Hi, I just have a quick question. Where do you find the code If there is something wrong with the car? Sounds stupid Huh, But I haven't had this car that long and don't know much about it. It is a 2000 Malibu, and up until recent had no problems with it. I am seeing in other post that there are codes. Which for my Beretta I could get the codes to come up myself using a paper clip and they were always right. But with this car I don't know how too other than having to pay a tech. to do it at a dealer. So is there another way?

 

I just joined thie forum and I am wondering the same thing.

 

go to autozone! they scan it for free and they can tell you what is wrong and a code. but your check engine light has to be on and you CANNOT do the paperclip with your car. you will fry the computer in it

 

ok thanks, But what do you do if there is no check engine light, is that where knowledge and experience are suppose to kick in? Everyone I talk to or everyone that looks at my car, or I describe the symptoms to, have a different answer, "it could be", ?

 

codes can be stored in the computer without a check engine light on. autozone can pull the codes and then you can go from there. go to this link of the forums, scroll down to the sticky for p-codes. you'll see your code listed there.

https://chevroletforum.com/forum/general-tech-10/

 

The main reason I asked this is that on my truck I can just turn the key to a specific position and press a couple of buttons in a specific order and it will do a self diagnostic and give me a code if something is wrong. I thoug maybe these cars can do the same.