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reading codes; 12 pin DLC without terminal "B"; possible?


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fat-katie
User

Aug 16, 2021, 10:12 AM

Post #1 of 10 (928 views)
reading codes; 12 pin DLC without terminal "B"; possible? Sign In

1995 Buick Skylark custom, 6 cyl

I have an engine light and trying to read the code. The car has a 12 pin DLC connector. The manual says "it may be possible to flash trouble codes..." using the B terminal "... if equipped". The B terminal is empty so the option to short A to B and read flashing trouble codes is not possible. It doesn't seem to "be equipped".


Is there another way without having to use a scanner? Is it that they just didn't wire terminal B but that access is available elsewhere?

A visit to my NAPA store was fruitless. They didn't have a scanner that would work with this car.


Thank you


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 16, 2021, 10:51 AM

Post #2 of 10 (925 views)
Re: reading codes; 12 pin DLC without terminal "B"; possible? Sign In

No, you have the one bad year. That is the year they transitioned. You have an OBD2 plug with an OBD1 system. It can only be read with a professional scan tool, not even an OBD2 code reader will work.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Sep 4, 2021, 3:41 PM)


Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 16, 2021, 8:40 PM

Post #3 of 10 (875 views)
Re: reading codes; 12 pin DLC without terminal "B"; possible? Sign In

That ONE year and not all, just Buick which was odd frustrated dealers TMK new?? I'm not sure even if all "Buicks" had that either.
Basics - light is on (nobody home type thing) so how does the car run? If fine and just a light I think techs and or owners defeated the annoying light - not sure how, some won't run well if the bulbs are blown even or removed?
If it's running perfectly I think I'd do the battery reset to see if it comes back AFTER learning how to idle again.
> If NOT running properly try hard to just think of what things could cause it and if cheap/easy something just take a risk and swap out a part/sensor just one at a time and wait if you can or never know which one thing or problem it was.
Sooooo, the question is "Is it running fine now?" and perhaps we can think of something that will get this annoyance out of your way? TMK this one year would get a "pass" for the toughest inspections by states as they can't read it either!
Tom



Hammer Time
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Aug 17, 2021, 4:13 AM

Post #4 of 10 (854 views)
Re: reading codes; 12 pin DLC without terminal "B"; possible? Sign In

No, don't disable the light.

Simply have the codes read and you can respond accordingly. Don't randomly throw parts at it.

Just because this code may be a little harder to read is not a reason to completely ignore previous advice in resolving check engine light problems.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 17, 2021, 4:46 AM

Post #5 of 10 (843 views)
Re: reading codes; 12 pin DLC without terminal "B"; possible? Sign In

I didn't say disable it rather thinking it needs the light just cover it with electrical tape that can take.

> Hammer - what do you do with now maybe a 37 year old if it doesn't have any operational problems - if so is why I asked.

>Parts tossing - NO mostly but it's possible it's so cheap for some silly thing could risk some waste or maybe lucky and it works?

>One never happened my way with that and did know of some that year just didn't have the problem,

T
> Note: using arrow now this format compresses what I typed wrecks the idea of separating thoughts??



Hammer Time
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Aug 17, 2021, 4:54 AM

Post #6 of 10 (838 views)
Re: reading codes; 12 pin DLC without terminal "B"; possible? Sign In


Quote
I didn't say disable it rather thinking it needs the light just cover it with electrical tape that can take.


That's not disabling?

My advice has never been and will never be to ignore a problem without even knowing what it is or replacing parts with absolutely no indication that part is bad. The code can be easily read and an informed decision can be made. I wouldn't be surprised if Autozone could read it for free.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 17, 2021, 6:00 AM

Post #7 of 10 (833 views)
Re: reading codes; 12 pin DLC without terminal "B"; possible? Sign In

I just know of this freak thing. It wasn't recalled, runs at all past most reasonable expectations.

> Used something doubtful and anyone who had the adaptor reader intended for it probably doesn't have it, work or alive anymore.

> Kinda a show stopper to me.

> I did ask if it ran perfectly otherwise.

> The Zone: Pot luck place by place or exact person you find there has been my experience might be shocked? Tom


fat-katie
User

Sep 4, 2021, 12:51 PM

Post #8 of 10 (684 views)
Re: reading codes; 12 pin DLC without terminal "B"; possible? Sign In

Finally found someone to read the codes:

ECR
Solenoid 1
Solenoid 3

Mech said could ignore all.

The solenoid chirps he said was probably due to the lack of use. Wife doesn't drive much.

QUESTION. Are the solenoid codes a hint that the fluid should be changed?


Tom Greenleaf
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Sep 4, 2021, 1:32 PM

Post #9 of 10 (677 views)
Re: reading codes; 12 pin DLC without terminal "B"; possible? Sign In

I'm lost with what solenoids you hear "chirping?" By name they are push/pull back by spring plungers if not energized like for a starter motor.

If in or on a transmission IDK. If that the fluid you though of changing AYOR unless you kept up with changes??

> Not a lot of help - sorry. One model year to be unique doesn't help,

Tom



Hammer Time
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Sep 4, 2021, 3:39 PM

Post #10 of 10 (674 views)
Re: reading codes; 12 pin DLC without terminal "B"; possible? Sign In

I don't know what you are calling an "ECR" or what solenoids you are talking about.

Give us the code numbers


Quote
Mech said could ignore all.


Yeah, that's what they say when they have no clue what to do.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Sep 4, 2021, 3:40 PM)






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