QuestionHi Roland,
I did the check just like you said. The sets of #'s are: 12, 27, 46, 55. I hope you can tell me what is up with it. When i was driving it today the engine light waited until i had been driving for about 15- 20 minutes before it came on. I get nervous about it. Thanks.
Trudy
AnswerHi Trudy,
The 12 code is to tell us that at some time in the recent past the battery has been disconnected from the circuit (recent past means no more than 50-100 ignition key off-on-off cycles). Have you had the car serviced that recently and if so would the battery likely have been disconnected at that time? If yes, that explains that code, if not then you might want to check that the cables at the battery have a clean, shiney, tight connection to the battery posts*. *Always (for safety from short ciruiting the battery) remove the - post cable first, then the + post, then replace the + post, and finally replace the - post.
The 27 code means there is a problem with one of the circuits between the engine control computer and the fuel injectors, or with an injector(s). How is the car running and have you seen a decrease in gas mileage lately?
The 46 means that the output of the alternator is too high in the voltage level because of a failure in the circuit to the part of the alternator that controls the output or a fault in the alternator field coil proper. What is the position of the needle on the battery gauge when you are running the engine (do you recall it reading differently in the past)?
The 55 means "end of readout of fault codes".
So let me know, and let me know whether you are "up" for doing some electrical sleuthing and do you have a digital voltmeter. Have you any experience with auto electrics?
I don't think there is a crisis here, but the battery could be overcharged if the code is correct and nothing is done about it in the near future, and similarly the engine might run more poorly and less economically if the 27 code is correct. So that is where it stands. At least you know more than before.
