96 Saturn trouble codes
Pat Fruth
SL2 for a couple of years now and we like it so much we decided to buy
another Saturn.
I'm a DIY'r and I have all the genuine Saturn shop manuals for the 95. At
the time, when we decided to buy the 96, I thought I could just use the 95's
manuals to resolve problems on the 96. But, I quickly became aware that
this was a really bad assumption. I guess I kinda expected that.
Anyhow, shortly after taking our nice new (used) SW2 home, it decided to
malfunction one morning whilst trying to start it. Upon cold-start, it
missed really bad, back-fired thru the intakes (if you know how a back-fire
thru the carb sounds, you know what I mean). This happened a couple of
times, one right after another. Each time the engine would run on what felt
like one cylinder for a few seconds, and then quit. I couldn't get the
thing to start without giving it a little gas. Eventually I did get it to
start. But there was a noticeable 'raw gas' oder for a few minutes
afterwards. After a few seconds the missing smoothed out, and now it seems
to run just fine. However, now the service engine soon (SES) light is on
solid.
On our 95, it was a simple matter to pull the trouble codes from the PCM.
Just short terminals A and B on the ALDL connector. I quickly found out it
is not quite so easy on the 96. I've read other posts to this news group
that the 96 has a new generation diagnostics port (called a OBDII) and that
the only way to obtain the trouble codes from the PCM is to use a scan tool.
Is there really no other way to pull the trouble codes on my 96? Am I
really going to have to get one of these scan tools? Or worse yet, take to
a dealer... I hate that. Does anyone have one of these scan tools? What's
been your experience? Are they easy for the DIY'r to use? Where did you
get it? How much did it cost? Is the OBDII connector an industry standard
thing? Or is it a Saturn specific thing?
TIA to anyone who wishes to contribute.
Paul Olson
trucks sold in the US. However, not all cars use the same hardware
layer. The only way to get the codes is with a scan tool. If you are a
DIYer I would recommend buying a scan tool.
Hope this helps,
Paul
http://www.autotap.com
Zora
had to replace the Air Idle Control Valve with 3,000 miles
on it. By far my worst experience with Saturn.
However, I am in the process of buying another one (an SC2)
so that ought to tell you what I think of Saturn (or more
so, Saturn of Renton).
zad
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Blue87T
>ve read other posts to this news group
>that the 96 has a new generation diagnostics port (called a OBDII) and that
>the only way to obtain the trouble codes from the PCM is to use a scan tool.
True. I don't know how much aftermarket codes grabbers are since I only use
Saturn ones.
I would guess your car may need an EGR valve or possibly new plugs and wires.
Thats just a guess though.