My first engine problem

[vitaminC]

Originally Posted by wvboxst3r

Right now it is a timing issue. The local dealer is two weeks out and the only indy that I know is on vacation. I am going to local auto parts to see if they can read codes, not sure without cel on will there be codes?

Yes, the codes are stored even when the light is off.

[wvboxst3r]

Local autoparts said their reader would not retrieve codes unless CEL is on. I am leaving out of country next week, so I will order durametric. The car barely had the shake today and I added a can of seafoam. Refill Monday and 6 hour trip should run all the old gas out. I am really thinking bad gas.

[wvboxst3r]

Just did a start up and idle. Seems that seafoam worked. I will restart in AM and take her for a drive. It is amazing what a tank of bad gas can do.

[RobbieKnobbie]

Originally Posted by wvboxst3r

Local autoparts said their reader would not retrieve codes unless CEL is on.

Your autoparts guy is a tool... and not a very good one at that.

I have a cheapie $100 harbor freight code reader and it not only reads the basic emissions codes (with or without CEL) it even reads the porsche specific codes after you tell it what kind of car it's reading. I'm sure the durametric is better (haven't gotten one yet) but even the junkie one I have is a lot better than nothing.

On a side note, it will even track live data - coolant temp, spark advance and a dozen or so other parameters in 'real time'

[wvboxst3r]

Well back from Hawaii and started up and nothing. No smoke, no hesitation, no miss. Runs like new. I am now looking for a code reader and will not skimp on gas prices again.