What's the best Code Reader for the price?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Originally Posted by lusor
The clip doesn't work in my 95.What am I doing wrong?
All vehicles manufactured 96 and beyond are OBD II and the paperclip trick won't work. As shown above, you can buy generic OBD II readers from Harbor Freight for under $50.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,625
Likes: 4
From: Director of Bands
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by Frizlefrak
95 was a transitional year. The cars were supposed to still be OBD I but some had OBD II ALDL ports. Which ALDL port do you have?
All vehicles manufactured 96 and beyond are OBD II and the paperclip trick won't work. As shown above, you can buy generic OBD II readers from Harbor Freight for under $50.
All vehicles manufactured 96 and beyond are OBD II and the paperclip trick won't work. As shown above, you can buy generic OBD II readers from Harbor Freight for under $50.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: Waterbury Connecticut
Originally Posted by Frizlefrak
95 was a transitional year. The cars were supposed to still be OBD I but some had OBD II ALDL ports. Which ALDL port do you have?
All vehicles manufactured 96 and beyond are OBD II and the paperclip trick won't work. As shown above, you can buy generic OBD II readers from Harbor Freight for under $50.
All vehicles manufactured 96 and beyond are OBD II and the paperclip trick won't work. As shown above, you can buy generic OBD II readers from Harbor Freight for under $50.
OK I got the message on the Paperclip but nobody has explaind how to use it and what happens when you do use it. I must be missing something because I think that this thread is going nowhere. 
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 96,443
Likes: 9
From: Fort Knox, KY
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Originally Posted by papidos
OK I got the message on the Paperclip but nobody has explaind how to use it and what happens when you do use it. I must be missing something because I think that this thread is going nowhere. While the car is off, sitting still, turn the ignition key forward while this jumper is in place. Do not start the car. The Service Engine Soon ( SES ) light will flash in a repeating sequence, telling which trouble codes have been set in the ECM.
A service manual for your year car will have a chart outlining what each trouble code stands for, or this Trouble Code website can be of help. This paper clip method will tell you the trouble code or codes set in your ECM, but it will not tell you what conditions the trouble code is being set under, or let you clear the trouble codes on the fly, as the ALDL cable and PC setup will.
http://www.aldlcable.com/
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: Waterbury Connecticut
Originally Posted by onedef92
A quick method to see which trouble code or codes are being set in your cars ECM is to jumper the A and B pins of the 12 pin ALDL OBD1 connector with a paper clip.
While the car is off, sitting still, turn the ignition key forward while this jumper is in place. Do not start the car. The Service Engine Soon ( SES ) light will flash in a repeating sequence, telling which trouble codes have been set in the ECM.
A service manual for your year car will have a chart outlining what each trouble code stands for, or this Trouble Code website can be of help. This paper clip method will tell you the trouble code or codes set in your ECM, but it will not tell you what conditions the trouble code is being set under, or let you clear the trouble codes on the fly, as the ALDL cable and PC setup will.
http://www.aldlcable.com/
While the car is off, sitting still, turn the ignition key forward while this jumper is in place. Do not start the car. The Service Engine Soon ( SES ) light will flash in a repeating sequence, telling which trouble codes have been set in the ECM.
A service manual for your year car will have a chart outlining what each trouble code stands for, or this Trouble Code website can be of help. This paper clip method will tell you the trouble code or codes set in your ECM, but it will not tell you what conditions the trouble code is being set under, or let you clear the trouble codes on the fly, as the ALDL cable and PC setup will.
http://www.aldlcable.com/
Thanks, Finally getting an explanation of this really helped. Considering that I don't have any problems with the car maybe I'll just wait until I do have a problem to do this. The only complaint I have is a slightly rough idle after the engine warms up off the choke. It happens only with the AC off because if the AC is on the idle speeds up a little. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 2
From: seattle WA
Oh, and BTW, when you do put the clip in there...then turn the key to the on position.....it should flash once, pause then flash twice, this represents code 12, which is good, just means you're in diagnostic, if I remember right it repeats 3 times I think, then if you have thrown a code it will flash, for instance code 36 would be....flash, flash, flash pause, flash,flash,flash,flash,flash,flash. Pretty simple.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: Waterbury Connecticut
Originally Posted by rick lambert
Oh, and BTW, when you do put the clip in there...then turn the key to the on position.....it should flash once, pause then flash twice, this represents code 12, which is good, just means you're in diagnostic, if I remember right it repeats 3 times I think, then if you have thrown a code it will flash, for instance code 36 would be....flash, flash, flash pause, flash,flash,flash,flash,flash,flash. Pretty simple.
This is good stuff. I'm sure I'm not going to be the only C4'r to benefit from this. The website that onedef92 listed (http://www.aldlcable.com/) has some awesome information about this. 
THIS SITE IS ALMOST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. I WONDER IF ANY OTHER CARS OR MC OWNERS HAVE ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE TO THIS GOOD. MAKES OWNING A VETTE TWICE AS NICE. I DON'T WANT TO SOUND MUSHY BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU ALL HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE WHAT THIS SITE OFFERS AND THANKS TO THE OPERATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS. AWESOME, JUST AWESOME AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT. 
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