Toyota Repair: 2000 Toyota check engine light on., jumper wire, gm cars

Question
Hi Ted,
We have a 2000 Toyota Sienna with the check engine light on. I used to know how to figure out the codes on cars 20 years ago.

Is there a way that I can easily get the codes on this car to find out what the actual problem is before I take it to the dealership?

To save you time is there an easy way to explain checking the codes. Is it like the GM cars used to be with counting the flashes like morris code?

Thanks for any help you can give us.

Have an awesome weekend, Allen

Answer
Most of the trouble codes can be retreived without using on OBD II scantool, locate the diagnostic check connector under the hood, it should be on the passenger side near the firewall, open the cover and identify the terminals TE1+E1, place a jumper wire between them and turn the key on, the check engine light will flash giving you the code, it will be a two digit code, count the number of times the light flashes, for example a code 25 would be two flashes followed by five, then there will be a short pause and if there is only one code it will just repeat itself but there may be more so close attention is required,let me know if you need more help after this.