check engine light
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 144
From: on Barnegat Bay Joisey
check engine light
My '90 L98 is showing the check engine light. I took it to the auto store to retrieve the codes but they tell me they can't check the OBD 1 system. Youtube shows how to do it by putting a paperclip between the A and B computer connector terminals under the drivers dash and reading the pulses in the DIC. Does this really work? I don't want to hurt anything. Please advise.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The "paperclip method" does work for pulling OBD1 codes. 
With the ignition OFF, bend a paperclip and insert the ends in terminals A and B.
Turn the ignition to ON (don't start the engine) and watch the CEL flash. You probably saw how the series flashes work from the Youtube video. Remember that a Code 12 (one blink, then two, repeated two more times) is both the start of the trouble codes and the end. As long as the ignition is ON, the entire sequence of codes will repeat over and over.
With the ignition OFF, bend a paperclip and insert the ends in terminals A and B.
Turn the ignition to ON (don't start the engine) and watch the CEL flash. You probably saw how the series flashes work from the Youtube video. Remember that a Code 12 (one blink, then two, repeated two more times) is both the start of the trouble codes and the end. As long as the ignition is ON, the entire sequence of codes will repeat over and over.
c4cruiser has if correct. Write down the code(s). You can look on the next for the meaning....which will direct you to a system to check out.
