check engine light

[sikfuk_vette]

my check engine light came on last nite on my way home...the weird part about it is that the "trac off" light and the one next to it, i think it's v-something, came on also....does anyone know why this is? and how i might be able to rad a code myself.

the truck has 75000 on it.......stupid lights...

 

[Griffeycom]

Autozone will read the code for you for free.

To do it yourself you'd have to buy one of those computer things and I think they're quite expensive?

 

[pc_tech_ohio]

I got a code reader that hooks to my laptop for $40 on ebay. It saved me more than that the first time I used it. If you get the code read at autozone make sure you research it thoroughly before even thinking about going to a dealership. They were going to charge me $240 for a VSV valve and it turned out to be a $12.00 gas cap.

 

[Coralkillah]

I got a code reader that hooks to my laptop for $40 on ebay. It saved me more than that the first time I used it. If you get the code read at autozone make sure you research it thoroughly before even thinking about going to a dealership.

PC TECH- What brand and model reader did you get and what kind of software is included with that?

 

[pc_tech_ohio]

The one I got isn't there but it's similar to this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/OBD2-USB-for-Ki...8QQihZ009QQcategoryZ30921QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

There's a number of free programs available that will read the scanner, the most popular being scantool:

http://www.scantool.net/index.php?mode=displaySoftware&software_id=39&category=ScanTool.net

The one advantage in using a laptop instead of a stand alone scanner is the ability to graph out air volume, temps, rpms, o2 sensors and other nifty info.

 

[Coralkillah]

The one I got isn't there but it's similar to this one:

.....Thanks!