I own a dodge dakota.The check engine light is on intermittenly.Are code readers worth buying.?

Question

Can the code readers really tell you what the exact problems are? What should I look for if I decide to buy a code reader. Thanks for any help with this problem.

Answer 1

most auto parts stores will actually "read" your computer for no charge provided you buy the part from them.

If you are a hand on person and typically do your own work then yes it is very worthwhile. If you go to the garage then just let them do it. They will want to use their equipment anyway. You also have a leg to stand on if they diagnose it replace a part and its not the issue. If you go and say It's the Oxygen sensor etc, they can just say its what you wanted when you brought it in. Natually a sunpro etc won't be as good as a snap on scanner but they do their jobs. I have never had a problem.

Answer 2

"I think it is. The book that comes with the reader tells you what the code means. Which then lets you know what is wrong. The one we have also lets you reset the computer chip in the cars."

That's interesting. I have a $6,000 engine diagnostic scanner complete with trouble-shooting guides and real-time analysis. 99 times out of 100 it can not tell me what exactly is wrong. I have to know what to look for and how to find it.

This is perhaps one of the great myths of engine diagnostic. Customers think that all the mechanic has to do is pull up a code and that code will say "Part X failed, replace." But that is not even remotely true. For example, what do you replace if the code is the (ever popular and common) "Random Cylinder Misfire"? Spark plugs? Cap and Rotor? Ignition Wires? Coil Pack? MAF sensor? O2 sensor? It could be any of those things and others. How about a Cat Efficiency Low code, doe sthat necessarily mean you need a new catalytic converter? Absolutely not. Nor does an Oxygen Sensor code mean you have a bad oxygen sensor.

All the code tells you is what type of problem occurred whether it was a misfire, or an oxygen sensor out of range or an EVAP code or whatever. I have done hundreds of diagnostics and have yet to pull the code that says "Part X failed, replace." There is ALWAYS some further investigating that needs to be done to determine the cause of the code. Sometimes that takes minutes, sometimes hours and sometimes even days to determine.

Answer 3

Dodge Dakota Check Engine Light

Answer 4

i own a repair shop,,in Tennessee,and the code readers do work,and its impossible for me to tell you what to look for with out a code on it,,but a code reader will help you to solve what the trouble code is on it,but it can also confuse you ,it might give you a code but if not read right it lead you to something else other than the real problem with it,,if i were you id take it by any auto zone store,and let them scan it for free,this way you know without buying the scanner and they are trained well at reading codes on vehicles,,this is a cheaper way to go rather then buy a reader,that you might not use more than once on it,and they also have a real good price on the sensors it may take to repair it also,,this is just a recommendation ,the the best possible way to get it repaired,,good luck with it,i hope this help,s.

Answer 5

I have a 2001 dodge dakota. Try the key test. Turn your ignition switch forward (not so that it cranks but dash monitors engage) and back, forward, back, forward, and watch dash for flashing light. If it flashes 5 times fast pause then 5 more, your engine is o-k. Check your oil levels and how long since the last change. Another thing that can set off that darned light is the gas cap being cross threaded. Good luck.

Answer 6

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Make model and year would be helpful. If I had a nickel for every Autozone nitwit that said to change an O2 sensor based solely on a lean or rich code I could retire. The O2 sensor measures the oxygen content of your exhaust stream. It does this by generating a voltage (typically between 0.0 and 1.0 volts) in relation to the amount of oxygen in your exhaust stream. The software in your powertrain control module (PCM) will interpret low voltage readings (typically less than .45 volts) as a lean condition (high oxygen content) and high voltage readings (typically above .45 volts) as a rich condition. The sensor does not measure anything other than oxygen, it does not measure hydrocarbons (unburned fuel), CO, CO2, NOx, or anything else in your vehicle's exhaust stream. As such, it is not a direct measurement of the air to fuel ratio that is actually entering your engine, because the PCM has no way to know exactly how much fuel is entering the engine. It has a general idea based on calibration, but does not know the exact amount. The PCM does know how much air is entering your engine (by way of the mass airflow sensor or MAF) and as such knows that roughly 20% of that is oxygen. In order to run at peak efficiency, achieve complete combustion, and keep emissions to a minimum the ideal (or stoichiometric) air to fuel ratio is 14.7 to 1. For a given MAF reading (along with other factors such as intake air temperature, coolant temperature, engine load etc.) the PCM will command a calibrated amount of fuel to be injected to the engine. By observing the O2 sensor the PCM can deduce whether the mixture was richer than needed (high O2 sensor voltage reading indicating low oxygen content in the exhaust stream) or leaner than needed (low 02 sensor voltage reading indicating high oxygen content in the exhaust stream). From this, the PCM will adjust the fuel injector on time to try to attain the ideal stoichiometric air to fuel ratio. If the adjustments necessary to achieve stoichiometry fall outside of a calibrated limit, then rich or lean diagnostic trouble codes are usually set. In short THE SENSOR IS MOST LIKELY DOING ITS JOB CORRECTLY. Again, post back with make, model, and year to get more assistance, especially for the P0321 code.

Answer 7

Note - O2 sensor and Oxygen sensor are one and the same. These sensors tell your computer how to control the air flow into your engine. If your sensor is bad then it could be telling your car to run less oxygen than what it needs. A given amount of fuel with not enough oxygen = rich (overfueling). Combustion works off the prenciple that a fuel needs a given amount of air with Heat (in your case spark) to combust. If you are running rich check your spark plugs they should be fouled up. If they are fouled, replace the sensor...good luck

Answer 8

on my sons dakota to get the cods u just need to cycle the key on and off 5 times then leve the key on and it will blink out the codes 4 you hope this helps to clear the codes disconnect the battery about 30 seconds and reconnect it this will clear all stored codes but if theres other problems the light will come back on code 12 and codee 55 r ok

Answer 9

I think it is. The book that comes with the reader tells you what the code means. Which then lets you know what is wrong. The one we have also lets you reset the computer chip in the cars.
We got ours at Walmart. We paid less then 50.00.
The price can range from 50 to 100.00 or more.

Answer 10

Not really. Many parts stores will check it for free. I check them for free for my regular customers, or if business is a little slow. It only takes a minute (on 96 and newer vehicles) and is a good way to turn an oil change special in to a paying job.