How to Read Codes, Curious Facts and Acronyms [Archive] - SmokinVette.com Forums

: How to Read Codes, Curious Facts and Acronyms


tstar
03-10-2007, 09:51 AM
I thought I'd post some info I've collected for the new owners and possibly inform a few of us "old dogs" on something new...


Here’s how to read your car’s codes...

The "diagnostic display" mode is entered with the following procedure:
1) Turn on the ignition but don't start the engine.
2) Press the "reset" button to turn off any warning messages
3) Press and hold "options" , press "fuel" four times within a 10-second period.

When first engaged the on-board diagnostics go into an "automatic" mode.
The computer will show two kinds of codes, "current" and "history," designated "C" or "H". A current code indicates a malfunction is present in the system whose module is displaying data. A history code indicates a past problem.

When the screen displays "manual diagnostics," select the desired module by pressing the "options" button to go forward or the "trip" button to go back. Press "gages" to go forward or "fuel" to go back for each code under a module.

To exit the diagnostic mode at any time, press "E/M". If you want to erase or "clear" codes, press, "reset."

This is one of the best C5 Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) web sites:

http://www.corvettedoctor.com/Code_Main.html
http://www.corvettedoctor.com/index.html

Go to “technical data base” and then to “Corvette ECM Computer Codes”. Then select your year car. Read the instructions and then scroll down to the "READ MORE" window to view the code definitions.\

Here is another very good site:

http://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_cod...d-ii-codes.php

Make sure to include the H or C suffix when asking for help with a code or codes!!

Common Corvette Acronyms:

A4 – 4-speed Automatic Tranny
AFAIK - As Far As I Know
AH – Corvette Active Handling
BPP - Breathless Performance Products
BSM - Body Side Moldings
BTW - By The Way
CF - Carbon Fiber
CAI - Cold Air Intakes
FI – Forced Induction
FRC – Fixed Roof Coupe or Fuel Rail Cover
FUBAR - "Fu**ed" Up Beyond All Repair
FWIW - For What It's Worth
FYI - For Your Information
H/C – Heads Cam Pkg
HT - Hardtop (related to FRC)
IMO - In My Opinion
IMHO - In My Humble Opinion
IMMHO - In My Most Humble Opinion
IYKWIM - If you know what I mean
JFYI - Just For Your Information
JMHO - Just My Humble Opinion
JMO - Just My Opinion
KMA - Kiss My A**
LOL - Laughing Out Loud
LMAO - Laughing My A** Off
LPE - Lingenfelter Performance Engineering
MN12 – Z06 6-speed
MN6 – Corvette 6-speed
OIC - Oh, I See
OMG – Oh My God
OTOH - On The Other Hand
PFM - Pure Freaking Magic
PITA - Pain In The A**

