The Tow Files: Blast From The Past

[Rosco the Iroc]

I'm finding it hard to find a place that will work on the Camaro, if it doesn't have OBDII, an increasing number of places either don't or won't give you the time of day, they want an instant answer from the computer or they're not interested...

I can do that.

I had to lol when a guy came into AZ parts to get his code read on his '90 Caprice. The kid form the retail counter came back in and couldn't understand why he could not get the reader to plug in. After much debate they came back to me in commercial and told me. OK I got this, give me a second to make you a scanner for that.... *bends paper clip into a U*
Here you go...

That's the scan tool.

Then I had to tell them where to stick it and how to read the Morris code.

[dalesys]

...Then I had to tell them where to stick it and how to read the Morris code.

As long as it doesn't start dancing the Dark Morris.

[protege]

And 20's car nothing, I'm finding it hard to find a place that will work on the Camaro, if it doesn't have OBDII, an increasing number of places either don't or won't give you the time of day, they want an instant answer from the computer or they're not interested...

I don't know what I'll do when my local mechanic retires. He knows his stuff regarding older vehicles. I won't go to the "specialist" over in Bridgeville. Those idiots damaged my car the last time it was over there, and refused to own up to it. I've heard good things about another garage north of the city, but they're a pain to get to. While I can handle most of the repairs, I don't have a lift, and I don't mess around with brakes.

As to the instant answers, I know what you mean. So many mechanics want the car to tell them what's wrong, instead of being able to figure it out. I guess that's the price we pay for demanding more reliable vehicles. But, when it does fail, I'd like to be able to fix the damn thing and drive home

[Nunavut Pants]

Then I had to tell them where to stick it and how to read the Morris code.

So it must have been a Minor malfunction?

[Argabarga]

I don't know what I'll do when my local mechanic retires.

My Aunt is having the same problem with her MG, it lost its brakes this fall, her mechanic just recently retired, and every shop she's gone to has refused to touch it, even the one that listed itself as European Specialty....

So now I'm going to drive up to her place in the spring and fix it for her. Luckily, I know how to fix this stuff, what's killing me is that I don't have the TIME.

I spent a month shopping around for someone to do something as simple as re-timing the motor after the distributor loosened and slipped out of time....

[Rosco the Iroc]

As long as it doesn't start dancing the Dark Morris.

So it must have been a Minor malfunction?

LOL I had to click those.

No I mean this-
https://www.obd-codes.com/faq/read-g...codes-free.php

[dalesys]

... No I mean this- https://www.obd-codes.com/faq/read-g...codes-free.php

OBDII?

Oh! Big Deal! Increase Income!

[protege]

My Aunt is having the same problem with her MG, it lost its brakes this fall, her mechanic just recently retired, and every shop she's gone to has refused to touch it, even the one that listed itself as European Specialty....

They're probably more used to working on Mercedes and BMWs, not MGs and Triumphs. It's not like the cars are difficult to work on or get parts for. Most things I can get in 2-3 days, usually for very little. Most of the time, FAQs and Youtube videos (look up John Twist--he's the go-to MG expert) contain what I need. Hell, I took apart both carbs, cleaned them up, and reassembled them after watching one of his videos.

Back on topic--somewhat--at least it wasn't a Major malfunction

[Argabarga]

I wish I could drive it to my local European Car garage, when this guy says Europe..


HE


MEANS


IT

[wolfie]

I had to lol when a guy came into AZ parts to get his code read on his '90 Caprice. The kid form the retail counter came back in and couldn't understand why he could not get the reader to plug in. After much debate they came back to me in commercial and told me. OK I got this, give me a second to make you a scanner for that.... *bends paper clip into a U*
Here you go...

That's the scan tool.

Then I had to tell them where to stick it and how to read the Morris code.

Before OBDII (a legislated standard to allow one scan tool to read all makes), every make had their own scan tool. Love those blink codes - did the '90 Caprice have something along the lines of DDEC IV in a "Freightshaker", where there was a specific code (I believe it's "24") that means "no faults", since having no code flashing in the event of no faults would cause a failed diagnostic system to falsely read "no faults"?

[AdamAnt316]

Yep, I remember reading the codes on my old Dodge Spirit. No paperclip or other external tricks needed; just cycle the ignition switch three times (on-off-on-off-on), then watch the Check Engine light start to flash codes. It always ended with 5-5; most common code was 1-2, which meant that the battery had been disconnected recently.
-Adam

[Rosco the Iroc]

OBDII?

Oh! Big Deal! Increase Income!

What are you trying to say? Making fun of my link you quoted or OBD2?

Before OBDII (a legislated standard to allow one scan tool to read all makes), every make had their own scan tool. Love those blink codes - did the '90 Caprice have something along the lines of DDEC IV in a "Freightshaker", where there was a specific code (I believe it's "24") that means "no faults", since having no code flashing in the event of no faults would cause a failed diagnostic system to falsely read "no faults"?

Yes gen 1 GM's blink 12 3 times then the codes 3 time each (I'd have to look but I think 24 was coolant temp sense) then 12 again so you know you got them all.

Also when it was running it would give the rich/lean by rate of blink.

The call for 1 industry wide standard was started and pushed by ASE. If course states inspection boards also liked the idea of a standard.

I had a 1.5 car an '94 Bonneville 1 info and 2 hookup So you couldn't clip it or 2 scan it. I had to find someone with the full snap on scanner.

[dalesys]

What are you trying to say? Making fun of my link you quoted or OBD2?...

The mecha-can't-diagnostic without OBD.

[protege]

I wish I could drive it to my local European Car garage, when this guy says Europe..

Nice selection there--Ferrari, Jaguar E-Type, Austin-Healey Sprite. Or is that an MG Midget, that someone chose to fit the now-rare steel wheels to?

[Argabarga]

It's a real Sprite, near as I can tell. MGs show up there so often, I don't even notice them...

Unless they're MG-GTs