[ale] OT: check light diagnostic tool

Thu Jun 13 13:14:33 EDT 2013

Mazda and Ford are still together. Their cars share same platform in
similar class cars. Althout Mazda tends to give their cars a bit sportier
nature than Ford's.

On Friday, June 14, 2013, Scott Castaline <skotchman at gmail.com> wrote:
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> In the early to mid 90's, Mazda had a SUV I think it was called
> Navahoe that was actually a re-branded Ford Exploder. My 2nd Mazda PU
> (B2300) would suddenly accelerate (sound familiar?) when I was braking
> to stop. The first time it happened I was pulling up to a toll plaza
> and didn't fully realize what was happening almost hit the car in
> front of me. Several people were having similar problems in both Ford
> and Mazda. Ford quietly fixed their own labeled trucks and denied that
> what was happening on the Mazda version had anything to do with the
> Ford. Mazda engineers even found the bad code in the system which was
> Ford and not Mazda.
>
> Back in 93 Ford had new small car that was a sporty design I can't
> remember the name of it, but it was a fairly fast car. Mazda also had
> re-branded this car and had their version of it. The Mazda version had
> a different body but everything under the body was Ford. The first
> year of this car (I think 91) the Mazda version had a unique tilt
> steering wheel where the entire instrument panel would tilt so that
> all gauges were visible at all times. They stopped after 2 years
> though, not sure why. It seemed to work well at least in the one a
> friend owned who let me drive it.
>
>
> On 06/13/2013 05:25 AM, Michael Trausch 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
>> <mailto:skotchman at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>> 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>
>>> <mailto: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>
>>>> <mailto: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>
>>>> <mailto: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>
>>>> <mailto: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>
>> <mailto: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
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________ Ale
>>>>>> mailing list Ale at ale.org <mailto:Ale at ale.org>
>>>>>> <mailto:Ale at ale.org
>> <mailto:Ale at ale.org>>
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>> <mailto:Ale at ale.org>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>>>
>>
>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________ Ale mailing
>>>>> list Ale at ale.org <mailto:Ale at ale.org> <mailto:Ale at ale.org
>> <mailto:Ale at ale.org>>
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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> <tel: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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