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Another one for teh techs....

eschoendorff

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
8,991
Location
Michigan
This is tool related... has to do with an OBD-II code reader. So anyway, those of you who frequent Free Parking know that my wife's 2006 LaCrosse threw a code at me (new gas cap seemed to solve problem, BTW).

Anyway, not having needed to read a code for quite some time, I simply started the car and plugged in the code reader and turned it on. As soon as I did that , there were loud repeated popping noises coming through the stereo speakers... weird. I hooked up the code reader with the key set to on, but without the engine running and then turned the code reader on. In this condition, the code reader couldn't even establish a link with the car. So I started the engine again, plugged in the code reader and again POP-POP-POP-POP-POP over the speakers... well i put up with it just because I only had one code to clear.

Ever since then, each morning the clock on teh factory radio says 6:00AM when my wife leaves (at noon!) to go to work. The radio works, teh car starts, everything is just fine... except it's almost like the clock resets itself or looses power momentarily overnight. This has happened two mornings in a row.

This is really weird. I am hoping that this clock/code reader weirdness is just a coincidence. In any case, anyone ever heard of this? Any ideas?
 
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BrianAltenhofel

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 2, 2007
Messages
344
Location
In a trailer somewhere in the country
I'm not a tech, but I am frequently called on for my $100 OBD-II reader. (I've thought about charging for rental or a call-out fee, but free beer is good enough for me.)

You're supposed to plug it in, THEN turn the key to ON without starting the engine. I'm not sure how the clock on the factory radio does its time, but there is a chance that something electronic did get hurt by doing it improperly. The first time I used it, I did the "man" thing and didn't read the instructions on the clear plastic on top of the screen (that I had to pull off to read the screen) and ended up without wipers for a while.
 

jay50

Banned
Joined
Oct 28, 2007
Messages
3,894
Newer cars can have module damage if the scanner is not turned off correctly.
 
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TNToy

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 11, 2006
Messages
1,385
Location
West Tennessee
Key off.
Plug in scan-tool
Key on, engine off: --> Scan, read, etc
(You may now start vehicle for tools with data-streaming capabilites)

Turn off key
Unplug

It's not that hard. ;)
 
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