Read trouble codes without code reader?
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 2
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Reading
My buddy, who is a member here, discovered yesterday that he can get the codes off his 01 2500 without using a reader/scanner. Cycle key off and on 3 times and it shows the codes in the odometer display. I find this very cool and useful, kinda like the old obd1 where ya could use a paperclip to make it flash the codes out on the CEL. Never knew it could be done like this til now.
Problem is, it doesn't work with my 98
Is there another way or some other sequence to do this with my truck?
Problem is, it doesn't work with my 98
Is there another way or some other sequence to do this with my truck?
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Wr
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,409
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From: Clayton MI
Pardon me for doubting you, but, never had a cluster give me powertrain codes doing a cluster test.
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Joined: Dec 2017
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1998 5.9 V8 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie.
Well it's not showing error codes, but then again I don't think I have any.
But I can get the odometer dash cluster to run a check. It didn't work the way I read it (unless I missed something)
But it did work this way -
Truck is off, slide the key in, push in and hold the odometer button, turn the key 2 clicks to what would be the run or on position, continue to hold the odometer button in until it shows "check" in the odometer window this whole process is silent and no tones Will be heard, now release it. Mine did not show any issue and everything lit up as normal. As soon as you release it the truck will start the missed audio tones you normally hear when you turn the key forward. I hope this helps someone.
But I can get the odometer dash cluster to run a check. It didn't work the way I read it (unless I missed something)
But it did work this way -
Truck is off, slide the key in, push in and hold the odometer button, turn the key 2 clicks to what would be the run or on position, continue to hold the odometer button in until it shows "check" in the odometer window this whole process is silent and no tones Will be heard, now release it. Mine did not show any issue and everything lit up as normal. As soon as you release it the truck will start the missed audio tones you normally hear when you turn the key forward. I hope this helps someone.
