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Home / When Listening to the Scanner and Code Comes Across 96 Alpha What Code Is That in Georgia

When Listening to the Scanner and Code Comes Across 96 Alpha What Code Is That in Georgia

The Check Engine Light turning on is unremarkably a topic car owners endeavour to avert talking too much almost. It can be quite intimidating to see that niggling light on your vehicle's dashboard suddenly illuminate, but in reality, information technology is not something that should paralyze you in fearfulness right abroad. By preparing yourself with a little automotive knowledge, a helpful tool, and general background information on what this light is actually trying to tell you, yous volition not simply gain more than peace of mind, y'all will also develop a closer relationship to your vehicle.

Diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) are automotive figurer codes stored by the on-board computer diagnostic system (OBD) in your vehicle. There are literally hundreds of unlike codes a Check Engine Light can represent. While that sounds daunting, with a little patience, tackling basic diagnostics volition give yous useful knowledge almost your vehicle and volition also allow that Check Engine Light to exercise what information technology is really supposed to practise: be your guide.

There are two acronyms to be aware of when information technology comes to discovering more nigh Check Engine Lights. These two acronyms are OBD and DTC.

  • Tip: OBD codes refers to almost the same thing as DTC codes, therefore you volition often hear them used interchangeably in the automotive industry. OBD codes are most frequently referred to every bit OBD-II, which has been the code type since 1996.

OBD acronym table

Unfortunately, obvious and helpful vehicle symptoms do not e'er accompany an illuminated Check Engine Light. Since there are hundreds of possible OBD codes, at that place are as well hundreds of possible reasons for the lite, including:

  • Computer output circuit issues
  • Emissions controls issues
  • Fuel and air metering systems problems
  • Ignition organization faults
  • Speed control and idle problems
  • Transmission problems

This is why information technology is important for someone who does non have a lot of automotive cognition to not presume what a code means. When your Bank check Engine Low-cal comes on, you should go information technology checked out apace by a certified mechanic. If the engine light comes on due to a serious business organization, you run a risk damaging your car further past not repairing the issue right away.

  • Alert: If the Cheque Engine Light comes on and flashes, it indicates a very serious concern. Notice a condom place to end, turn off your car, and have information technology diagnosed and repaired earlier yous go along to utilise it.

Inserting and Reading an OBD Scanner

Your Check Engine Lite is illuminated when a error is detected with i of your vehicle'south monitored systems. In society to detect out the reason the light is illuminated, you need to read the codes through the OBD port.

You will need an OBD browse tool. The scanner allows you to communicate with the computer and retrieve the problem codes. Certain scanners may requite data on what the revealed lawmaking means, but nearly will just give a five digit number and letter combination.

Follow these iv steps to insert and read the OBD scanner:

OBD port at bottom of glove box

Pace 1: Locate your vehicle's OBD port. The most common mounting location for an OBD port is nether the driver's side of the dash about the pedals.

It legally has to be inside 3 feet of the steering wheel and must not require tools to admission it.

The connector is a female person 16-pin connector that is trapezoidal in shape.

plugging in connector male to female

Step 2: Plug your OBD browse tool into the connector. The browse tool'southward male finish will but fit one mode onto the vehicle'south connector.

The scan tool will power upward equally soon equally it has been plugged in.

obd scanner shown

Step three: Read the codes in the computer. Each scan tool will have different instructions on how to operate information technology, and then read yours carefully.

Navigate to a heading called "Read Codes" and select information technology.

scanner showing code

Footstep four: Record the codes that display. If there are multiple codes, they may bicycle through or you may take to press a button to view the side by side code.

  • Tip: It is very important to write these codes down in the same social club as displayed on the scanner. However, the OBD codes will e'er appear on your scanner when it is plugged into the OBD port or information link connector (DLC).

Interpreting OBD Codes

OBD codes may seem complex, simply underneath the letters and numbers, you can identify the general cause of your lit Bank check Engine Light, allowing you to take the adjacent necessary steps.

chart explaining how to read codes

Footstep 1: Suspension downward your lawmaking into sections.

ane. The starting time department is the showtime character, which is always a letter.

2. The second section is the next grapheme, which is a single number, from 0 to 3.

3. The tertiary section is the third grapheme, which is a single number from 0 to 9.

four. The fourth and terminal section includes both the quaternary and fifth characters together, and then it is a pair of numbers, from 00 to 99.

Step 2: Determine the pregnant of the alphabetic character. At that place are iv possible messages that can be displayed in the first section.

chart of some possible P codes

The letter "P" indicates powertrain-related codes such as those involving the engine or the transmission and their sensors. Typically, "P" codes are the just ones that will illuminate the Check Engine Light.

possible B codes

The alphabetic character "B" indicates a body code, which means that it relates to a body system such as the airbags.

chart of some possible C codes

The letter "C" indicates a chassis code, used for systems such every bit the anti-lock brakes.

possible U codes

The alphabetic character "U" indicates network codes which are used for problems like module failures and losses of advice.

  • Note: Only professional-grade or dealership browse tools are able to diagnose codes exterior of powertrain codes.

generic vs manufacturer codes

Step 3: Determine if the codes are Gild of Automotive Engineers (SAE) codes or manufacturer-specific. This is indicated by the first number in the sequence, immediately afterward the letter.

SAE codes are generic codes that utilize to all makes and models. SAE codes are indicated with a "0" every bit the 2d digit.

Manufacturer-specific codes use a number other than "0" every bit the 2nd digit.

In general, codes that begin with P0 are generic codes concerning a powertrain issue, whereas codes that begin with P1 are manufacturer-specific.

Step 4: Make up one's mind which system the code applies to. The third number in the sequence refers to the system that is affected:

  • A "1" indicates a fuel or air metering system problem, such equally an issue with the mass air flow sensor.

  • A "2" refers to fuel or air metering injection system problems, such as a fuel injector problem.

  • A "3" indicates an ignition-related problem, such every bit an engine misfire.

  • A "4"refers to emissions system issues, like a catalytic converter efficiency issue.

  • A "five" indicates vehicle speed controls and idle control system problems.

  • A "six" refers to computer output circuit issues, like an internal figurer failure.

  • The numbers "7", "8", or "9" all indicate transmission-related bug, like pressure faults and sensor failures.

Step 5: Determine the verbal error. The concluding two numbers provide a clarification of the error code. To read the description for your specific trouble code, check an online source such as OBD-Lawmaking's website.

  • Tip: You will want to address the top DTCs first if there are multiple codes. In some cases, the codes lower down on the list may exist symptoms of a code college up on the list.

Information technology is important to think that any code revealed is merely a starting point for proper diagnosis. An OBD code will only point the system experiencing the issue; it will not tell yous why or how to fix it. Oft, parts are replaced over and over until it is made clear that a code does non equal the part. Codes can also be generated due to temporary problems, such as a loose fuel cap, a poor connection, or even moisture affecting one of the many sensors' readings. While determining a code may just be the starting point, it is central, and taking these showtime steps volition assist you to larn more than about your vehicle and let it be your guide.

The statements expressed to a higher place are only for advisory purposes and should exist independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

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Source: https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-read-and-understand-check-engine-light-codes-by-jason-unrau