code reading between different model cars?

[hemicanucksfan]

the check engine light came on in my wife's caliber srt4. i was wondering if i can use my magnum's predator (U7135) to pull the code off the caliber?

[Cruisin1966]

No, I don't think so. Wouldn't you need the version that's made for the SRT4???

[hemicanucksfan]

problem with that is there isn't a version for the caliber srt4

[06MonteSS]

yes, you should be able to....

I know for the GM's, the 7191 for my Monte SS, I can read/clear codes on other GM vehicles, like my wife's Equinox...

it doesn't have to be another "supported" vehicle like for tuning... it should still be able to read/clear the codes on other Dodge vehicles...

again, not sure if the Dodge ones work the same way, but I know this is how it works for GM's...

[Mike_Levy]

Probably won't find the codes. The Predators code reading capability is very limited. I've had times where it would find no codes and my Actron would find 3 or 4. I certainly would not recommend using the Predator as your only scanner.

[hemicanucksfan]

i was able to read the code with my predator. now to figure out what the heck it means.

[06MonteSS]

see?? told ya...




what's the code??

[06MonteSS]

Probably won't find the codes. The Predators code reading capability is very limited. I've had times where it would find no codes and my Actron would find 3 or 4. I certainly would not recommend using the Predator as your only scanner.

agreed... the predator would find the majority/most common ones, but a stand-alone, full-fledged code reader/scanner would be more robust, since that's its only function...

[Quick]

Not necessarily. There are a bunch of codes defined in the OBDII spec? Those are standard across all OBDII compliant cars (all late model cars). Then there can be additional mfg specific codes. It's the mfg specific codes that one scanner might pick up and another might not.

Then there are "pending" codes and ones that have been asserted. For example, the code you get when your car doesn't get up to temp in a certain amount of time. That will throw a "pending" code and if it happens over some number of key cycles then it gets asserted and lights your CEL. Some will show pending codes and some won't. There's more, but you get the idea.

[06MonteSS]

aaahhh... gotcha... didn't know about the "pending" mode...

thanks Quick!