I'm not an owner myself but my dad is. I beleive he owns a 1997 SL1 or SL2 (the sedan). He just had an engine diagnostic and repair on some part of the exahust system about a month ago. Yesterday the "check engine" light came on again. I was telling him that there's a way to check the engine codes with out paying somebody $80-$100 to do a diognostic to know why the "check engine" light came on.

I am wondering 1st if this is true; and, 2nd if anybody knows how to do so. If anybody does know how to veiw the engine codes; do you know which means what/know where to go to decode the engine codes?

Thanks a ton

I know that some make/models have you turn on your car and watch the check engine light and you have to count the blinks (some have a pattern, too). Usually the vehicle manual will have the decodes located in the engine area (check the index of the manual)... I'm very new to Saturn myself (looking to buy), so I'm not sure if it holds true for these cars, but it can't hurt, can it?!

Sorry FROGG but you are wrong on both accounts when talking about a Saturn.

With most older GM vehicles you can jumper two of the computer leads with a small piece of wire or a paperclip and the engine light will blink in a sequence to identify the codes. This does not work on any of the newer on board vehicle computers (ie OBDII).


However, some auto parts stores will loan out a code reader with a depositor even do the check and provide you with a print out of the codes for free.


If you do primarily your own engine work, it would be a wise investment to purchase a code reader. You can pick up a basic one for under $100.

97 Saturns (and newer of course) are ODBII - -the jumper trick only works on the earlier ODBI systems.

Drive it to an Autozone and they'll read the codes for free. Post them here and we'll help you sort it out.

Or google "ODBII codes" and you'll find many a link to tables of tables of tables explaining what each code means

Derf