Problems retrieving CEL code with paperclip - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Maim Menu · 03-29-2006, 06:37 PM

'98 Cam

CEL came on on my way back from work so I popped the diagnosis box open in the back of the engine compartment, left side when you're facing the car and bridged E1 and TE1 with a paperclip, got back in the car, made sur tranny was neutral, turned key to on and nothing happened besides all the lights coming on, waited for a few moments, checked my connection and tried again, nothing.

I remember a guy retrieveing codes by plugging his scanner under my dash back then but couldn't find the connector.

Could there be more than one diagnosis connector? The one I know when I pop the hood up is written DIAGNOSIS on it and has the chart indicating which contact is what inside the lid so...

Anyone ever tried it on a '98?

hooRAH · 03-29-2006, 08:02 PM

You need an OBDII reader for an aOBDII car.

***kamesama980*** · 03-30-2006, 02:02 AM

you can do it without a scanner, but that makes it 1000x easier. most auto parts stores will pull OBDII codes for free

***RningOnFumes*** · 03-30-2006, 02:13 AM

i don't know about that...my brother had me try that on my 96 taco back then...didn't work. I'm not sure if it was becausse it was a obd 2 or not.

I don't know about Canadian auto parts stores, but do you have ones which offer to read the codes free for you there?

...The plug is where your fuse box is inside the car.

Maim Menu · 03-30-2006, 07:05 AM

I did check behind the little compartment under the steering wheel but didn't find it, and the one in the engine compartment had diagnosis written over it but oh well, I'm gonna have it scanned for free at Toyoplus, they love me.

I'd still like to know how you can do it without a scanner although I'll probably buy myself one in the near future, it's always good to know.

ghettosled · 03-30-2006, 07:52 AM

i thought that the how to with a paper clip is listed somewhere in a chilton manual. but it is much easier with a OBDII code reader, plus they are only $40 at harbor freight.

88 LE · 03-30-2006, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maim Menu

I did check behind the little compartment under the steering wheel but didn't find it

http://autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker...3d8013edfc.jsp

Quote:

I'd still like to know how you can do it without a scanner

You can't, your car has OBD-II.

From:

http://autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker...3d8013ee16.jsp

All models except the 1MZ-FE engine is equipped with OBD I till 1995.

All 1996 models and 1MZ-FE engines are equipped with OBD II.

These models require the use of the Toyota's hand held scan tool or an equivalent OBD II compliant scan tool.