Unable to Pull CEL codes Options

[bufferdan]

Well the check engine light came on my g/f's celica last night. We tried to pull the codes from it but couldnt get anything. The CEL just stayed on constant and didnt give any flashes. What might be the problem?

Her car is a 96' GT with 68k miles. The cars seems to be running a tad bit funny but its kinda hard to tell (could be our imaginations). We also checked the gas cap and it seems to be tight. Can bad plugs/wires send a CEL? It really doesnt seem to be missing and accelerates smooth so im not too sure.

[Andason]

sure you did it right? got it in the right holes? theres a how-to here.

[macavely]

try doing it again.. there are some codes that the ECM doesn't hold in its memmory .. so that could be it.. or maybe you just did it wrong.. hopfully it's nothing major ..

[bufferdan]

yeah i did it right Tried it a few times with no results..i guess its time to disconnect the battery and see if the ecu logs a code again.

[orvillescelica]

in the Chilton manual it says the the 96+ years need a code reader. Most people have said that this is BS and you can still do it with a paperclip, but a few of us have tried it with no luck.

The exact same thing that happened to you happened to me. when i tried using the paperclip, no flashing, no nothing. I havent tried the code reader yet since i know mine is a bogus trans code due to the swap. But perhaps thats what you need to do.

[Lar-]

If you disconnect the battery, the ecu won't log the fault code(s) that you are trying to retrive anymore. You have to drive the car until the fault occurs again.

Borrow a code reader from someone or bring the car to a garage that know how to retrive the fault code(s).

IMO, the E1<->TE1 + switched ON should still work.

And... No, bad plugs/wires won't send a CEL.

[bufferdan]

disconnected the battery and drove it around some today and it hasnt came back on We will see...