Sign the petition to ban the "Check Engine" light!

[GoCougs]

If there are multiple codes it would just have to flash through them over and over again.  You could clear them by holding the odo reset button. Dude, that was fucking easy. Try asking something harder.

Or click the ignition between OFF and ACC in a certain sequence.



You can make the option exist for the power users without taking great lengths to make it super user friendly.

Have you guys ever worked with an OBD-II scanner/reader? You would need more UI to make it work in a car.

Though cars are expensive things just like any product literally every penny of expense is scrutinized, challenged and ultimately justified (or not).

[Byteme]

Mines been on for the last 8 years or so...I just ignore it .

Down here that's an automatic annual inspection fail. 

[Byteme]

IIRC, 1st gen Ford Focuses have a "diagnostic mode" which displays information through the odometer.  I don't think it shows codes (it might), but it shows other information (such as engine RPM).  It is controlled through the trip meter reset and meter display cycle buttons (which every car already has).  My Mustang has all kinds of menus and a couple of buttons to cycle through them to control the gauge lighting, as well as run through the on-board diagnostic (which checks oil life and some other systems).

I could hold inthe trip odo reset button when I started the 01 Escape and run through all that as well.  Kind of neat in a way.

Most cars have some kind of digital display somewhere on the dash.  It wouldn't be difficult to program it to tell the driver what the problem is. While they were at it they ought to also program it to give cummulative and instantaneous gas mileage.  The car's alaready compiling the data to generate that display.  The added cost would be peanuts. 

[omicron]

http://www.devtoaster.com/products/rev/

[Byteme]

http://www.devtoaster.com/products/rev/

Not everybody has or wants an Iphone.

[2o6]

Or click the ignition between OFF and ACC in a certain sequence.



You can make the option exist for the power users without taking great lengths to make it super user friendly.

My old neon did a similar thing. Really handy for checking problems.

[omicron]

Not everybody has or wants an Iphone.

There are Android equivalents, apparently.

[mzziaz]

Torque

[Madman]

If there are multiple codes it would just have to flash through them over and over again.  You could clear them by holding the odo reset button. Dude, that was fucking easy. Try asking something harder.

Both my old 1990 and 1991 Volvos had a little black box under the hood that enabled me to read OBD codes.  You would press a button and a little red light would flash the three-digit code, with a pause in between the digits.  If there were multiple codes you would press the button again and the next three-digit code would flash.  Holding the button down for more than five seconds clears the codes.

If car makers could do this twenty years ago then surely they can do it today.

[2o6]

Both my old 1990 and 1991 Volvos had a little black box under the hood that enabled me to read OBD codes.  You would press a button and a little red light would flash the three-digit code, with a pause in between the digits.  If there were multiple codes you would press the button again and the next three-digit code would flash.  Holding the button down for more than five seconds clears the codes.

If car makers could do this twenty years ago then surely they can do it today.

\

My neon did this, my Focus does this, I'm pretty sure modern cars do something similar. Even so, it's is NOT HARD to write down the code from an OBDII scanner and research what it means.

[ChrisV]

Have you guys ever worked with an OBD-II scanner/reader? You would need more UI to make it work in a car.

Like the kind of stuff necessary to tell you a light is out, and which one, or that your washer fluid is low, or any number of things that the digital readout on my dash tells me in my 14 year old BMW? Or why put in multiple trip odometers, mileage estimates, average speeds, etc, but you can't also put in a few lines of code that tell that digital display you're having a misfire on #3 cyl? Even if it's at the press of a manu button rather than automatic, it's as easy to do as MyFordTouch.

There isn't any cost reason that a digital display on the dash can't tell me the same thing that a $30 code reader and companion pamphlet does. Considering how often the CEL comes on for something as simple as the gas cap being loose...

[ChrisV]

My neon did this, my Focus does this, I'm pretty sure modern cars do something similar. Even so, it's is NOT HARD to write down the code from an OBDII scanner and research what it means.

It's also not hard to write down and do tha math for average speeds, or calculate mileage. We do it all the time on older cars, yet newer ones have that at the touch of a button. Your logic doesn't apply, as convenience items are already IN new cars. Like Sync or the aforementioned MyFordTouch (how hard is it to set the temps on a car that you need to have a voice activated system do it for you?)

[VTEC_Inside]

I think it would be a bad idea to display the code, even worse the reason.

Simple code readers are available for under $50 if you want to read the code and cant handle a paperclip.

Id imagine that displaying the code would lead to as many customers fleecing themselves as are being fleeced. A lot of people dont realize that a code could result for a number of reasons not directly related to the code definition.

P.S. Most newer Hondas will show "Check fuel cap" in the odometer. Ive heard of people getting dinged $80 at the dealer for reading that code.

[SVT666]

Have you guys ever worked with an OBD-II scanner/reader? You would need more UI to make it work in a car.

Though cars are expensive things just like any product literally every penny of expense is scrutinized, challenged and ultimately justified (or not).

Yes I have.  I also have a Tuner.  UI doesn't have to be complicated.

[Onslaught]

Would it take away more room for gauges? I'm already mad that most cars don't have as many as the old days.

