Fault Codes - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

snavy · 05-05-2003, 07:02

Hey all how do you extract fault codes from an EL I6? I did a search couldnt find anything useful.

thanks

Muzza · 05-05-2003, 07:46

There is a white plug above the fuse panel. It has about 20 pins.
The EL still uses OBDI so it can be read with a test light, meter or 12v buzzer.
The pins can be connected to without the plug, however, it is a little fiddly.
Attached is a pic of the unit I built to read the codes.

The codes themselves are listed in the Ford manual.
Some aftermarket manuals, such as Haynes, also list the codes.
There is a site www.autoemf.com.au that has the codes listed.
The AutoEMF site have details on the pins and which ones to connect to.

Hope that helps:)

snavy · 05-05-2003, 08:02

thanks for that but it doesnt tell you what to connect to what?

how do you know what code it is? does it flash in a certain way or something?

AUII_Forte · 05-05-2003, 22:24

Dude, that things is really cool!!! How much did it cost you and how hard was it to make?

station-rat · 05-05-2003, 22:37

Hi Muzza
Do you want to share some more information on how you made this ,or are you selling them?
Station-rat

EL1XR8 · 05-05-2003, 23:21

You can read the codes easily without a code reader by just using a digital multimeter, and a few aligator clips.

To read the codes you need to hook up the STI pin of the diagnostic connector (under the fuse panel) to earth (i.e. ground it). This pin is the top LHS one. Next connect the positive lead of a digital multi-meter to the STO pin, and the negative lead to earth. The STO pin is the fifth one in from the LHS on the top.

As you do not want to touch the adjacent pins together, and the aligator clips are a bit bulky to use, i made up some test leads by soldering a small spade connector (I had to squash these slightly to fit properly in the space available) to one end of the aligator clip lead. These should loosely fit over the diagnostic pins and i use the alligator clips to connect between these and the multi-meter.

Once hooked up turn the ignition on, but dont start (for KOEO tests anyway). The multi-meter should read 12V initially. Then various valves should cycle (don't freak out the first time this happens), and then the multimeter will flash a series of open loop pulses. These are the codes. The codes are given twice for any fault. e.g. 111 111 for all OK. The pulse format is as follows:
- � second OPEN LOOP for each digit
- 2 seconds on between digits (of a given code)
- 4 seconds on for the time between codes
- 6 seconds on time before and after the � second separator code

While running the tests the engine should be at normal running temperature, transmission in park, heater/AC off, and all other electrical loads (including doors) should be off (or so the manual says).

If you wish to repeat any of the tests, turn the ignition off for at least 20 seconds, then repeat.

To erase any fault codes (after they�ve been fixed), disconnect the STI lead from the ground during the test. The same set up is used for KOER tests.

Hope this helps. It takes a bit to get used to reading them, but its not that hard. Double check if you're not sure.

snavy · 05-05-2003, 23:30

i got an analogue multimeter, will this do?

EL1XR8 · 05-05-2003, 23:42

I'm not dead sure, but i remember reading somewhere that it is NOT recommended to use an analogue one (although someone might prove otherwise). Either way, you can get cheap digital ones for $20 or so from Tandy, which would do the job.

TopGhia · 05-06-2003, 12:12

EL1XR8, Thanks for that post, very handy info.

NZ · 05-06-2003, 16:01

The Haynes manual I have recommended to use a analouge since the codes go a bit quick and can get confusing since the digital ones dont read the increase and decrease fast enough. The analouge allows you to see the needle sweep.