No codes on ecu

[Traveler74]

I recently connected the OBD-2 I just bought, and I ran a scan (engine OFF). Key in the "ON' position.
The OBD-2 said "THERE ARE NO CODES STORED IN THE ECU".

Some folks may recall that I have been having much electronic problems and I had to disconnect the negative cable from the battery many times. Also, changed out the battery.

Am I correct in assuming that it will take many miles of driving before I can see what , if any, codes I'm throwing ???

This assumes that I can ever get the truck started in the 1st place.

 

[Endlessblockades]

Or maybe there aren't any stored issues to worry about. However, miles and time are needed for certain sensors to accumulate enough data to present.

 

[Skulking]

Disconnecting the battery will clear codes. You will need to run the engine until you get a CEL again and then read the codes.

 

[Malcolm99]

Hopefully tomorrow you can check to see if it's seized or a bad starter solenoid, replace the ripped intake boot, install $4 denso dual ground oem plugs and do a compression test and then fire it up and run it to see if you have any pending codes, sometimes it takes a 1/2hr drive for the ecu to determine there is a problem depending on which sensor and how it's failing.

 

[Traveler74]

Hopefully tomorrow you can check to see if it's seized or a bad starter solenoid, replace the ripped intake boot, install $4 denso dual ground oem plugs and do a compression test and then fire it up and run it to see if you have any pending codes, sometimes it takes a 1/2hr drive for the ecu to determine there is a problem depending on which sensor and how it's failing.

I am not familiar with "dual ground spark plugs". is that a dual ELECTRODE spark plug ???

 

[Malcolm99]

If you look at the picture on the timing belt cover you will see a picture of a dual ground plug, and beside it is a picture of a single ground plug with a "X" through it indicating to not use single ground plugs(supercharger guys use single ground for a colder plug range mind you, but the recommended plug is best for us NA guys) If you get them at Toyota they are cheap and gapped and arguably the best plug manufacturer on the market, better than NGK-your next best bet, dual ground electrod plugs require a different wire style gapping tool to get them correctly gapped to the centre electrode if you go NGK. I hope everything goes smoothly for you, I can't get the PM's you sent on my phone I'd have to sit down at a computer. Spark plugs have a ground electrode(s) and a centre electrode and most refer to our plugs as dual ground plugs for short and less redundancy since I've never seen a dual centre electrode plug before.

 

[Traveler74]

If you look at the picture on the timing belt cover you will see a picture of a dual ground plug, and beside it is a picture of a single ground plug with a "X" through it indicating to not use single ground plugs(supercharger guys use single ground for a colder plug range mind you, but the recommended plug is best for us NA guys) If you get them at Toyota they are cheap and gapped and arguably the best plug manufacturer on the market, better than NGK-your next best bet, dual ground electrod plugs require a different wire style gapping tool to get them correctly gapped to the centre electrode if you go NGK. I hope everything goes smoothly for you, I can't get the PM's you sent on my phone I'd have to sit down at a computer. Spark plugs have a ground electrode(s) and a centre electrode and most refer to our plugs as dual ground plugs for short and less redundancy since I've never seen a dual centre electrode plug before.

Malcomb, tomorrow (Saturday) I will go to the local Toyota dealership to get the spark plugs you speak of. (Provided I can turn over the crank shaft by hand) It's a real shame that I spent $54 dollars for spark plugs, at O'Rielly's auto parts, for something I'll have to toss in the trash. They assured me that the plugs I bought were the best on the market.
I hope that the dealership gives me the correct ones for my 1996 T4R.

 

[Devbot]

Dual ground isn't entirely necessary, my last owner put in conventional single post plugs and the truck ran fine despite being gapped to oblivion. They just provide more reliable spark and longer life. I would assume Toyota recommends it because our cars use a wasted spark system and will be igniting the spark plugs twice as frequently as need be
They're also not uncommon by any means and you should be able to find them practically anywhere, shouldn't have to go to a stealership

 

[spartacus]

Folks with super chargers run colder plugs with single electrode without issues.

