How come my service engine soon light comes on?

Question

I recently asked this question and got a few good suggestions and a couple of suggestions weren't worth my time. I did take my car to Auto Zone to have them scan for the code. Auto Zone, here anyway, won't pull the trouble code on vehicles older than '93. So I looked in my Hayne's Repair Manual. I was able to pull the code myself. There's an electrical connector called the Assembly Line Data Link[ALDL] located under the dashboard on the driver's side. I used a piece of speaker wire and pushed one end into the diagnostic test terminal[B] and the other end into the ground terminal[A]. I turned on the ignition and the dashboard lights blinked giving me a trouble code of 34, which was a Mass Air Flow Sensor. I purchased the part for $64.00 and my car runs great! I hope this might help some of you that are having the same problem!

Answer 1

If Auto zone could not extract the codes on cars earlier than 1993 then don't take your car to them again.
Be careful when reading the codes as the code is just a reference, You got lucky when you replaced the MAF but the code does not always mean the item is faulty, it means the sensor has detected a faulty condition.
I've seen plenty of people change oxygen sensors this way only to be dissapointed at the expense when they find the problem dosn't go away.

Answer 2

Great Job! Just so you don't have to use that 'jumper wire' again. Next time your at an auto store, ask if they have the tool to do that what you did with the wire. It will look like a 'key' where all you do is stick it into those ports that you did with the wire. I have done the same thing a thousand times and never had the tool until recently when the salesperson at Auto Zone just gave it to me.It would be wise to pick up a tech manual for your car. It will have all the necessary info for when that light comes on again.Nice going guy and keep up the good work. Have a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend.

Answer 3

that is good information