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Jeepmedic46

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Ran to the store this morning and on my way home my check engine light came on. Jeep is running ok. Does anyone know of a trick to find the code? I don’t have a code sensor. At some point I know I’ll need to get one.
 

Jeepmedic46

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What year is your XJ?
Amazon sells blue tooth OBDII Scan tools as well as code readers for the old OBDI systems. They can both be had with a little shopping a round for under $30.00
My XJ is a 2000. I didn’t even think about Amazon.
 
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M Rose

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My XJ is a 2000. I didn’t even think about Amazon.
Do you need help finding one that will work for you? Make sure if you get a Bluetooth one that your device is compatible before you order... try downloading the app for it in other words. I had one that I had to run a disk in my computer to configure my smartphone only to find it didn’t work.
 
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Well worth getting either an OBDII Code Reader/Scanner you plug in and read right on the device, or the BlueDriver bluetooth plug, which you then read on your phone or other smart device.

I have both, and find myself using the hardwired one a lot more often, as it's easier to find than the tiny plug-in for the app. In fact, I can tell you from where I sit where the hard-wired handheld scanner is, but would be hard pressed to go out and find the bluetooth one as easily.

Good thing, though, is that they haven't gone up in price at all. Both my hard-wired (from Autozone in person five-six years or more ago) and the bluetooth one (amzn three years ago) are the same price they were when I bought them.

Some of the scanners will also use your OBDII port to read and reset a lot of other info than just Check Engine Light codes, like reset ABS brakes and battery lights, chart and graph data for analyzing, etc.

Stay safe, stay clean, stay positive!


.
 

Jeepmedic46

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Do you need help finding one that will work for you? Make sure if you get a Bluetooth one that your device is compatible before you order... try downloading the app for it in other words. I had one that I had to run a disk in my computer to configure my smartphone only to find it didn’t work.
I’ll go to O’Reilleys on Monday and get a scanner. Going to need one anyways. I bought the Jeep used and it came with a junkyard motor with about 90,000 miles on it.
 

M Rose

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I’ll go to O’Reilleys on Monday and get a scanner. Going to need one anyways. I bought the Jeep used and it came with a junkyard motor with about 90,000 miles on it.
I remember you mentioning the motor coming from the junkyard.
 

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My last XJ had a salvage yard motor. The receipt the previous owner gave me even showed where the salvage yard installed the engine. They did mostly good work apparently cause I never had any issues other than some missing brackets for wires.

Let us know what you find. Are you having any running issues with the Jeep?
 
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It'll get the job done as far as pulling codes and some limited emissions equipment data. Some of the more full featured ones can give you real time data which can be useful in various ways. Even an old tech vehicle like the XJ can give you a lot of real time data. For the cost of that unit you can get a pretty decent bluetooth or wifi based unit on Amazon and pay for a good app.

To me that's where the bluetooth and wifi based units come in real handy for the money. Many of the apps have a data logging feature which can be useful in tracking intermittent problems. I used it one time to track down a faulty TPS. The graph data showed a dead spot in the TPS over a quick drive around town. You could have done the same thing with a multimeter but being able to do it while the vehicle is in operation can be useful.


Many plug in units offer the same feature but you start inching up in price.
 

Anak

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is this one? harbor freight has several and this one was $33 not sure if its the right type. my wife has a '13 sahara and the engine light has been on for months. i might get one if they are that cheap

View attachment 147523
Those will work, but I dislike having to resort to that sort. Kind of like having to sharpen a pencil with a dull butterknife.
 

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Those will work, but I dislike having to resort to that sort. Kind of like having to sharpen a pencil with a dull butterknife.
sounds like i need to do a little research...my tundra is 2 yrs old but now out of warranty due to the high miles i put on it, so with 2 vehicles out of warranty, i'm going to have start learning basic repairs and sounds like a code reader is a must have
 

Jeepmedic46

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My last XJ had a salvage yard motor. The receipt the previous owner gave me even showed where the salvage yard installed the engine. They did mostly good work apparently cause I never had any issues other than some missing brackets for wires.

Let us know what you find. Are you having any running issues with the Jeep?
The Jeep is running good. The Jeep has been sitting a lot lately because I had a fever and a cold so I self quarantined. Could sitting have caused a issue?
 

Jeepmedic46

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It'll get the job done as far as pulling codes and some limited emissions equipment data. Some of the more full featured ones can give you real time data which can be useful in various ways. Even an old tech vehicle like the XJ can give you a lot of real time data. For the cost of that unit you can get a pretty decent bluetooth or wifi based unit on Amazon and pay for a good app.

To me that's where the bluetooth and wifi based units come in real handy for the money. Many of the apps have a data logging feature which can be useful in tracking intermittent problems. I used it one time to track down a faulty TPS. The graph data showed a dead spot in the TPS over a quick drive around town. You could have done the same thing with a multimeter but being able to do it while the vehicle is in operation can be useful.


Many plug in units offer the same feature but you start inching up in price.
Having trouble finding a blue tooth sensor for the I phone. All seem to be for the android phone.
 
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Having trouble finding a blue tooth sensor for the I phone. All seem to be for the android phone.
.
The Blue Driver I linked to in post#7 works with iOS. I've been using it since June 2017.


.
 
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Downs

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Yeah you may want to spring the coin on a nicer for an Iphone in my experience they can be a little pickier.
 

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What year is your XJ?
Amazon sells blue tooth OBDII Scan tools as well as code readers for the old OBDI systems. They can both be had with a little shopping a round for under $30.00
I have about 4 different lights on my Land rover discovery including ck engine lite. Previous owner said he had them checked out at dealers shop (cost him $250.00) and was told that any one of those light or all could be activated by a single censor of no consequence.
He said he drove it for two years with out problems, I have driven it for just over a year myself.. I'm pretty sure when I replace the brake light switch that most or all of the lights will disappear.
So much for the warning lights. I'm going to check out your info. I was told the scanners would cost around $300.00 by another LRD owner here on OB.
What I really need is a mechanic that knows his stuff. The one guy I had for 20 years died 3 years ago. Now I use his best mechanic who opened his own shop. He's not good at all with modern computers and has no scanners at all.
 
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