Check Engine Codes

[Cherbear013]

My lovely check engine light went on in my 2009 Dodge Nitro. How do I get the code without a scanner? I turned the key to 'on' three times but never got a code like Pxxx. The odometer reading said hr3455. Any insight?

 

[Burnedout]

My lovely check engine light went on in my 2009 Dodge Nitro. How do I get the code without a scanner? I turned the key to 'on' three times but never got a code like Pxxx. The odometer reading said hr3455. Any insight?

No clues. But advance auto and those place will read it for free.

 

[Cherbear013]

Yeah, that's what I hear. My dh is out of town an I have two kids so don't want it to break down on the way. At least i can get an idea of what's wrong or how far I can drive.

 

[powellrj]

Have you checked the gas tank and is the lid on tight? Many times that will make the check engine light come on.

Not sure how true this is, but I have always heard if its flashing, have it checked now. If not, it can wait.

Mine is on and I had my garage check it out and they said it was no big deal and its not a problem if I keep driving it. Do you have a garage that you normally use that will check it for you? If not, go to advance and they will hook it up for free.

 

[cheap traveler]

Is the light flashing? If the light is on solid, and it is running ok, then you should make it to the store without trouble. When the light is flashing, you CAN NOT drive it.

I haven't seen newer cars that will flash you a code, that was an old-school thing. 95% of the time, the engine light is on for something silly like a sensor or gas cap.

(Btw, sitting at my desk in a repair shop right now typing this )

 

[Anthony1971]

Have you checked the gas tank and is the lid on tight? Many times that will make the check engine light come on.

Not sure how true this is, but I have always heard if its flashing, have it checked now. If not, it can wait.

Mine is on and I had my garage check it out and they said it was no big deal and its not a problem if I keep driving it. Do you have a garage that you normally use that will check it for you? If not, go to advance and they will hook it up for free.

A lot of times that is what it is however most cars will actually say your gas cap is loose where the mileage is these days.

 

[Anthony1971]

My lovely check engine light went on in my 2009 Dodge Nitro. How do I get the code without a scanner? I turned the key to 'on' three times but never got a code like Pxxx. The odometer reading said hr3455. Any insight?

Auto Zone or Advance auto will read it for you for free and sell you the part to fix it if one is needed.
Dodge will charge 1??+ to read the code a mechanic shop will charge less but still charge.
if you decide to go to Autozone etc just type in dodge code ???? on a search engine and you will get a lot of details as to what the problems is.
The check engine light is an emissions problem that should not have any effect on your driving except for maybe reduced gas mileage as they are mostly sensors that need to be replaced.
You also have a service engine soon light that is a problem with a mechanical part that you need to be worried about. Please also note all the other lights... battery, tire pressure, maintenance, low oil, transmission etc...
Also make sure it is not you maintenance light -- means oil change as a lot of times they do not get reset when you have your oil changed. Your owners manual will tell you how to reset it if that is the case.

 

[JanaDee]

My lovely check engine light went on in my 2009 Dodge Nitro. How do I get the code without a scanner? I turned the key to 'on' three times but never got a code like Pxxx. The odometer reading said hr3455. Any insight?

Google the make/model/year of your vehicle and error code hr3455.

That should tell you what you need to know.

 

[ellochka]

I second the AutoZone/O'Reilly/Advance. They have a scanner, and usually it's just a number, but then you can look it up online.

If the light is not flashing and the car is running fine, then you can drive it for a little while to see if it goes away. If not, it's usually some sort of sensor that broke. I had it happen a couple of times, and it took me months to get it fixed, but the car was running just fine - there are many sensors that the computer uses to control processes in the car, so when one is broken it does not usually go haywire.

 

[tvguy]

Many places will read the code for free. Probably not the gas cap since most cars since 2000 have a light for the gas cap if it isn't tight.

You might be polluting a little more, but you certainly are safe to drive it until your husband gets home if you want.

 

[dryvithome]

My lovely check engine light went on in my 2009 Dodge Nitro. How do I get the code without a scanner? I turned the key to 'on' three times but never got a code like Pxxx. The odometer reading said hr3455. Any insight?

Without a scanner, it's probably not going to give you the code. There are some basic codes that it will give you in the odometer section, but you can refer to the owner's manual for what they mean, or search online for the owner's manual. The hr3455 should be your total engine hours, but that's a guess based on a few searches with dodge nitro and engine hours.

If the check engine light is steady, it may be okay to drive. If it is flashing, it is a bad idea to drive it. I've experienced both of these types of check engine lights since my newest vehicle is eleven years old. The flashing check engine light was obviously a problem based on the sounds the engine was making (misfires, etc!) and needed some work. Nothing horribly expensive but driving it for a long time could have caused engine damage.

A steady check engine light could be a variety of things and there is not a real good way of knowing until you get a scanner to check the code(s). As mentioned by others, most auto places will scan for free. I bought a scanner at a pawn shop for $20 and then search the internet for the codes and learn how/if I should repair it myself.

Best of luck to you on it!

 

[Cherbear013]

Thanks everyone! Got to AutoZone with no issues. Car overheated and coolant light came on after so I think I need to get more things checked out

 

[disneylove69]

AAMCO does it for free.

 

[Shmily1]

Thanks everyone! Got to AutoZone with no issues. Car overheated and coolant light came on after so I think I need to get more things checked out

You may want them to replace your thermostat since you overheated. They are easy and cheap to replace but could save you a motor. This coming from experience with a Dodge, although I do love my Dodge products.

 

[tvguy]

Thanks everyone! Got to AutoZone with no issues. Car overheated and coolant light came on after so I think I need to get more things checked out

The warranty on the car is 5 years or 100,000 miles so it may be still under warranty depending on when you bought the car.

 

[HM]

Many places will read the code for free. Probably not the gas cap since most cars since 2000 have a light for the gas cap if it isn't tight.

I've never heard of this. We have four cars 2003, 2007, 2012 and 2013 and none of them have a separate light for gas cap.

And yes, almost every time we've ever had that light come on it's been a gas cap problem (My old 2001 Oldsmobile van had OnStar and they'd let you know what the code was saying).

 

[EMAW_KSU]

I've never heard of this. We have four cars 2003, 2007, 2012 and 2013 and none of them have a separate light for gas cap.

And yes, almost every time we've ever had that light come on it's been a gas cap problem (My old 2001 Oldsmobile van had OnStar and they'd let you know what the code was saying).

GM and Ford have been using a Check Gas Cap light for about the last ten years. I think Honda has been also.

 

[HM]

GM and Ford have been using a Check Gas Cap light for about the last ten years. I think Honda has been also.

One is a Buick, two are Jeeps, and one is Honda (I'm pretty sure it's not on there....but I'll look today).

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

OP......that overheating symptom can have serious and expensive consequences. Please get it properly checked out. I encourage you not to drive the car while it is overheating.

BTW...you did not tell us what the code was that was pulled by Autozone.

 

[tvguy]

I've never heard of this. We have four cars 2003, 2007, 2012 and 2013 and none of them have a separate light for gas cap.

And yes, almost every time we've ever had that light come on it's been a gas cap problem (My old 2001 Oldsmobile van had OnStar and they'd let you know what the code was saying).

My 2000 Mercury, 2003, 2006 and 2007 Fords all have a check gas cap light as well as a check engine light.