How to read check engine codes
The engine light lights up when you turn the ignition switch on, then goes off. After four seconds, if it comes on again and stays on, there is a present fault code. When it is an historical fault code, it comes on with ignition and goes off then comes on and goes off again. I believe in like 4 second intervals. An historical code will not be removed until a cycle of 50 ignition on/of intervals has passed. In other words, the engine light will continue to light two times when ignition switch is turned on, after 50 on/off cycles have passed the historical codes will no longer affect the engine light when starting.
If you will hold the odometer button on the side of the console down, and turn the ignition on and off, three times I think, waiting for the fuel pump to stop before turning the ignition switch to the off position, and one second until you turn it on again, the third time holding the odometer button down until the engine light begins to blink it will begin to blink in a fast sequence showing the fault codes will follow.
First indication of fault code display is rapidly blinking engine light. After that count the number of times the engine light lights up. There will be a brief pause between digits. If there are multiple codes stored, the rapid blinking will separate each. Once the fault codes begin to repeat, you have gone through all stored codes.
Tips: Have a pencil and paper ready.
Maybe ask a friend to help out. Sometimes a second pair of eyes can be good.
Go through a couple of cycles, so that you are sure you haven't missed any codes.
Method #2:
1. Remove right side saddlebag and side cover if so equipped. Remove protective plug from data link connector. Other models will be under the seat.
2. To activate the diagnostic feature,follow these steps.
a. Create diagnostic test wire or use a female spade clip which will bridge the two terminals perfectly.
b. Install diagnostic test wire/clip across Terminals 1 and 2 on the data link connector, they are marked.
c. Turn Ignition/Light Key Switch to IGNITION and wait approximately 10 seconds (4 seconds lamp ON, 6 seconds lamp OFF) for check engine lamp to start flashing.
3. All trouble codes are sent out as a series of flashes. To retrieve the first digit of the trouble code simply observe the number of times the lamp flashes.
a. The lamp will then flash one or more times to indicate the first digit of the trouble code.
b. The length of time the lamp is illuminated and the length of time in which it is off are each about 0.5 second in duration.
4. The second digit follows:
a. Following the transmission of the first digit, there is a 1.2 second pause in which the lamp is off.
b. The lamp will then flash one or more times to indicate the second digit of the trouble code. Count the number of times the lamp flashes to retrieve the second digit.
5. If more than one trouble code is sent:
a. Following transmission of the second digit of the first code, there is a 3 second pause in which the lamp is off.
b. Once all codes have been sent, the data string is repeated. When you have recorded the same trouble code twice, it is an indication that the transmission has been restarted and that all trouble codes have been retrieved.
IMPORTANT NOTE ..If diagnostic test wire is installed across Pins 1 and 2 on connector in lieu of a Scanalyzer, the ECM is placed in a diagnostic test mode and the engine will start. The test wire must be removed from the data connector and the ignition switch turned OFF or the check engine lamp will continue to flash codes. A historic trouble code resides in the memory of the ECM until the code is cleared by use of the Scanalyzer or a total of 50 trips has elapsed. A "trip" consists of a start and run cycle, the run cycle lasting at least 30 seconds. After the 50 trip retention period, the trouble code is automatically erased from memory (that is, assuming no subsequent faults of the same type are detected in that period). The numbers after the 'historic' or 'current' is the speedo code number, but without the electrical diagnostics manual you're not going to know what they mean.
After retrieving codes, repost the codes for meaning (too many codes to type them all here)
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