 

[Traveler74]

I still haven't the faintest idea of what a "DOUBLE GROUNDED" spark plug is.
When I looked it up on the www, I got nothing about it. Nothing even listed.
I'm just an old man. Please have patience with me.

 

[Kanoe]

You know how a spark plug has a metal strap on the bottom? A dual ground has 2, one on either side.

Your proper spark plugs at the dealer will be less than you paid at orielleys. They are one thing that’s a bargain at the dealership, along with oil filters.

Spark plugs for the 3rz (different part I know) are about $2 to $2.50 each at the dealer. Can’t match that at the auto parts store.

 

[Traveler74]

You know how a spark plug has a metal strap on the bottom? A dual ground has 2, one on either side.

Your proper spark plugs at the dealer will be less than you paid at orielleys. They are one thing that’s a bargain at the dealership, along with oil filters.

Spark plugs for the 3rz (different part I know) are about $2 to $2.50 each at the dealer. Can’t match that at the auto parts store.

Ah Ha. Yes, I'm familiar with those. I just never heard of them called "double ground"

 

[Malcolm99]

All true statements above, there is also the possibility of arcing of spark instead of arcing to the dual/double ground electrode, single ground will cause premature wear due to waste spark system requiring more frequent plug replacements, and unsubstantiated reports of smoother idle and minimal milagage gains 1-2mpg and basically less occurances of mis-fire issues due to plugs. SC guys really need colder plugs to stave off spark knock and have no dual ground options, and I expect they will change plugs more often. The dual ground plugs just insure they aren't adding to any problems you're having and a good first step to a properly running 5vz-Fe. The plugs you have will be ok but not recommended, and the added cost is not going to make them last longer or work any better than the OE style Denso.

After pulling the original plugs out of my 4Runner and my dads 2gen Tacoma (A different plug style) which both had Denso on 3 cylinders and NGK on the other 3 cylinders from the factory, it was obvious the Denso where far superior as where the Sumitimo plug wires on the 5vz-Fe compared to NGK wires for fit and finish. The NGK plugs where stuck in place after 150,000miles and had excessive wear on the ground electrode and centre electrode and took a lot of effort to remove and I was lucky to get them out of the 2gen Taco, the Denso came out easily and only had a bit of wear on the centre electrode and zero wear in the ground electrode. As you can imagine the Denso dual ground will serve you well in the long run for many trouble free miles. Do not use anti-seize on plated plugs unless you plan to reuse them, the chrome like plating is anti-seize for one time installation and removal and from my experience the Denso plating does a better job and both ground and centre electrodes are larger on the Denso as was the insulator surrounding the centre electrode.

SparkPlugs.com: Spark Plug Anatomy

 

[3bears]

Malcomb, tomorrow (Saturday) I will go to the local Toyota dealership to get the spark plugs you speak of. (Provided I can turn over the crank shaft by hand) It's a real shame that I spent $54 dollars for spark plugs, at O'Rielly's auto parts, for something I'll have to toss in the trash. They assured me that the plugs I bought were the best on the market.
I hope that the dealership gives me the correct ones for my 1996 T4R.

did you install the plugs you got from Orielleys. If not take them back. They do sell the correct plugs, ( dual electrode) as I just got a set yesterday. Just make sure to tell them dual electrode. My orielleys had them in NGK. Autozone said they had the too, but Orielleys is near . Napa had them too.

 

[Traveler74]

did you install the plugs you got from Orielleys. If not take them back. They do sell the correct plugs, ( dual electrode) as I just got a set yesterday. Just make sure to tell them dual electrode. My orielleys had them in NGK. Autozone said they had the too, but Orielleys is near . Napa had them too.

Yes, the plugs were installed. I just pulled them, prior to TRYING to hand crank the engine over. The plugs are Denso, dual ground #PK16TR11

Not that it matters anymore, because I could not turn engine over by hand (plugs removed and Tranny in neutral). It is possible, I suppose that the gear of the starter motor is jammed into the flywheel and preventing me from turn it over by hand. Recall that I was hearing only a click when I tried to start the truck.