[GoCougs]

Like the kind of stuff necessary to tell you a light is out, and which one, or that your washer fluid is low, or any number of things that the digital readout on my dash tells me in my 14 year old BMW? Or why put in multiple trip odometers, mileage estimates, average speeds, etc, but you can't also put in a few lines of code that tell that digital display you're having a misfire on #3 cyl? Even if it's at the press of a manu button rather than automatic, it's as easy to do as MyFordTouch.

There isn't any cost reason that a digital display on the dash can't tell me the same thing that a $30 code reader and companion pamphlet does. Considering how often the CEL comes on for something as simple as the gas cap being loose...

Of course it's because of cost - why else wouldn't they do it? The value just isn't there.

[93JC]

I think it would be a bad idea to display the code, even worse the reason.

Simple code readers are available for under $50 if you want to read the code and cant handle a paperclip.

Id imagine that displaying the code would lead to as many customers fleecing themselves as are being fleeced. A lot of people dont realize that a code could result for a number of reasons not directly related to the code definition.

P.S. Most newer Hondas will show "Check fuel cap" in the odometer. Ive heard of people getting dinged $80 at the dealer for reading that code.

My car has a completely separate warning light for a loose gas cap. I doubt this feature is exclusive to Mazdas.


I also agree with your point about codes requiring diagnosis too. All the OBD system will do is spit out the name of the component having 'trouble'; it can't tell you the underlying problem. Nor how to fix it.

[S204STi]

Which goes back to the concept of multiple possible causes for a given fault code.

[shp4man]

LOL at this thread. Code P0171. System too lean Bank 1. A very common generic code.

What's wrong with it?

[sportyaccordy]

Just buy like a Japanese car. They never, ever, ever, ever have any kinds of problems, much less a "check engine light" issue. Check engine light in a Japanese car? Doesn't exist. There's no need.

[Galaxy]

LOL at this thread. Code P0171. System too lean Bank 1. A very common generic code.

What's wrong with it?

Per googling. It could be that the mass air flow sensor that is dirty, the silicone of the sensor potting could be leaking, or it could be a vacuum leak downstream of the MAF sensor, or a dirty fuel filter.

See? I can now try to clean the MAF sensor at very little cost, and (perhaps) check and replace the vacuum hoses if one feels up to it, if that does not do it I can always send it to the dealer.

You would probably tell me that the engine needs replacing.  

[sportyaccordy]

Of course it's because of cost - why else wouldn't they do it? The value just isn't there.

Lol @ dude using his $80,000 car as an example. Most mainstream cars didn't have any of that shit, and if anything have gained instrumentation (i.e. gas mileage readings)

[shp4man]

Per googling. It could be that the mass air flow sensor that is dirty, the silicone of the sensor potting could be leaking, or it could be a vacuum leak downstream of the MAF sensor, or a dirty fuel filter.

See? I can now try to clean the MAF sensor at very little cost, and (perhaps) check and replace the vacuum hoses if one feels up to it, if that does not do it I can always send it to the dealer.

You would probably tell me that the engine needs replacing. 

After you've replaced the MAF sensor and the oxygen sensor and the $300 fuel pump and filter and all the vacuum hoses, the code still sets. Now what?

[GoCougs]

After you've replaced the MAF sensor and the oxygen sensor and the $300 fuel pump and filter and all the vacuum hoses, the code still sets. Now what?

PRECISELY why automakers don't do this. It invites untold hassle and chaos as laymen try to troubleshoot (= usually the shotgun approach of trial-n-error replacing of components) a very complex system.

[2o6]

PRECISELY why automakers don't do this. It invites untold hassle and chaos as laymen try to troubleshoot (= usually the shotgun approach of trial-n-error replacing of components) a very complex system.

Mechanics do the same thing....

[SVT666]

Mechanics do the same thing....

I've had this happen to me.  I ended up with a bill for $1200 and the problem was still there even though they replaced 75% of the parts they could replace.

[Galaxy]

After you've replaced the MAF sensor and the oxygen sensor and the $300 fuel pump and filter and all the vacuum hoses, the code still sets. Now what?

Ok, I'll bite what would be the problem?

[shp4man]

Ok, I'll bite what would be the problem?

The intake manifold and various related seals would be the next thing to check. But I would have nailed that in 10 minutes without you flushing $500 down the toilet.

[Byteme]

After you've replaced the MAF sensor and the oxygen sensor and the $300 fuel pump and filter and all the vacuum hoses, the code still sets. Now what?

I'm going to assume that any body with enough skills to get the information from the car's computer and actually tackle the problem would also have enough snap to know when they should turn it over to the professionals.

For example, the light came on on the Buick (come buy this car, please).  Autozone ran the code and gave me a printout of the most likely causes starting with the most likely (loose, missing or bad gas cap) them moving on to more difficult items.  malfunctioning charcoal cannister.  Like I said, anyone with any snap could know to check the easy stuff they could handle and go to the shop for the harder stuff.  Dealers, of course, would like you to come in for everything.

[hounddog]

Will not sign.

I like the lights.

So pretty.   So very pretty.