How To Read And Clear The Check Engine Light On A Mitsubishi Colt Without An OBD Scan Tool
Hello, my friend. Do you have a Mitsubishi Colt that has a check engine light on it? If your Mitsubishi Colt is from the 1992–2003 model year, you can use this tutorial to retrieve the code behind the check engine light. This tutorial is called “idiot-light reading.” But before you can get the code, there are some important requirements to make the check engine light flash. Please follow my instructions below to guide you through all the steps.
There are two separate tutorials for the Mitsubishi Colt 1992–1996 and 1996–2003 models. The 1992 model uses the OBD1 12-pin DLC, and the 1996 model uses the OBD2 16-pin socket.
In this blog post, I also included the list of DTCs and the procedure on how to clear, erase, or reset the trouble code on your computer box.
Mitsubishi Colt 1992-1996 Procedure
STEP 1
- Make sure the engine is OFF.
STEP 2
- Locate OBD DLC 12 Pins Data Link Connector. See image below for your reference.
STEP 3
- Connect analogue Multi Tester between data link connector (DLC) terminals 1 and 12. Set the the Tester to DC 2.5 or 10 Volts.
STEP 4
- Turn the Ignition ON.
STEP 5
- Count Multimeter needle deflections. Compare with trouble code table.
- Each trouble code consists of two groups of one or more needle deflections.
- Long deflections indicate the ‘TENS’ of the trouble code .
- Short deflections indicate the ‘ONE’ of the trouble code.
- A short pause separates each deflection.
- A long pause separates each trouble code.
- For example: Trouble code 12 displayed.
STEP 6
- Write the code then check the corresponding code meaning below.
LIST OF DTC FOR 1992-1996 MODEL
OBD DTC 11
FAULT: Oxygen sensor (O2S)/heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) – circuit malfunction
CAUSE: Wiring, O2S/HO2S, ECM
OBD DTC 12
FAULT: Mass air flow (MAF) sensor – malfunction
CAUSE: Wiring, MAF sensor, ECM
OBD DTC 13
FAULT: Intake air temperature (IAT) sensor – circuit malfunction
CAUSE: Wiring, IAT sensor, ECM
OBD DTC 14
FAULT: Throttle position (TP) sensor – circuit malfunction
CAUSE: Wiring, TP sensor, ECM
OBD DTC 15
FAULT: Idle speed control (ISC) actuator position sensor – circuit malfunction
CAUSE: Wiring, ISC actuator position sensor, ECM
OBD DTC 21
FAULT: Engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor – circuit malfunction
CAUSE: Wiring, ECT sensor, ECM
OBD DTC 22
FAULT: Engine speed (RPM) sensor/crankshaft position (CKP) sensor – circuit malfunction
CAUSE: Wiring, RPM/CKP sensor, ECM
OBD DTC 23
FAULT: Crankshaft position (CKP) sensor/camshaft position (CMP) sensor – circuit malfunction
CAUSE: Wiring, CKP/CMP sensor, ECM
OBD DTC 24
FAULT: Vehicle speed sensor (VSS) – circuit malfunction
CAUSE: Wiring, VSS, ECM
OBD DTC 25
FAULT: Barometric pressure (BARO) sensor – circuit malfunction
CAUSE: Wiring, BARO sensor, ECM
OBD DTC 31
FAULT: Knock sensor (KS) – circuit malfunction
CAUSE: Wiring, KS, ECM
OBD DTC 32
FAULT: Manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor – circuit malfunction
CAUSE: Wiring, MAP sensor, ECM
OBD DTC 36
FAULT: Ignition timing adjuster – circuit malfunction
CAUSE: Wiring, engine diagnostic link – ignition adjustment connector short to earth, ECM
OBD DTC 41
FAULT: Injectors – circuit malfunction
CAUSE: Wiring, injectors, ECM
OBD DTC 42
FAULT: Fuel pump (FP) – circuit malfunction
CAUSE: Wiring, FP relay, FP, ECM
OBD DTC 44
FAULT: Ignition coil
CAUSE: Wiring open/short circuit, ignition coil, ECM
OBD DTC 55
FAULT: Idle speed control (ISC) actuator position sensor – circuit malfunction
CAUSE: Wiring, ISC actuator position sensor, ECM
Mitsubishi Colt 1996-2003 Procedure
STEP 1
- Make sure the ignition and engine is OFF.
STEP 2
- Located the 16 pin OBD2 Data Link Connector.
STEP 2
- Bridge data link connector (DLC) terminal 1 and earth. (Bridge the Terminal 1 and ground it to the metal body of the car.)
STEP 3
- Switch the Ignition to On. Don’t start the engine.
STEP 4
- Count MIL flashes. Note trouble codes. Compare with trouble code table.
- Each trouble code consists of two groups of one or more flashes.
- Long flashes indicate the ‘TENs’ of the trouble code.
- Short flashes indicate the ‘ONE’ of the trouble code.
- A short pause separates each flash.
- A long pause separates each trouble code.
- For example: Trouble code 12 displayed.
STEP 5
- Write the code then check the corresponding code description below.
LIST OF DTC FOR MITSUBISHI COLT 1996-2003 MODEL
OBD DTC 11
Heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) – front
OBD DTC 12
Mass air flow (MAF) sensor
OBD DTC 13
Intake air temperature (IAT) sensor
OBD DTC 14
Throttle position (TP) sensor
OBD DTC 21
Engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor
OBD DTC 22
Engine speed (RPM) sensor/crankshaft position (CKP) sensor
OBD DTC 23
Crankshaft position (CKP) sensor/camshaft position (CMP) sensor
OBD DTC 24
Vehicle speed sensor (VSS)
OBD DTC 25
Barometric pressure (BARO) sensor
OBD DTC 31
Knock sensor (KS)
OBD DTC 32
Manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor
OBD DTC 36
Ignition timing adjuster – signal
OBD DTC 41
Injectors
OBD DTC 44
Ignition coil/ignition amplifier
OBD DTC 54
Immobilizer
OBD DTC 59
Heated oxygen sensor (HO2S) – rear
OBD DTC 61
AT/Engine control module (ECM) cable
OBD DTC 64
Alternator – charging system
OBD DTC 0
No fault found
HOW TO CLEAR, ERASE AND RESET THE DTC FOR MITSUBISHI COLT
This procedure is applicable to the following Mitsubishi Colt year model 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. Please follow the instruction below.
- Ensure ignition switched OFF.
- Disconnect battery earth lead.
- Wait 15 seconds.
- Reconnect battery earth lead.
Were done I hope this tutorial is helpful for your problem. Thank you very much for visiting my website. Erwin C. Salarda