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How to scan trouble codes?


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@Saleem True, but no matter where you read the code from, it still needs to be resolved, and that is often easier said than done! Scanners, no matter how advanced, hardly ever pinpoint a particular part or component, instead, they mostly just point a mechanic in the direction of the area in which the fault occured and in most instances, the root cause can be any one, or a combination of several possible failures or malfunctions. 

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1 hour ago, Saleem said:

Dear All

in addition to the above you may get DTC from dashboard hidden menu it varies for car maker but you can still get it in most of modern cars like (ford, volvo & Jaguar/ Jeep & Chrysler and Dodge) from mileage reset switch and VW & Audi + Seat & Skoda from AC display (limited to climatronic editions (if you have 3 dial analog type no chance!) Renault & Peugeot & Opel from center display and dashboard if you have one!

if you are trying in a Japanese sorry it want work you need a scanner

Mercedes & BMW is very limited on hidden menu due to dual can system! so you still need a scanner!

and advanced one would make your job easier as it would give a good description so you may have a sensor failure but advanced scanner would tell you is it the sensor or sensor wiring or other sensor reading conflict as impossible reading.

It IS possible to read DTCs on some Japanese cars without a scanner too. For example, Subaru, there is a sequence you can follow by using the headlight switch and trip reset button which will cause a red light on the dash to flash in long and short pulses, a bit like a Morse code. These can then be interpreted to the DTC if you have the workshop manual or there should be lists on the internet somewhere. Toyota has a similar system where you can count the flashes of the check engine light but to enable it, you need to jump the terminals in the diagnostics box under the bonnet. Same with Honda, you can jump 2 pins on the OBD port and count the flashes on the dashboard. I’m pretty sure similar methods work with other Japanese cars but you just need to look up what is specific to your car.

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@Technician You are correct of course, but I would not advise this method unless you are an expert in interpreting the flashes. A code reader or scanner is far more reliable, and with using one, the avarage DIY mechanic has no chance of acidentally jumping or bridging the wrong pins.

Edited by treks
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Lately, there has been some talk about OBD II fault codes on the forum, which is why I have decided to post a series of posts in the Car Maintenance section on what some commonly occurring generic OBD II fault codes mean, what causes them, and what needs to be done to fix them. We all know that it is sometimes difficult to perform our own repairs here in the UAE, which often forces us to rely on the word of (often inexperienced) mechanics when they say that this, or that, or the next thing is wrong with our cars.

It often happens that mechanics present customers with a list of fault codes extracted from a customer’s car that in the opinion of the mechanic, “Will be very difficult, and therefore very expensive to repair.” However, in many cases, fault codes are the  result of relatively simple and easy-to-fix causes, but how do you know this to be the case if you don’t have a code reader, and have to trust that what the mechanic says?

With knowledge comes the power to tell when a mechanic tries to rip us off, so  with these posts, I am hoping to provide Carnity members with some basic knowledge of a particular fault code to help them understand what caused a particular generic OBD II code to be set, and how the system(s)/component(s) that relate to the code work.

More importantly though, these posts are designed to provide some basic knowledge of the diagnostic and repair procedure(s) followed by mechanics to resolve the issue, and my hope is that this knowledge will prevent Carnity members from being ripped off by dishonest/inexperienced mechanics and garages.

Of course, it must be said not all mechanics are dishonest, and some codes are indeed very difficult and expensive to repair, but having some real knowledge of what a trouble code means will hopefully enable Carnity members to avoid getting ripped off by mechanics who are out to make a quick buck, or in this case, a quick Dirham.

Members are welcome to suggest a particular generic code they may be having trouble with, or have difficulty with in diagnosing and repairing. The first post will be in the Car Maintanance section later today.

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