dieseldoesit wrote:
what is the correct procedure for pulling codes? Do you get the codes that turn on the brake warning light too? I have spent the last hr searching this, and either my searchfoo is off, or it is hiding in plain sight..
You can pull the codes using the ignition switch but only on models up to about 2005.
Turn ignition ON but do not start.
Turn OFF and ON rapidly...without starting.
Repeat until you have turned it ON for the fourth time and leave it ON.
The odometer display cycles from the oldest codes to the newest one...this procedure sometimes takes a few attempts to work but it should work....I checked some code a few days ago on my 2002 CRD.
Note the following as regards the codes extracted in this manner:
There have been quite a few posts where it has been pointed out that this method often transposes the last two digits around ie. a code of " P0685" might actualy mean code "P0658"
The ECM seems to only record a certain code once...so if six months ago you got a code of P0836 followed by codes P0130, P0645 for example....and now six months later you get a CEL that should once again post a P0836....it does not do so as it has already got that code in its memory...at least this is how it seems to me to work.
You cannot erase the codes this way but it seems to me that my older codes seem to eventually dissapear by themselves or they get ovewritten by newer codes.