Secrets of the C5

● The little orange “helper light” on the bottom of the rear-view mirror that illuminates the shifter area.
● That you can put your key in the driver’s door and turn it twice towards the front to unlock the passenger door and a third time to pop the trunk.
● That you can pop the trunk and also pop the gas cap cover by pulling on metal lines hidden in the back.
● The little slotted cover on the dash behind the steering wheel is where the inside air temperature sensor is located.
● All of the option codes are in the glove box.
● Tire inflation recommended pressures are on the driver’s door.
● The thing that looks like a little LED near the DIC buttons is a light sensor.
● The thing that looks like a little LED near the defroster vent is a UV sensor for determining A/C usage to compensate for the heating effect of the sun.
● The build sheet is in the front re-bar.
● If you leave your turn signal on, in about 1 minute it will start to ding (loud enough to hear over the stereo) to let you know you have old timers disease.
● You can reset the oil life by pumping the gas pedal 3 times (but not with the engine running).
● Hold down the reset button while on one of the trip odometers and it changes that reading to the miles you’ve traveled since last starting the engine.
● Hold down the Active Handling button for 5 sec. to engage “Competitive Driving” on cars equipped with active handling (2000 and previous years must be stopped.)
● If you pull the seatbelts all the way out while you’re buckled in, they ratchet back in to hold you tighter into the seat. (then move the seat forward to make it extra snug -- Leafty)
● Simply remove fuse #2 under the hood and your DRLs will be out permanently. Only thing affected is that when you unlock at night using the key fob your front turn signal lights and back up lights will not flash. Your front turn signals will operate normally, however.
● The side-view mirrors can twist both forward and backward, decreasing the chance of damage if struck.
● There is a release opening with a flap to let air out of the car when the hatch is closed. It is located just above the driver side rear compartment behind the carpet and on the side of the car. Not that it really works well.
● Also you can ground your amp to a screw/bolt that holds the rear middle compartment to the frame.
● If you have a 6-speed car you can pop the trunk when the car is running by lifting the e-brake.
● There is a spot on the driver side just out of the middle compartment under the carpet for the lug nut key. You should have a compartment on the drivers & passenger’s side (in the trunk) and a center compartment. On the left (drivers) side of the center compartment, on the left side where the center cover fits, there is an ‘indent’ that holds the wheel lock key.
● If you turn on the headlights, then go to parking light position, the lamps remain up but the headlights are not left on.
● If you have the passive entry feature: If you lock the keys in the car, wait a few minutes and then shake the car. That will unlock the car.
● HUD has a shift light for the manuals.
● You can easily shift the M6 trans up or down without the clutch if you match revs. (Not great for longevity, however.)
● You can eject the cd from the in-dash player without turning on any power. Don’t even need key in the ignition.
● The cruise will disengage if you purposely make sharp side to side turns while cruising at say 60-80 mph.
● When the engine is shut off, you can get the odometer reading by turning on the parking lights.
● You can program setting #3 (both memory buttons at once) in the seat memory to run the seat back and steering wheel forward for getting in/out of the car with the engine running.
● If you hate DRLs you can pull the e-brake ONE click and they go off. (They don’t on mine however)

02RonZ06
03-10-2007, 05:43 PM
Good tips on secerts of C5's

tstar
03-10-2007, 08:55 PM
Yeah some of those were new to me as well.

50year
03-13-2007, 02:49 PM
Excellent post! Thats a thread to keep.:D

Slvr Bulit
03-14-2007, 07:24 AM
Thanks for the info

ddgreene
09-15-2009, 02:56 PM
:2ni19wj:

zerogravity
09-16-2009, 05:23 AM
I thought I'd post some info I've collected for the new owners and possibly inform a few of us "old dogs" on something new...


Here’s how to read your car’s codes...

The "diagnostic display" mode is entered with the following procedure:
1) Turn on the ignition but don't start the engine.
2) Press the "reset" button to turn off any warning messages
3) Press and hold "options" , press "fuel" four times within a 10-second period.

When first engaged the on-board diagnostics go into an "automatic" mode.
The computer will show two kinds of codes, "current" and "history," designated "C" or "H". A current code indicates a malfunction is present in the system whose module is displaying data. A history code indicates a past problem.

When the screen displays "manual diagnostics," select the desired module by pressing the "options" button to go forward or the "trip" button to go back. Press "gages" to go forward or "fuel" to go back for each code under a module.

To exit the diagnostic mode at any time, press "E/M". If you want to erase or "clear" codes, press, "reset."

This is one of the best C5 Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) web sites:

http://www.corvettedoctor.com/Code_Main.html
http://www.corvettedoctor.com/index.html

Go to “technical data base” and then to “Corvette ECM Computer Codes”. Then select your year car. Read the instructions and then scroll down to the "READ MORE" window to view the code definitions.\

Here is another very good site:

http://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_cod...d-ii-codes.php

Make sure to include the H or C suffix when asking for help with a code or codes!!

