99 I30 Service Engine Soon lit up - how to read/clear codes?

[jmasters]

Our 99 I30 recently had a harmonic balancer failure. Amazingly (as I'd never seen this before), the harmonic balancer (crankshaft pulley) has two concentric rings to it, separated by a rubber ring. My harmonic balancer separated at the rubber ring, causing two belts to disappear when it was no longer in alignment with the pulleys.

I've replaced the pulley, but have now noticed that the service engine soon light comes on, and it's hard to start, unless I put my foot down on the accelerator.

There's some metal tabs that extend out on the back side of the harmonic balancer (4 tabs total), and a sensor that reads it is next to that area. It may have been hit by the prior dislocated portion of the harmonic balancer.

I'm suspecting that either the sensor is damaged (as it knows when it's X degrees before top dead center) or that the pulley I put on is somehow different from what I had taken off, or is not properly aligned with the sensor.

But it might coincidentally be something else.

Does anybody know how to get codes from the Service Engine Soon sensors to help me pinpoint the problem? Or how to clear the codes to see when the codes are generated? I tried pulling the battery for a few minutes and holding the brakes hoping to drain any residual energy out of the car.

Thanks,

Justin

[qsiguy]

Not sure if there are any built in tricks to read it but nearly all post '96 vehicles are OBDII and you can pickup inexpensive OBD code readers that will give you the codes. I got mine at Harbor Freight Tools for about $30-40 and it's pretty decent. You can also clear the code with them.

[carnal_c30]

theres a small panel you can remove on the center console right next to the gas pedal take that panel off and you will see the ecu. On the back of the ecu there is a small flathead screw that nay still be covered witha protective seal. With the key in the "On" position turn the screw one full turn clockwise until it stops and then back counter clockwise until it stops. The Check Engine Light should start blinking and thats how you get your codes. an example code would be P0102 (MAF Sensor) would be one long flash ----- followed by a short flash -- so "----- --" code P0204 (not a real code) would be ---- ---- -- -- -- -- After you get your codes turn the screw back clockwise until it stops then counterclockwise back to its original positon now you've cleared the codes

thats from memory I've done it enough times I have a 96 Maxima 97 Maxima and a 98 I30 I've done this with you can check http://www.maxima.org for the forums there where you will find the ultimate resource for your I30/Maxima

[jmasters]

I appreciate your reply on the ECU access and code retrieval procedure. I'll look for that panel, and check out the site you suggested.

Thank you!