93 OBD Codes

[boschbabe]

According to my Haynes manual, the only Digifant cars that have an onboard diagnostic setup are cars from Calif. Is this correct? Is there a way to pull up codes without a scanner?

[Briano1234]

93 Cabbies have digifant2 if your "5th" digit is a "b" (California is "c") then you can't get the codes.

From your other post if the timing is a tooth off, that can be your whole issue.
As well as the FPR.

The CTS sensor can cause no start COLD no Start Hot, and Crappy running.
As it is but a 12dollar part at napa with the o-ring I say just replace it.

[boschbabe]

So if some electrical component is not sending the right stuff to the computer, there is no indicator other than driveability issues?

[Briano1234]

So if some electrical component is not sending the right stuff to the computer, there is no indicator other than driveability issues?

Yep....

If it died, then you need to verify and set the timing statically
http://reflectionsandshadows.com/cabby/static-digi.html

You will need to verify the hall signal generator is working.
One trick I learned is to remove the ground off the battery post, and touch the ground cable to the Positive for about 30 seconds. This will tend to reset the ECU.

[Calimus]

Ok, here's a late Xmas gift. Burn that Haynes manual and download this digital copy of the Bentley manual here - http://www.toplessrabbit.com/files/VW_C ... IROCCO.pdf

Then, do yourself a favor and purchase an actual copy so that you have something to you can use while your poking around in the engine bay. After that, getting the codes from those early ODB cars is like pulling teeth. You can screw around with trying to make the CEL flash x-times or find an old scanner someone might still have in a junk box or whatever. The thing is, these cars are still just this side of simple enough that you can track the issue down. While there are sensors, there are very few, which makes things a bit easier to deal with. There's not 100+ like a modern car.

So, please download that copy of the Bentley (it's about 352mb of PDF file) and have a look. It's much better then the manual you are using.

[boschbabe]

Thanks for the link. I was looking at the section on cam timing and noticed that it doesn't show the tranny marks. It only shows the crank pulley mark lining up with the intermediate gear which requires pulling the pulley and bottom cover. It also says that the marks on the crank pulley and cover are for 16V engines only. I ran into trouble lining up these three on our auto car. They were all slightly off (half-tooth) from each other including the two on the crankshaft!

[boschbabe]

The reason I was wondering about OBD codes is because the car doesn't run at all and it would give me a place to start. I thought they were federally mandated.

[Calimus]

They were on domestic back then, but I don't think they were on imports till 98'

[Briano1234]

They were on domestic back then, but I don't think they were on imports till 98'

96 mandate due to emissions standards.
is what I thought.

[Calimus]

You may very well be right Sir.

[boschbabe]

My '93 BMW has OBD. You just have to hit the gas pedal 10 times to pull the codes.

[kamzcab86]

Does the car have this in the dash:



Does the car have a "C" in digit #5 in the VIN?

No: The car is Digifant II and does NOT have OBD I.

Yes: The car is Digifant I, originally sold in California, and DOES have OBD I.

Go to http://www.cabby-info.com/gauges.htm#Lights , scroll down to Check Engine Light for further info.

And, to clarify, the USA federal government required all cars from 1996 model year onward to have OBD II. Prior to 1996, the annoying state of California mandated that all 1991 model year and newer vehicles originally sold in California have OBD capability, hence, the 1991-1993 California-sold Cabriolets having Digifant I and OBD I. To pull codes in these vehicles requires an OBD I scanner, or a jumper wire.

[Calimus]

And there is the definitive word right there. Thanks Kammy!

[boschbabe]

It's a non-Cali model. I wish I had OBD1. It doesn't hurt to have another tool in my box. I thought VW was gizmo crazy so it surprises me that OBD was omitted. Even my carbed '89 Festiva has it.