Common Corvette Acronyms:

A4 – 4-speed Automatic Tranny
AFAIK - As Far As I Know
AH – Corvette Active Handling
BPP - Breathless Performance Products
BSM - Body Side Moldings
BTW - By The Way
CF - Carbon Fiber
CAI - Cold Air Intakes
FI – Forced Induction
FRC – Fixed Roof Coupe or Fuel Rail Cover
FUBAR - "Fu**ed" Up Beyond All Repair
FWIW - For What It's Worth
FYI - For Your Information
H/C – Heads Cam Pkg
HT - Hardtop (related to FRC)
IMO - In My Opinion
IMHO - In My Humble Opinion
IMMHO - In My Most Humble Opinion
IYKWIM - If you know what I mean
JFYI - Just For Your Information
JMHO - Just My Humble Opinion
JMO - Just My Opinion
KMA - Kiss My A**
LOL - Laughing Out Loud
LMAO - Laughing My A** Off
LPE - Lingenfelter Performance Engineering
MN12 – Z06 6-speed
MN6 – Corvette 6-speed
OIC - Oh, I See
OMG – Oh My God
OTOH - On The Other Hand
PFM - Pure Freaking Magic
PITA - Pain In The A**

Secrets of the C5

● The little orange “helper light” on the bottom of the rear-view mirror that illuminates the shifter area.
● That you can put your key in the driver’s door and turn it twice towards the front to unlock the passenger door and a third time to pop the trunk.
● That you can pop the trunk and also pop the gas cap cover by pulling on metal lines hidden in the back.
● The little slotted cover on the dash behind the steering wheel is where the inside air temperature sensor is located.
● All of the option codes are in the glove box.
● Tire inflation recommended pressures are on the driver’s door.
● The thing that looks like a little LED near the DIC buttons is a light sensor.
● The thing that looks like a little LED near the defroster vent is a UV sensor for determining A/C usage to compensate for the heating effect of the sun.
● The build sheet is in the front re-bar.
● If you leave your turn signal on, in about 1 minute it will start to ding (loud enough to hear over the stereo) to let you know you have old timers disease.
● You can reset the oil life by pumping the gas pedal 3 times (but not with the engine running).
● Hold down the reset button while on one of the trip odometers and it changes that reading to the miles you’ve traveled since last starting the engine.
● Hold down the Active Handling button for 5 sec. to engage “Competitive Driving” on cars equipped with active handling (2000 and previous years must be stopped.)
● If you pull the seatbelts all the way out while you’re buckled in, they ratchet back in to hold you tighter into the seat. (then move the seat forward to make it extra snug -- Leafty)
● Simply remove fuse #2 under the hood and your DRLs will be out permanently. Only thing affected is that when you unlock at night using the key fob your front turn signal lights and back up lights will not flash. Your front turn signals will operate normally, however.
● The side-view mirrors can twist both forward and backward, decreasing the chance of damage if struck.
● There is a release opening with a flap to let air out of the car when the hatch is closed. It is located just above the driver side rear compartment behind the carpet and on the side of the car. Not that it really works well.
● Also you can ground your amp to a screw/bolt that holds the rear middle compartment to the frame.
● If you have a 6-speed car you can pop the trunk when the car is running by lifting the e-brake.
● There is a spot on the driver side just out of the middle compartment under the carpet for the lug nut key. You should have a compartment on the drivers & passenger’s side (in the trunk) and a center compartment. On the left (drivers) side of the center compartment, on the left side where the center cover fits, there is an ‘indent’ that holds the wheel lock key.
● If you turn on the headlights, then go to parking light position, the lamps remain up but the headlights are not left on.
● If you have the passive entry feature: If you lock the keys in the car, wait a few minutes and then shake the car. That will unlock the car.
● HUD has a shift light for the manuals.
● You can easily shift the M6 trans up or down without the clutch if you match revs. (Not great for longevity, however.)
● You can eject the cd from the in-dash player without turning on any power. Don’t even need key in the ignition.
● The cruise will disengage if you purposely make sharp side to side turns while cruising at say 60-80 mph.
● When the engine is shut off, you can get the odometer reading by turning on the parking lights.
● You can program setting #3 (both memory buttons at once) in the seat memory to run the seat back and steering wheel forward for getting in/out of the car with the engine running.
● If you hate DRLs you can pull the e-brake ONE click and they go off. (They don’t on mine however)

Good info!