WDWBen
Subaru Killer
If you want to, you can also grab (eventually, obviously, this is not quick) a Bluetooth ODBII plug and do a lot of cool stuff with your car from your iPhone or Android phone.
They're cheaper at Walmart. A basic reader can be had for around $50.
Edit: Here is a commonly available and decently-reviewed unit available at Walmart: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Innova-3030-CanOBD2-Maintenance-Indicator-Car-Reader/13029622
Ignore their "code translation" software and desired upcharge when you get the thing, code translation is cheap and free on the Internet. The important part is to get something like this that can retrieve the raw OBD-II and CANBUS codes.
That'll require waiting for it to be shipped to me. I'd rather pay an extra $20 or whatever to just get one locally.
It's a normally stocked item in many Walmarts. Have you used the function there which lets you check to see which of your local Walmarts has them in stock?
Yep, none within 50 miles that have it. Actually, the nearest Walmart is a half-hour away. Not many around here.
What's your nearest auto parts stores, then? And do you have a nearby Sears with Auto Center?
Yep, none within 50 miles that have it. Actually, the nearest Walmart is a half-hour away. Not many around here.
They're cheaper at Walmart. A basic reader can be had for around $50.
Edit: Here is a commonly available and decently-reviewed unit available at Walmart: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Innova-3030-CanOBD2-Maintenance-Indicator-Car-Reader/13029622
Ignore their "code translation" software and desired upcharge when you get the thing, code translation is cheap and free on the Internet. The important part is to get something like this that can retrieve the raw OBD-II and CANBUS codes.
Amazon has that for the same price with $10 2-day shipping. Not a bad solution.
I think I'll just wait until tomorrow though to see if the issue continues and if so call the dealer. Not much use in me diagnosing the issue with a code reader if I can't do anything about it.
On certain cars, you can read the error codes without a reader, on my 93 Pontiac Formula this was possible.
At the time I used a pair of scissors to connect two pins on the port and by counting the number of times a light flashed on the instrument panel, I got the code.
Edit: Nevermind, looks like that was OBD-I only.
Shame, that was pretty handy.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/elm327-bluetooth-obd-ii-wireless-transceiver-dongle-16921
Much cheaper, does the same.