OBDII

[dknuttgen]

OK, can differnet scanners give you more in depth info on the codes your car throws. For instance, my car threw a 1443 which is the evaporative control system. That consists of three parts. The Autozone scanner just tells you 1443. Will a more advanced scanner tell you which part exactly is the problem?

Has anybody had the dealership read your codes and how much did it cost?

Thanks,
Dustin

 

[highvolts]

Thats probally the gas cap code..
heh

 

[bdcardinal]

no, thats the code for the purge control solenoid. i have used the ford WDS(worldwide diagnostic scanner), and when you pull a code all it does it tell you the code, and if i remember correctly, it has the flow charts for diagnosis in it. the dealer i worked at charged $84 to pull codes and diagnose them.

 

[GT2000JAY]

A scanner simply reads either live or stored sensor data/codes from the PCM. Although it won't tell you exactly what is bad (unless the sensor actually fails a test, then you can make some assumptions about the fault) some can help you isolate problems by offering freeze frame data, meaning they store all the sensor data at the time the fault occurred so you can get a feel for what else was going on at the time of the problem. Others will allow you to capture data for a period of time, or log it. These will give you information before and after a fault occurred.

Most of the time a code will simply lead you in the right direction, the actual legwork is up to you.

Jay