How To Read Error Codes '88 Mighty Max?

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Ulysses - 02 Feb 2009 19:42 GMT

Hi. I've Googled, Yahooed, and Auto Zoned and can't find any info. Can
someone tell me how the error codes are read on a '88 Mighty Max (2.4L 4WD)?
The Service Engine light is on and it's running too rich. My guess is that
the O2 sensor is bad but I don't want to start replacing stuff that might
not need replacing.

After that a list of the codes would be nice too. I'm gonna get a manual
but right now I only have $3 and my mortgage is due.

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Bob Shuman - 02 Feb 2009 23:27 GMT

If you live in the US and have an Autozone nearby you can take it to them
and they will read the OBDII error code for free.

Bob

> Hi. I've Googled, Yahooed, and Auto Zoned and can't find any info. Can
> someone tell me how the error codes are read on a '88 Mighty Max (2.4L
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> After that a list of the codes would be nice too. I'm gonna get a manual
> but right now I only have $3 and my mortgage is due.

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Stewart DIBBS - 03 Feb 2009 00:51 GMT

> If you live in the US and have an Autozone nearby you can take it to them
> and they will read the OBDII error code for free.

Except of course it's an '88, so its an OBD1 (or its predecessor, if there
is one).

For the 89 models (maybe for the 88 too) get a +12v LED (for maybe 0.50) and
about 48" of 26H wire. Find the diagnostic port under the dash and connect
the LED across the diagonal pins. One way will light up the LED. A long
pulse == 10, short pulse = 1. So LONG LONG SHORT = code 21.

Here's the OBD1 codes.
11 = Front O2 Sensor
12 = MAF Sensor
13 = Intake Air Temp Sensor
14 = Throttle Position Sensor
21 = Coolant Temp Sensor
22 = Crank Position Sensor
23 = Cam Position Sensor
24 = Speed Sensor
25 = Barometric Sensor
36 = IGN Adjustment Signal
41 = Injector Fault
42 = Fuel Pump
44 = Ign Coil

If your engine is running rich then you can expect some or all of codes 11,
12, 13, 21, maybe 41.

regards
Stewart DIBBS
www.lancerproject.ca

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Bob Shuman - 03 Feb 2009 01:04 GMT

Stewart,

Thanks for the catch here and great instructions...

I read '88, but my brain was thinking '98. (OBDII began in 1996 as I
recall!)

Bob

> Except of course it's an '88, so its an OBD1 (or its predecessor, if there
> is one).
> regards
> Stewart DIBBS
> www.lancerproject.ca

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Ulysses - 03 Feb 2009 16:23 GMT

> > If you live in the US and have an Autozone nearby you can take it to them
> > and they will read the OBDII error code for free.
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> Stewart DIBBS
> www.lancerproject.ca

Thanks for the great info, and thanks for overlooking my mistake on the
engine size. It should have been 2.6, not 2.4. I must have been thinking
about my Nissan Frontier. The good news is that most of the codes you
mention don't apply cause it's carburated so that kinda narrows it down to
the temp sensor and the O2 sensor. I don't know if it has an air intake
temp sensor--don't think so. I'm worried about the O2 sensor breaking while
attempting to replace it--it seems awful tight.

I didn't see any diagnostic port under the dash but I'll look again. It's
similar to how I read the codes on my '91 Explorer but that's with a
voltmeter.

As for Auto Zone, unfortunately this truck was an abandoned vehicle and has
not been registered for for several years and it's 17 miles to AZ and my
chances of making it without getting pulled over are very slim. It's runs
good enough now to drag my dirt roads and get firewood and such but someone
crashed into my Nissan (head-on!) so the Mighty Max is looking good right
now. It seems to be very capable in 4WD.

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