Freeze Frame

Freeze Frame

OBD-II trouble codes, diagnosed in the right order

Plug in a reader, get a code, look it up here. Every code gets the same treatment: what the computer actually measured, what it usually turns out to be, the one test that separates the cheap repair from the expensive one, and what it really costs.

Diagnose in order. Don't buy the expensive part first.

All codes (4)

P0128
Coolant Thermostat Below Regulating Temperature
Thermostat stuck open — 64% of cases
P0171
System Too Lean (Bank 1)
Unmetered air leak — vacuum hose, intake boot or gasket — 42% of cases
P0300
Random / Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
Worn spark plugs, coils or leads — 38% of cases
P0420
Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)
Catalytic converter genuinely worn out — 40% of cases