k so my check engine light just came on. what should i do now? i've read about the codes n stuff but how do i get that checked??

 

Seeing as your XJ is OBD-II, ride down to Advance Autoparts and they'll read the codes for you for free.

 

then you can tell us the codes are look them up in our write up sections. And more than likely fix your problem.

 

Yeah, the codes are usually pretty straightforward. It's one of the really nice things about OBDII, your Jeep can pretty much tell you exactly whats wrong with it!

 

x2 on advanced

 

Ever since the parts stores started doing that, it's kinda senseless to spend the hundreds on a scan tool unless you're going to be doing it all the time and on different cars.

Oh, interesting note...
When I had my OnStar subscription active, my Monte Carlo (2001, OBD-II) can do a live diagnostic while driving, AND I could set it up to email me when it needed maintenance or if something was going bad...Just thought that was a cool OBD-II feature.

 

Yeah those little tools are fairly costly considering the service is free. I bought one back when I had a 01' Honda Prelude and got some good use out of it, but now I have an OBDI XJ. And all my friends know I have the scanner so I'm always getting the "Hey dude, my check engine light is on, can you help me out?" call! Well at least the scanner gets used I guess...

 

LOL!!! Now I do that to my one buddy since he got the Snap-On hand held and a program that interfaces with his laptop to read codes!!!

<~ Too cheap to buy one...

 

Hey as long as you know someone with a scanner, and parts stores are doing it for free, don't consider yourself too cheap to buy one. I'd say you are smart not to buy one!

 

or you can just turn your key on and off quickly 3 times and the codes will show up on your digital odometer.

 

just tried that n it didnt work :S

and i dont think i have advance autoparts in Canada..

 

OBD-I will do that... OBD-II needs the code reader.

And Harbor Freight has a code reader for about $60...

 

OBD-I will do that... OBD-II needs the code reader.

And Harbor Freight has a code reader for about $60...

 

no, obd I doesn't have a digital odometer.

besides, my 99 tj is obd II, and i've done it a few times with both mine, and my wifey's 97 tj.

it's a little tricky to do, but you don't turn the key all the way back, just from the unlock forward without hitting the starter.