Pulling a stored SES code out of a 93 Firebird

[BradC]

My SES light comes on after I drive on the highway for more than 45 minutes, but when I exit the highway it goes off. AutoZone can't scan it and I've already tried the key thing. How can I get the codes out??

[1DangerousV6]

i bought a simple code reader/clearer on ebay for $50 ...its been very useful [img]smile.gif[/img]

[1DangerousV6]

^^^ ahhh crap...just saw you have a 93 ...so you have OBDI? ..mine only works for OBDII

[Loochy88]

same thing, just get an obd 1 reader. theyre a bit cheaper than obdII

[HBHRacing]

did you try jumping the connector? usualy works on 93's

[BradC]

Originally posted by HBHRacing:
did you try jumping the connector? usualy works on 93's

Is that the thing with the key?? That doesn't work.

[Fredless]

you need a fancy one that has something called freeze frame mode.

Most shops that do charge the 50 dollars to scan it have this. I know the local tranny shop had one made by Modis. This is how they were able to tell I was throwing the dreaded P1870 code.

[crasher]

you can't pull any codes on obd-1 systems. the only time you can get the codes are when the ses light is on. Once you cut the key off the codes clear until the problem happens again. And the freeze frame mode that Fredless was talking about only records about 30 seconds of data from all sensors on the the car so you can review everthing that is happening when you started the freeze frame. I'm not sure if thats how all scaners work but thats how the Genisis scaners at my shop work.

[HBHRacing]

""you can't pull any codes on obd-1 systems""
Incorrect. You can pull them just like you can OBDII

""the only time you can get the codes are when the ses light is on""
also incorrect. There are several types of codes. Not all codes will even trigger the MIL. but they will still set a history code that can be retreived.

""Once you cut the key off the codes clear until the problem happens again.""
again incorrect. Like I said there are seveal different codes that have different failure peramiters. some will set a hard code on the first trip and some will require a 2 trip fault etc etc

""And the freeze frame mode that Fredless was talking about only records about 30 seconds of data from all sensors on the the car so you can review everthing that is happening when you started the freeze frame""

Like I said above, freeze frame is only for retriving data peramiters when a certain code is set. It's there to aid in diagnostics. Only high end scanners will read this info. What your thinking of is called a "movie" which you can record live data for review.


On older GM OBDI 12 pin connectors you can "jump" the ground pin to the diagnostic emable pin. This is pin A and B. just take a paperclip or wire and place it in the upper right hand 2 termonals of the ALDL connector and turn the key on. The check engine light should then flash. It will flash the number 12 like this. "flash"... (pause)... "flash flash" it will flash 12 3 times in a row and then flash all stroed fault codes and will flash 12 3 times again when all codes have been sent. This should work on any GM 93 and older .

[BiH]

Originally posted by crasher:
you can't pull any codes on obd-1 systems. the only time you can get the codes are when the ses light is on. Once you cut the key off the codes clear until the problem happens again. And the freeze frame mode that Fredless was talking about only records about 30 seconds of data from all sensors on the the car so you can review everthing that is happening when you started the freeze frame. I'm not sure if thats how all scaners work but thats how the Genisis scaners at my shop work.

if you dont know something then dont post

[HBHRacing]

^ agreed.. Thats why I picked apart that post. I didn;t want anyone to follow that info and then be confused when it was totaly wrong. No offence to the poster, just want the correct info out there.

[BradC]

On older GM OBDI 12 pin connectors you can "jump" the ground pin to the diagnostic emable pin. This is pin A and B. just take a paperclip or wire and place it in the upper right hand 2 termonals of the ALDL connector and turn the key on. The check engine light should then flash. It will flash the number 12 like this. "flash"... (pause)... "flash flash" it will flash 12 3 times in a row and then flash all stroed fault codes and will flash 12 3 times again when all codes have been sent. This should work on any GM 93 and older . [/QB]

Doesn't work.

[HBHRacing]

whats your production date? if it's 5/93 or higher then you have a 94 control system and it will probably not work. But it will work on older cars and most all other GM 93's and older.

[BradC]

Originally posted by HBHRacing:
whats your production date? if it's 5/93 or higher then you have a 94 control system and it will probably not work. But it will work on older cars and most all other GM 93's and older.

6/93. My luck huh?? What else is different than the regular 93s? The tranny is still non-electronic isn't it?

[HBHRacing]

If it was a V8 I could tell you but I am not so sure about the V6's 93 differences. I would almost assume that it's going to be like an earlier 93 in most other respects.