip odometer reset button while turning on and starting the car. You can scroll through the screens by pushing the button. One of the screens is a diagnostic trouble code and shows up as dtc00 since thankfully there have never been any codes.

It's worth a try.....

 

1. You can't get diagnostic codes via a blinking light. That went away with the 1995 model year.

2. The cluster only has information available to it for display for functions that are resident in the cluster itself. It will not display 90% of the possible faults.

You still need the scan tool.

Steve

 

darn.. Thanks for the answers. Time to pay for a scan tool

 

The Autozones in my area will scan your codes for you... free of charge.

 

And it's worth no more than what you pay.....

Steve

 

huh? you get the exact same codes for free as you would with your own reader. I recently helped a coworker who went to AZ, had the codes read and walked out of the store with the O2 sensors. I brought the right tools to work that night and we did the work in the parking lot. can't beat that.

 

You got lucky.

 

So buying your own scanner gives you better codes than the same commercially available code scanner at Autozone? I'm missing the logic here.

 

No, owning your own scanner forces you to either learn how to interpret the codes and correctly diagnose faults or to come to a knowledgeable forum such as this to get assistance.

Having the parts store high-schooler read and interpret them usually results in an incorrect diagnosis, money wasted on parts, and your eventually showing up here and asking for additional help because you "replaced the parts that the codes or the kid at the store told you to."

Further, there are different levels of performance in scanners. The basic ones that most stores use don't offer any support for "manufacturer's specific" codes. This is an important consideration since many portions of both the emissions systems and the drive-train control are specific to the vehicle's manufacturer. Additionally, if you have or plan to have a 2004 Ford or newer, you need a scan tool that also includes CAN support. Many parts stores have not yet upgraded their customer-use scanners.

I was in my local NAPA store last month chatting with the store owner, a guy who's been an ASE mechanic for almost 30 years. He related how he has lost count already (he's only had the store for a year and a half) of how many customers had come in with their AutoZone mis-diagnosis and the CEL still on after hanging the AZ-recommended parts onto their car. Same thing is observed regularly on these and other forums.

In all, you get what you're paying for with the "free" diagnosis. Worth every penny.

Steve

 

meh...

It depends on how deep you want to get into it. I have one for my Mustang and it is interesting but you just can't get enough information on how each monitor reads what and when to generate the codes. Ford isn't releasing all that proprietary stuff.

For simple P0301s, the free stuff is good. I'd rather see someone spend $5 on some fuel injector cleaner to see if that fixes it before they spend $80 at a garage just for the diagnostics. On the other hand, I hope people don't perform $100+ fixes based on the Autozone clerk's diagnosis.

 

So basically, they pulled P0171/P0174 (Bank 1 Lean, Bank 2 Lean) and sold him O2 sensors.

You put in the new sensors.. which means that light is about to come back on again.

When this happens try fixing the vacuum leak with ten cents worth of hose.

AZ seems to sell O2 sensors for every code they pull...

 

CLICK ON www.motorcraft.com

Click on "Technical Resources" (Top)

Click on "OBDII Theory and Operation" (Left)

Download the appropriate OBDII guide for your Model Year.


TONS of info... for free... A bit on the technical side, but an interesting read nonetheless.

 

No, they gave him the codes and he called me. I recommended the O2 sensors. I also checked the engine vacuum and it was strong and steady. Engine light never came back on and this was several months ago. We could tell immediately that the O2 sensor (the front one) fixed the problem since the car ran smoothly after it was installed. The rear one was put in as preventative maintenance.

My point was, and still is, that you get the same code from an AZ scanner as you would from your own scanner. What you do with those codes is a different story.

 

OMG! Where was that when I was deep into my SCT Xcal for my Mustang?! Thanks!

+1