The Jeep Liberty was introduced in 2002. Every vehicle manufactured after 1996 has come with on-board diagnostics II (OBD II: the second phase of vehicle computers). OBD II standardized the equipment needed to check engine codes and the location of the diagnostic link connector (DLC). It also standardized the diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) to help mechanics diagnose and pinpoint the area of the faulty equipment.
Open the driver-side door and locate the DLC on the Jeep Liberty. It's on the right hand side of the steering wheel, under the dashboard. It's trapezoidal and matches the plug of the OBD II code reader.
Plug the OBD II code reader into the DLC.
Turn the ignition key two clicks to the key-on/engine-off mode. The Liberty's battery will provide power to the OBD II code reader, so you will not have to turn it on. The key-on/engine-off position will power all the electrical options on the Liberty without starting the engine.
Refer to the operator's manual of the OBD II code reader to determine how to use it. These pocket scan tools are extremely simple to operate. Some have two buttons while others may have several buttons and various features. All of them use a digital screen with scroll buttons to choose the option you need.
Scroll to the "DTCs" or "Read Codes" option, and then press the "Enter" key.
Refer to the DTC guide (most of the OBD II code readers come with a diagnostic trouble code guide) to determine what engine code triggered the malfunction indicator light (MIL, also known as the "check engine light"). You can also find OBD II codes online.
Write the code on a piece of paper and keep this for reference.
Erase the code if desired or applicable. Some code readers do not offer the feature of erasing codes. Most on the market today provide an erase function.
