another auto repair question

[NewtonMP2100]

.....take a good look @ the....'shaft'......

[Cary]

Better scanners read the same codes as cheap scanners.

Better scanners, though, generally have more complete descriptions of codes, running data displays (of one or more data points (PIDs)), memory of previous readings/tests, reset and clearing capabilities (service resets, steering angle sensors, etc.), and access to other systems in the car (transmission, ABS, airbags, etc.).

[neophyte]

Ignorant question: disconnecting the battery for several minutes doesn't clear the codes? It does on my '01 Camry. Just gotta remember to record my stored radio stations first.

[Acer]

neophyte wrote:
Ignorant question: disconnecting the battery for several minutes doesn't clear the codes? It does on my '01 Camry. Just gotta remember to record my stored radio stations first.

Yes, disconnecting the battery will still clear it. EDIT: Deferring to greater intellects below.

(But you can get a universal OBD reader that also resets codes for $20.)

[Cary]

Disconnecting the battery does not clear OBDII (since 1996) codes.

It's part of the spec, specifically designed to prevent "shade-tree" mechanics from clearing codes without resolving issues.

The reality today is, though, that since OBDII was introduced, the price of entry for a scanner/code resetter has become minimal, and anyone can buy one for $20, as mentioned. Then they can clear codes at will.

[neophyte]

Cary wrote:
Disconnecting the battery does not clear OBDII (since 1996) codes.

It's part of the spec, specifically designed to prevent "shade-tree" mechanics from clearing codes without resolving issues.

The reality today is, though, that since OBDII was introduced, the price of entry for a scanner/code resetter has become minimal, and anyone can buy one for $20, as mentioned. Then they can clear codes at will.

Ah, I misrepresented what I thought was "clearing the codes". In reality, disconnecting the battery cable causes the "Check Engine" idiot light on the dashboard to go off, which I thought meant the error codes were cleared.

So the codes may still be there without triggering the idiot light?

[MrNoBody]

Cary wrote:
Disconnecting the battery does not clear OBDII (since 1996) codes.

It's part of the spec, specifically designed to prevent "shade-tree" mechanics from clearing codes without resolving issues.

The reality today is, though, that since OBDII was introduced, the price of entry for a scanner/code resetter has become minimal, and anyone can buy one for $20, as mentioned. Then they can clear codes at will.

.this
Specifically, OBDII writes the SRS & Emissions codes in F-RAM that might be read
with a "$20 scanner" but not modified and loss of power does not erase it.
That takes specialty equipment and licensed software.
Almost all Euro vehicles also now have the VIN & vehicle security coding in ROM; it can only be read.

[AllGold]

I'm about to go buy a cheap OBDII scanner and check, but I don't think it's the camshaft position sensor. The reason I say that is the first symptom of a CPS problem is not starting. The vehicle has never failed to start on the first try. It starts fine but then later loses power and/or stalls.

[Acer]

OK, I'm confused here. The Erase button on my $20 reader turns off the check engine light and deletes all codes, as in, the ODB reader says "no codes." Now, the I/M pass indicator is NOT cleared, because it will not reset itself until it runs for X time after a code erase, so there is that. But when I take it to the garage after clearing the codes (for my own troubleshooting that failed), and try to tell them "It was showing code X before", they say "No codes there, sorry, can't help you, bring it back when the light comes back on."

That does not suggest to me that the codes are protected in some sanctuary.

(We're talking several ca. 2000-2010 Toyotas.)

[Speedy]

Your gas line filter is clogged.