Is it possible to read fault codes without a scan tool? My check engine light just came on, and I don't feel like paying someone $80 to scan it.

1998 1.8T

 

No. How else would you read the codes? It'd be nice if our cars had a print button on the dash, but you need some way to retrieve the codes. Palm Reader maybe?

 

you don't have to pay anyone 80 bucks to scan it...autozone has a tool that they loan for free...but some places make you give them a deposit of 185 bucks...

 

On some cars you can cycle the ignition key on and off in a certain sequence, and your check engine light will flash giving you the fault codes. I was hoping Audi gave you that option.

 

Dont worry your not totally lost.. at least i know what your talking about with the flashing CEL... some also have a circuit you can test with a light and it will tell you.... with an audi you actually need the tool though

 

On the older fords there was a key and you could read the code by how many times the check engine light flashed but Audi needs the actual reader

 

Do a search for "VAG-COM TOOL LOCATOR".

 

where are u located?

 

http://www.steve-hall.com/cgi-bin/VAG-Locator.pl

 

I have done it on Fords before, so that's it. It takes a while, but you can at least get the codes.

I'm in Minneapolis. Thanks for the link. I'll see if I can contact one of the people with a reader in this area. Thanks for all your help.