2002 Outback Sport

[MAC]

Does anyone know if the "Check Engine Light" itself, would flash an error
code? And if so, what pins in the diagnostic plug should be connected to get
a read out?

 

[Edward Hayes]

The check engine light does not flash a code. Very old vehicles did flash a
code but now there are so many that the microprocessor just stores them.
AutoZone will read them free for you. I think I would not mess with shorting
pins as more expensive problems may be caused, unless of course you have a
very good understanding of what you are doing and willing to risk. eddie

 

[MAC]

Thank you Eddie. Thinking the check engine light might reveal a fault code,
betrays my age, eh?

 

[David]

Thank you Eddie. Thinking the check engine light might reveal a fault code,
betrays my age, eh?

There are modern, OBD-II cars that do that too.

 

[Edward Hayes]

If the CEL doesn't flash then it doesn't flash a code. Since the are several
hundred codes I think only some trucks (which do not meet passenger car
emission specs) may flash a code.eddie

 

[David]

If the CEL doesn't flash then it doesn't flash a code. Since the are several
hundred codes I think only some trucks (which do not meet passenger car
emission specs) may flash a code.eddie

The car I just sold was pre OBD-II, and if the CEL was on, there was a test
wire that you would jumper to ground to flash the trouble code on the CEL.

My remaining non-Subaru is OBD-II, but you can read the codes without
a scanner by turning a switch on the ECU, and then the codes flash in sequence
on the CEL. It's too bad if Subaru doesn't provide anything like that
but I was planning to buy an OBD-II scanner eventually anyway.