[ale] OT: check light diagnostic tool

Thu Jun 13 09:04:56 EDT 2013

Many car manufacturers had off and on problems with engine electronics  
 from the 80's.

On Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:25:56 -0400, Michael Trausch <mbt at naunetcorp.com>  
wrote:

>
> Seriously? I had no idea Mazda and ford were bedded at any point in the  
> >past... Well, if that's the case, have fun. Everyone I know with 90s  
> era >Rangers and derivatives have some serious issues. Lighting  
> problems, >computer problems... Don't get me started on the dome light  
> and speed >sensor combo on a single circuit...On Jun 12, 2013 11:17 PM,  
> "Scott Castaline" <skotchman at gmail.com> wrote:
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>> You may want to check what Ford Ranger owners are experiencing as the
>> B series Mazadas are actually Ford Rangers. I had 3 of them in the mid
>> 90's and there were intermittent computer related problems with them.
>>
>>
>> On 06/12/2013 01:53 PM, Geoffrey Myers wrote:
>>> Good stuff there. 109k miles. Not a lot for a 1999, but good many
>>> miles.
>>>
>>> One thing I have noticed just over the past few days is engine
>>> noise in the radio. Not seen that before.
>>>
>>> -- From my iPhone Geoffrey Myers
>>>
>>> On Jun 12, 2013, at 1:42 PM, Greg Clifton <gccfof5 at gmail.com
>>> <mailto:gccfof5 at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I have not seen a "check gauge" light, but for a vehicle of that
>>>> age, I would suspect a failing sensor. However, it would be a
>>>> good idea to clean your battery terminals if you haven't done
>>>> that in a while. All manner of spurious computer codes can be
>>>> generated when the power level (generally due to marginal ground
>>>> connections since US cars are pretty much all NEGATIVE ground
>>>> systems).
>>>>
>>>> If that is of no help, sensors that might be suspect would be
>>>> Coolant Temp, MAF or AMP and Intake Air Temp sensor depending on
>>>> what type of air metering system your vehicle has. It could also
>>>> be an oil pressure sensor, on some cars a failure of this sensor
>>>> will kill the spark and cause driveability  issues.  One more
>>>> that just occurred to me is the possibility of a faulty fuel
>>>> pressure sensor (often part of the fuel pump assembly in the
>>>> tank, which could also be failing with this age vehicle,
>>>> depending on the mileage). I wouldn't suspect the knock sensors,
>>>> however a look at the plugs and the spark wires (assuming you
>>>> don't have coil on plug) might be in order.
>>>>
>>>> Has you MPG changed since the light has started coming on? In my
>>>> experience the most common causes of check engine lights being
>>>> illuminated are loose gas cap, other vacuum leak, clogged EGR
>>>> pipe/valve and O2 sensor [heater] failure (roughly but not
>>>> absolutely in that order). But none of these are "gauged" sensors
>>>> so I don't see how they could be involved in your case.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Jun 12, 2013 at 12:55 PM, Ron Frazier (ALE)
>>>> <atllinuxenthinfo at techstarship.com
>>>> <mailto:atllinuxenthinfo at techstarship.com>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> From other comments, it sounds like the check gauge light (never
>>>> heard of that) is different from check engine, so this may not
>>>> be relevant to you.  For what it's worth, I had an intermittent
>>>> check engine light on a 2002 toyota camry that I ultimately
>>>> traded.  It went on and off for years with sometimes months
>>>> between cycles. We managed to read a scan code on it while it was
>>>> on once and the mechanic said the catalytic converter was on the
>>>> verge of failure. It would do slightly better or worse depending
>>>> on drive time, ambient conditions, and fuel characteristics (I
>>>> assume).  I managed to get the light to go off a couple of times
>>>> with a fuel additive.  O2 sensors and mass air flow sensors can
>>>> also cause problems like this.  You probably already know it, but
>>>> you cannot pass an emissions test if such a light is on.  If I
>>>> remember correctly, and what people may not know, is that an
>>>> emission test result is valid for up to 1 year.  So, you can get
>>>> the emissions tested when the li! ght is off, and then go use
>>>> that months later to buy your tag.
>>>>
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>
>>>> Ron
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Geoffrey Myers <lists at serioustechnology.com
>>>> <mailto:lists at serioustechnology.com>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Yes, it is for a 1999 Mazda pickup. Really would like
>>>>> immediate results, so don't want to wait for over night
>>>>> shipping. Took it by autozone a while back, but did not show
>>>>> anything. Also, it
>>>> doesn't stay
>>>>> on. Has been blinking on and off for a couple of months. Just
>>>> recently
>>>>> it has been coming on more regularly, hence the inquiry. I'll
>>>> check my
>>>>> local auto parts stores.
>>>>>
>>>>> -- From my iPhone Geoffrey Myers
>>>>>
>>>>> On Jun 12, 2013, at 11:49 AM, neal <neal at mnopltd.com
>>>> <mailto:neal at mnopltd.com>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> If you need immediate results, as noted Autozone will do for
>>>>>> free.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Note that stock ODBC readers will NOT find all manufacturer
>>>> data, at
>>>>> least for Toyota and Mercedes there is a wealth of data ODBC
>>>>> cannot access - only dealer computers can.     In many cases
>>>>> the DTC code is only an approximation of what is really going
>>>>> on.  You can experiment with crowd-sourcing your DTC code
>>>>> against what others have done
>>>> to fix,
>>>>> but, unless it's cheap to try, you might be better off getting
>>>>> the dealer to read the real codes.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sent from Samsung tablet
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Phil Turmel <philip at turmel.org <mailto:philip at turmel.org>>
>>>>>> wrote: On 06/12/2013 09:48 AM, Geoffrey Myers wrote:
>>>>>>> Looking for recommendations. Can one be purchased locally?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I've been extremely happy with a simple "ELM-327" bluetooth
>>>>>> dongle
>>>>> and
>>>>>> "Torque Pro" on my android phone.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Phil
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>> >>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
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>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my Android Acer A500 tablet with bluetooth keyboard
>>>> and K-9 Mail. Please excuse my potential brevity if I'm typing on
>>>> the touch screen.
>>>>
>>>> (PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might
>>>> want to call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from
>>>> alternate energy mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new
>>>> email messages very quickly.)
>>>>
>>>> Ron Frazier 770-205-9422 <tel:770-205-9422> (O)   Leave a
>>>> message. linuxdude AT techstarship.com <http://techstarship.com>
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>
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-- 
Jay Lozier
jslozier at gmail.com
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