How do you find what check engine code is up without an scanner?

Hi Rita,watch this video and you can find your code without a scanner. How to Read Check Engine Light Codes Without Scanner Jeep Wrangler...

Check engine lite
Ron, there should be a code if engine light is on,you can have a code stored without a engine light, but not possible to have a engine light without a code.
I am pretty sure, what ever code reader or scan tool you are using, is either faulty or not up to the job. Try a quality scanner, there will be a code.

year vehicle manufactured? if 1996 & later, OBDII scanner to be plugged into a port (typically, should be near the steering column, under the dash).
older models may have OBDI (no standard location of port) scanner specific to the make of the vehicle. search the web, on how to read manually (or without scanner) the code by counting the number of blinks of the MIL (malfunction Indicator light) (aka check engine, or service engine soon).




Autel MaxiScan MS309 OBD II Code Reader Scan Tool

autozone and others will check and report for free. they wont clear but you should know the code anyway. you can get your own OBD2 reader on Ebay for about $20

Most any auto parts store will check for codes for free in hopes of selling you some parts. Only Chrysler products let you check without a scanner or code reader on 95 and newer models.

In obd-II vehicles, you can clear the code by having 40 or more cycles of start and run conditions followed by turning off the ignition completely without having an engine anomoly or issue.

It's easier to use the clear codes button on the obd-II scanner.

Nowadays, you can buy an OBD-II scanner for less than $100 at Walmart. I just got one.

Good luck on this.

This is not possible without an error code reader Unless you have check engine or service engine light Then you can hotwire the port for connecting scanner
and it will flash the code to you using the check engine light on dash
But its quicker to use a reader.
Different car models you can get to flash codes to you contact you car dealer to enquire about it.

without putting an OBD-II scanner on the vehicle and pulling codes, there is no way to know. there are hundreds of codes, for many different sensors and systems on the car. without it, its just an uneducated guess. if you don't have a scanner, take it to a shop to get the codes read. that will give you a much better direction to go.

Auto Zone can scan for free. There is a lot of sensors that can triger a fault code.

there is no way to check timing at home without a scanner, accurately. If you had a timing issue you would have a code stored for it. A diagnostic scanner can check timing in about 5 minutes and show codes and data for alot of the sensors,