99 Accent power drop - Worth checking codes?

My 99 Accent is a bit sluggish but I haven't seen any check engine
light. Did a fast check and found a loose air connector tube between
the air sensor and what passes for an intake manifold. Tightened that
up and it runs better but still is not up to the old power level.
Seems to have a flat spot where I exect power on acceleration. Will
get tp a tune up soon but wondered if it was worth getting into a code
reader to see if there were other issues as there is no check engine
coming on and the bulb is good (check on startup).

 

How many miles does your car have?

I wouldn't expect a code reader to show anything if the check engine
light isn't on.

 

Around 80,000. The thing that bothers me is the flat spot that
developed rather suddenly. I was thinking the codes might show things
that were marginal. On the other hand i don't have a code reader
handy. ;-)

 

It's worth a try. I don't have much else to offer.

 

| nothermark wrote:
|
| > My 99 Accent is a bit sluggish but I haven't seen any check
engine
| > light. Did a fast check and found a loose air connector tube
between
| > the air sensor and what passes for an intake manifold.
Tightened that
| > up and it runs better but still is not up to the old power
level.
| > Seems to have a flat spot where I exect power on
acceleration. Will
| > get tp a tune up soon but wondered if it was worth getting
into a code
| > reader to see if there were other issues as there is no check
engine
| > coming on and the bulb is good (check on startup).
|
| How many miles does your car have?
|
| I wouldn't expect a code reader to show anything if the check
engine
| light isn't on.

The instructions for the Innova/Equus code reader that I just
bought say that the product will indeed display "pending" codes.
I'll keep this short and won't go into an explanation about the
On Board Diagnostic system. Suffice to say that a "pending"
situation is one in which the computer has registered a reading
that's out of normal range, but has not determined whether the
problem is serious or not, or whether the situation hasn't
corrected itself. In a case like this, the code is registered and
will be displayed if requested, but the "check engine" light will
remain off.

I'm still learning how this device interacts with the car's
computer, and I'm getting two confusing responses now with my own
car, so I can't comment further until I get this resolved and
know more. I'm still interested in knowing what the difference is
between code readers, which are somewhat affordable, and scan
tools, which are costly professional tools.

Richard

 

| On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 17:04:00 GMT, "screwtape iii"
<>
| wrote:
|
| >nothermark wrote:
| >
I was thinking the codes might show things
| that were marginal. On the other hand i don't have a code
reader
| handy. ;-)

As I said in the other post, I believe that it would.
I'm reminding you, if you haven't seen my other posts here, that
there are two code readers on sale right now at Kragen, Schucks,
and Checker stores (USA). I believe that the sale will be over on
3/25; the rebate on the Innova reader has to be postmarked on the
26th. The Innova is $100 after rebate. The other one costs less,
and I don't know anything about it. I've been impressed with an
Innova/Equus reader that I had for my '92 Ford (different
electronic system), and that's why I bought this one.

Richard

 

A code reader will do only that -- read codes. A scan tool, on the other
hand, will display data from the computer (input from sensors, output to
actuators, etc.) for the technician to view. Many manufacturer's scan
tools even allow the tech to operate many of the devices and actuators on
the vehicle with the tool.