Check Engine Light - Tester No longer available at Auto Zone

daepp · 08-26-2008, 12:31 PM

So after years of hearing that Autozone would lend you their OBDII code tester, I went in Saturday with our old SUV that my daughter drives. It runs fine, but the CEL bugs her.

They no longer lend out the tester. They will sell it to you but claim the state of CA has prohibited the lending out of this tool? They even have a sign on the counter indicating same - they must get a lot of questions - a guy even came in behind me and asked the same thing.

Is this true? Did some dealerships slip the Bureau Of Auto Repair some donations?

onewhippedpuppy · 08-26-2008, 01:02 PM

That sucks. I just had my AMG scanned a few weeks ago. I think China Tools (Harbor Freight) sells one for under $50.

daepp · 08-26-2008, 01:07 PM

Mine's a ML430 w/ approx 200K miles. Dealer mentioned 2 years ago that the CEL was on due to a certain code. In that case, I looked up the code, got the oem Bosch part (Mass airflow sensor) from German Star Parts and replaced it myself. They wanted $700 at the dealer - I got the part for $110 plus I had to buy a five dollar star socket (with center "teet") and it was very easy to fix.

I guess I was hoping for a similar experience this time around.

Dan in Pasadena · Dan in Pasadena's Garage

Matt, You're right. HF sells one for about $39 if memory serves. I have thougt of buying one but always wondered if it was even worth that much.

Does anyone have a low dollar OBD-II unit that resets CEL's and which they would give a good recommentation? I consider low dollar to be less than say....$75-$100 and not need a computer.

billwagnon · 08-26-2008, 01:09 PM

My AutoZone walks out to the parking lot with you and runs their device, then gives you a printout.

MichiganMat · MichiganMat's Garage

Buy from HF.

Mine works great, when Im not lending to friends who never return it

mattdavis11 · 08-26-2008, 01:33 PM

Some of the cheapo's won't work with Mercedes. Leave the ignition on and unplug the battery for awhile, that should reset the codes.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

This is the one I have and it has been a super investment.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/INNOVA-3100-Diagnostic-OBD-II-Code-Reader_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43989QQihZ014QQi temZ330263880235QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

daepp · 08-26-2008, 01:47 PM

I can reset the light at the battery but it will eventually come back on.

I need to know what the code is so I can investigate further. My guess is that I have a bad cat (I can hear what sounds like marbles rattling around near the left one).

Of course, the cat is a dealer only item - unless I can get a muffler shop to cut in a generic cat. Au opinions?

daepp · 08-26-2008, 01:48 PM

Any idea as to why the state has done this?

Dan in Pasadena · Dan in Pasadena's Garage

Rick,
Thanks for the link but I can't open it now, I'm at "work" (Maynard G. Kerbs sound!). Can you post the info directly?

David, The Check Engine Light is currently on in my '02 Dodge Ram. A friend of a friend let me use his OBDII and it turned out I had a couple codes. One was for the #6 coil pack - swpaaed that out in five minutes. The other for the right side O2 sensor. On my truck there is one both before and after the cat. I don't know if that's common. Fortunately, it was the one BEFORE the cat so there is probably nothing wrong with the cat. By the way, from visiting a Dodge site I read that Dodges don't react well to generic O2 sensors from Pep Boys, got to go to a Dodge dealer to get the $70 one DOH! Hopefuly you'll have better luck.

MotoSook · 08-26-2008, 02:49 PM

HF OBD reader works just fine. It even comes with a CD of codes for most vehicles..or you can find it on the web.

Great tool for 50 bucks.....and you can let your fingers do the walking when it comes to troubleshooting...hardest part is bending down to see where the OBD port is under the dash.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Mine is the Innova 3100.

http://www.troublecodes.net/articles/equus/Equuis_OBD_II_code_reader.shtml

Don't just get one because you think it will make your CEL go away. It will not. Sure, you can clear it. But you have to address the root cause for it to stay away. I went through hell with my 993 for emissions last summer in VA and again recently in AZ. Car burns as clean as a hybrid, but the readiness monitors would not stay reset. They didn't trigger a CEL, but they made it unreadable for the emissions inspection. The reset procedure is a f&cking nightmare and can barely be done on a public road with a stopwatch and about an hour of lawbreaking. But the BMW reset procedure works on 993's and I got through emissions both times by using it.

masraum · 08-26-2008, 02:58 PM

I went to one of my local autozones. THey told me that some guy cleared a code, then cooked his engine and sued, and so now they don't lend them out. They did however have an old beat to crap one that they "sold" me only to be returned 5 minutes later.

I've since bought a http://www.scangauge.com/, and I love it.

onewhippedpuppy · 08-26-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daepp

I can reset the light at the battery but it will eventually come back on.

I need to know what the code is so I can investigate further. My guess is that I have a bad cat (I can hear what sounds like marbles rattling around near the left one).

Of course, the cat is a dealer only item - unless I can get a muffler shop to cut in a generic cat. Au opinions?

Funny, my Mazda MPV also needs a new cat. $948 at the dealer, screw that! Thanks to it being a CA emissions car, the emissions warranty is only to 70k, and I have 72k. Normally it goes to 80k. Thanks CA!

I need to shop muffler shops.

fxeditor · fxeditor's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by daepp

Any idea as to why the state has done this?

I think it's because people were running down to Autozone, clearing their CELs and then quickly getting the car smogged before the light turns on again. Usually if yu have a bad O2 sensor it will take a few miles for the computer to trigger the error.

Hope this helps,
Michael

Hugh R · 08-26-2008, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

Some of the cheapo's won't work with Mercedes. Leave the ignition on and unplug the battery for awhile, that should reset the codes.

Read your manual first! I know a lot of newer cars get screwed up doing this.

notfarnow · 08-26-2008, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

Some of the cheapo's won't work with Mercedes. Leave the ignition on and unplug the battery for awhile, that should reset the codes.

+1

I tried a HF cheapie on my e300d and it wouldn't read the code, let alone reset it.

The local eurocar shop lets me use their scangauge unit when I need it. That thing works like a charm and is easy to use. That's what I'd buy

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by fxeditor

I think it's because people were running down to Autozone, clearing their CELs and then quickly getting the car smogged before the light turns on again. Usually if yu have a bad O2 sensor it will take a few miles for the computer to trigger the error.

Hope this helps,
Michael

WTF would stop someone from simply unplugging the bulb to it in order to not draw the attention of the inspection guy? Cripes, are the bureaucrats in Sacramento really this stupid?

Oh wait, never mind. I answered my own question.

notfarnow · 08-26-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

WTF would stop someone from simply unplugging the bulb to it in order to not draw the attention of the inspection guy? Cripes, are the bureaucrats in Sacramento really this stupid?

Oh wait, never mind. I answered my own question.

Sometimes the CEL triggers an open loop, ignoring the O2 sensor. Runs rich, higher emmissions. Light or no light, it won't pass smog like that.

Even on my turbo diesel, some codes will cause the fuelling to be increased and the boost to be limited. Some of those codes clear after 3 cold/hot cycles, but it sure is a dog to drive in the meantime, and smokes badly.