Jim Grant's Tech Tips
2000 Camaro, Service Engine Soon
Q:
I have a 2000 Camaro with a V-6. The service engine soon light is on and
I was told to tighten the gas cap. That worked for a couple of days and
now it is back on. My car has 50k miles on it. Is there any way that I
can check the codes on the car without a computer? If I find out the code
how will I know what part it is? If it is an O2 sensor how do I know which
one it is since there are four on my car? Any help you would be able to
give me would greatly be appreciated...
-Scott
A:
In the earlier years
there was a way to get codes from just about any vehicle's computer. Generally
all that was required was a jumper wire, finding the diagnostic connector
and counting the times the service engine soon light would flash. Wasn't
it great? Well it just isn't happening on today's computerized vehicles.
You start pushing a jumper wire into the diagnostic connector and you're
liable to see your checking account balance flash away before your very
eyes. You cannot check for codes without a scan tool on your vehicle's
computer. When the codes are retrieved there will be a code description,
related to the component or system that is not functioning correctly.
As for O2 sensors? The codes for the O2 sensor provides their position.
With the complexity of today's vehicle computers you want to do your homework
before you start bolting parts in.
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