I'm working on getting an 89 DX hatch on the road. A few more brake parts and I should be rolling, AND stopping.

Anyway, I've driven this car twice. Once was around the block for a test drive, the other was after I paid for it and drove it straight into my garage and put it on stands. Mind you, it has close to 190k miles and sale price was a whopping $360... WINTER BEATER.

Anyway, on the way home, I got a CEL. I know how to pull the codes and interpret all that BS, but what if the CEL pops on and the performance doesn't change? What if you get a CEL, shut the car off, hook up a tester and when you turn the car back on to retrieve the code, it's gone?

It happened while I was driving around 70MPH home. Hasn't happened since (since I haven't driven it), but I should be on the road in a couple of days and wonder if this is going to be constant problem or just annoying...

 

mine did that a few times... on my car it was the speedometer cable... it was like coming out of the tranny... im assuming yours is setup the same way as mine cuz of it being old... im not saying thats ur problem but jus check it? are u getting a even straight reading on ur mph gauge or is it kinda hopping?

 

It seems to run ok... I just don't know why I would get a CEL, shut the car off and then it doesn't come back.

 

Read the code will it's on.

 

I took it out tonight and the CEL came on at around 65 in 4th gear. I stopped for some brewski's and it was gone when I started it back up.

So what you're saying is that if I get a CEL, I can still get it without shutting the car off? Or should it be stored and not give me a CEL when I start back up? Maybe I'll go out now and see if it gives me anything.

 

Duh. I'm retarded. I thought I knew how to check the CELs but I don't. I'll just wait for the next one and see what it says.

 

hook up a test? lol just look at the LED!

 

I know... My other car has the paper clip thing and I thought this one was the same way...

 

welcome to obd-0

 

Thanks...