[ale] OT: check light diagnostic tool

Scott Castaline skotchman at gmail.com
Wed Jun 12 23:12:35 EDT 2013 

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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> 
>> Litecoin: LZzAJu9rZEWzALxDhAHnWLRvybVAVgwTh3 Bitcoin:
>> 15s3aLVsxm8EuQvT8gUDw3RWqvuY9hPGUU
>> 
>> 
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