HELP: Code reader, battery light, and check engine light!

L

luciusvorenus52

Registered
Hi guys, I'm new to the forum. I have a 1996 Mark VIII that has a couple of problems. First question is how do I check the check engine codes for it? (not where can I find the codes on the internet but how do I check them in the actual car) I did it on a Crown Vick over a decade ago, and since I've been working on my 70 GTO I forgot how to do this stuff. The reason is I have a check engine light on, and have had a battery light on for a long time. Also, I noticed before the check engine light came on that the headlights will be turned on whenever I turn on the car, day or night, without me turning them on. The check engine light briefly went away when I changed the spark plugs the other day. Any help would be appreciated.
 
As that car is NOT ODB-II, I'm not sure where you check it....If it IS ODB-II, there's a plug under the dash below the steering wheel.

YOu can clear the codes and the CEL by removing the ground from the battery for about 5 minutes - while off, turn on the headlight switch - it'll hasten the power down.

Have you checked the battery voltage, engine off (12.5 volts) and engine running, 13.8 volts? Sounds like a bad alternator to me.
 
Your car is OBDll, the easiest way is to stop by Advance Auto or one of the other chains and ask them to read your codes for you (It's a no charge deal). Be sure that you ask them to print it out on a slip for you otherwise they will just rattle of a bunch of numbers which you will try to hurry up and write down and are very likely to write wrong. Once you have it done get back here and we can help you. Slso it you want to buy a scanner there are variuos price points (a typical Actron unit is abour $140.)
 
budpytko said:
Have you checked the battery voltage, engine off (12.5 volts) and engine running, 13.8 volts? Sounds like a bad alternator to me.
Click to expand...

I've changed the alternator about 3 time already, but when the alternator goes, the usual happens when driving: air goes on and off, and so does the radio, then I get the message: Check Charging System, then it's "Oh crap" rush home before it dies. Oh and I drove it about two hours ago, after not touching it for about 3 days, and my headlights are off like they should be, and I get no check engine light. Like I said before, this is what happened to me after I changed the spark plugs, and then it acted up again, so I'm going to assume that it will happen again. I'll post again tomorrow after I check out the engine codes.

Thanks for the help.
 
Either you are getting ahold of some crappy rebuilds or you have a short someplace that is eating those alts up. From what I have read you have a gremiln in there somewhere if it is a here today gone tommorrow deal.
 
One thing that also commonly happens is that the battery and the alternator both take a dump at the same time. When our batteries get low strange things start happening with our electrical systems. Be sure to check your ground wires. If you go to Advance Auto they have a machine that they can wheel out to your car and check both the battery and alternator output for you.
 
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