04' Cavi

[89Suburban]

My mom's car, 2004 Chevy Cavalier, 4 banger. Engine light is on. Anybody know a way I can pull the codes myself?

 

[crazy4offroad]

Rent an OBDII reader from Advance would be the best way. See if they'll let you use it on loan, where you just pay a small fee and you get reimbursed when you bring it back.

 

[89Suburban]

Really? ****, I was hoping I could do it like the old ones, with a jumper wire. Fukin new cars.

 

[crazy4offroad]

The newer readers have a little computer with a pigtail wire and plug-in, and pull the "P" type codes. Gives you a little better detail as to what it might be but still wont tell you exactly. You'll probably end up having to google the car year/make/model and the code to get a better handle on where to start.

 

[89Suburban]

Thanks for the info man.

 

[davbell22602]

You can do a jumper wire on some ODBII.

 

[dee123]

vent valve is really common on those

 

[bucket]

vent valve is really common on those

Yeah, and the O2 heater.

I thought Advance and Autozone will put their little scanner on it for free?

 

[davbell22602]

Yeah, and the O2 heater.

I thought Advance and Autozone will put their little scanner on it for free?

They will do it for free but its a code reader not a scan tool.

 

[RetroC10Sport]

They will usually give you a print out of what is wrong too...

I have a scan tool, but you're 1500 miles away...:/

You might check www.j-body.org... Some cars - might not be GMs, but it's worth looking into maybe - you can hold in the trip odo reset and it will read off the stored codes. I know you could do this in my 2001 Grand Caravan.

I almost bought a new '02 Z24 4 door with a 5 speed...Kind of wish I had now. Rare car now since the 4 door Z was only offered one year. But it was red and i wanted black, plus it looked weird without dual exhaust outlets.

 

[89Suburban]

Vent valve? wtf is that? lol

 

[RetroC10Sport]

For the EVAP canister, I believe.

Hell, is the gas cap tight?

 

[89Suburban]

For the EVAP canister, I believe.

Hell, is the gas cap tight?

I'll check that and if the light is still on I will run it over to AZ and see what they say tomorrow. :/

 

[dee123]

vent valve is at right rear corner of car, near the rear axle. take it off and apply power and ground to it and see if it clicks. Then have someone who smokes blow smoke through it to see if it leaks. I think they're around 30 bucks.

 

[oneluckypops]

Taking it to a parts store to have codes read is what you should do first. But I will forwarn you MOST PLACES WILL PULL A CODE AND TELL YOU THAT YOU NEED THIS OR THAT. DO NOT Jump the gun on buying there parts, it is best to go back home and research the codes along with a little more diagnostics of the error.