Finally got the hang of reading injector trim codes without the scanner

For years, I'd just plug in the computer and wait for the readout, which was fine until a scanner died on me mid-job at a farm outside Bakersfield. I had a Duramax with a rough idle, and my boss said 'figure it out the old way.' I spent an hour with a multimeter and the service manual, checking resistances and counting the flashes on the injector connector light. Now I can diagnose a bad injector in about 15 minutes without any fancy tools. Anyone else have to learn a manual backup method for a common electronic check?

3 comments

3 Comments

lucasr412mo ago

Figure it out the old way" sounds like a rough day, but is it really worth the hassle over a scanner?

ryanh771mo ago

Oh man, it's totally worth it. That scanner is a huge help, right up until it dies or just won't connect. Knowing the old way is like having a backup plan that never runs out of batteries. Sure, it's a pain and takes longer, but you can actually fix the car instead of just staring at a dead screen. It turns a bad day into just a long, annoying one.

evanb872mo ago

Man, that's awesome. I had a similar thing learning to read ABS tone rings with just a test light after my old scan tool bricked itself. @lucasr41, the hassle feels worth it when you're stuck and just need to know what's broken right now. It's like a weird party trick you hope you never have to use again.