Ok so I am a complete novice when it comes to OBD code readers so what would I need for a SKODA FELICIA MK2 1.3 MPI 1999 I will need to clear the codes (no idea how to do it) when I fit the new airbag clock spring. Any info at all would be very helpful not too expensive for the code reader I am a very old boy on only on state pension, or should I leave it to the garage. Ho I have a laptop if needed.

Edited 10 June, 20241 yr by mikefelicia

OBD 11 works with smartphone, no need for laptop.

 

 

But it's very expensive, keep in mind we have OBD I an old type port, not an OBD II which has many and much cheaper options.

17 hours ago, mikefelicia said:

I will need to clear the codes

Have you checked this is so, I don't know but wonder if disconnecting the battery might be enough and you would be best to do this with anything involving an airbag particularly on a 25 year old car (assuming the airbag would ever work, any reports or testing done by anyone).

 

17 hours ago, mikefelicia said:

(no idea how to do it)

Very easy, scan tools with have something like "clear/delete all error codes".  On a 1998 car having the battery disconnected (and removed from car for safety) and turning the headlights on with the battery disconnected then either bridge or touch the pos and neg battery terminal clamps together and perhaps holding them like that for a count of 10 would reset things ready for battery reinstallation.

 

Any reasonable scan tool appropriate to a 1999 VW will be able to cover most things on the car not just OBDEleven and VCDS (or previous versions).  As already put you do need the correct port connector (right plug to go into diagnostics socket) not everyone will have this but scan tools for different makes, models and years of cars will come with a selection of leads and plugs, but you still need the program for 1999 VW.

 

Whoever has the scan tool must ensure it is up to date for VW 1998 - many people are too lazy to update the programs enough or have not paid for the service.  A poorer quality scan tool may make promises it can't keep.

 

You could see if there's a Briskoda member with an appropriate scan tool and fitting for a 1999 VW near you on the following list and they may know if you need a scan tool for this work and if so may be able to help you with this for beer money, see the link at bottom of this post.

 

Or you could ask on the 'Diagnostics & VCDS' forum, and/or on the 'General Maintenance' forum - or on the 'Ask a Tech' forum if you pay £6 to become a Freedomlite member for a year - all forums on this site.

 

Diagnostics & VCDS - https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/23-diagnostics-amp-vcds/

 

General Maintenance - https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/103-general-maintenance/

 

FREEDOM Supporters Area (Ask a Tech) - https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/94-freedom-supporters-area/

 

Briskoda members list of VCDS owners. - https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/262215-list-of-vcds-owners-previously-known-as-vag-com-vcp-owners/#comment-3091029

 

Or map if you prefer. - https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?msa=0&mid=1Td73_uUUqscV3nRm5br_o89PmBU&ll=21.259901462991746%2C83.39240985000002&z=2

 

HTH.

 

Edited 11 June, 20241 yr by nta16
typo wrong year

Thank you nta16 for your reply, at the moment I am waiting for the new airbag clock spring (if thats what its called) to come from Germany and have not fitted it yet, I was just looking ahead if when I installed it I should get the airbag light still stay on.

I do not wish to go into detail how I buggered up the one one the car just to say it's a old man thing.

I will post when the new one is installed.

3 hours ago, mikefelicia said:

airbag clock spring (if thats what its called) 

it is

I was just looking ahead if when I installed it I should get the airbag light still stay on.

It probably will, because the airbag light errors are mostly, or all, latching faults.

Comments inline, italic.

I can't and don't dispute any of that, my only caution is that we've not actually been told it's an airbag issue or airbag light on at the moment but as the car is from 1998 (not 1999 as I put previously) with 25+ years use who knows how the electronics and any programming might behave so an appropriate scan tool maybe required regardless of whatever the issue but if one isn't immediately available I'd try the battery trick as there's nothing to lose and it's quick, easy, no-cost, clean-hands work which is the only work I'd like to do on any car.  True, plugging in an appropriate scan tool is too but I no longer have access to one and as Mike doesn't I put up my list of ways of perhaps finding out and perhaps accessing one.

 

Scan tools certainly go slower on cars of that time but faster only a number of years on and seem quick because they have so much less than on newer cars.

 

It'll be interesting to hear the final outcome and if an appropriate scan tool is used how it got on.

   

11 hours ago, nta16 said:

I'd try the battery trick as there's nothing to lose

Unless the radio goes into safe mode, and the unlock code is unknown. That'd be an extra £40 for a de-code. 

1 minute ago, R_U_AFA said:

Unless the radio goes into safe mode, and the unlock code is unknown. That'd be an extra £40 for a de-code. 

Good point, I will admit I totally forgot about such..

 

Newer models have codes but not needed as the radio returns and Mike being old school and long term owner may have the code written in a safe place, or if even older school not have or use a radio, on the other side he might have updated the radio, still might need a code for it, or might not.  I've no idea about Mike's radio but some, later ones perhaps and original to car, you can get the codes for off the internet for a nominal fee, certainly not £40.

 

But still a good point I'd totally forgot about as it doesn't apply to later models which I didn't know until someone on here told me, thanks.

 

Ok guys (and gals) I have fitted the new clock spring it is new and the same as the one I messed up , so the airbag light still stays on I understand I will have to reset the ECU there is no radio or any other thing to worry about can you tell me the way to reset the ECU I have had a look on youtube and it looks easy has anyone don it. 

 

Can you tell me like how long do the poss and neg cables have to be together and do I  have to leave the car running after the cables are refitted to battery.

 

The car runs just fine no problems at all only seat belt light staying on.

 

While im here I did have a look for the OBD port and I could not find it any were under the passenger side by the fuse box (mine is a right hand drive UK) all under the drivers side and at 80 its not a easy task in fact not much is easy these days.

Thanks

Edited 13 June, 20241 yr by mikefelicia

Reseting the ECU does not means that the errors will vanished (problem is fixed), if there is a cause they will show up again.

Have you been reading my posting the problem is fixed it was the clock spring that was replaced after I damaged it all I want is for the ECU to be reset. 

 

EVERY THING WAS OK BEFORE I BROKE THE CLOCK SPRING.

 

So you do not know how to reset the ECU then ?

As Paws4Thot said, I'm pretty sure (not 100%) you'll need to use an obd tool to reset the light.

The airbag control unit is separate to the engine ECU so won't reset with a battery disconnect.

I'd do it for you but you're quite a distance away from me.

Remove both connectors from battery poles for at least 1 hour and:

1) Press the brakes, push switches for alarm-lights etc to "empty" any remain or the electrical current.

2) with a cable connect red and black main cable, this will help to empty the whole circuit from current remains (capacitors).

3) Remove the fuse for the car electronic system, it's on the left side, in the driver's manual you will find which is.

4) Unplug the 2 connectors from the ECU, check for corrosion signs.

 

You need to drive for about a week so the ECU will "learn" your driving style and make adaptions.

2 hours ago, mikefelicia said:

Can you tell me like how long do the poss and neg cables have to be together and do I  have to leave the car running after the cables are refitted to battery.

On 10/06/2024 at 21:15, nta16 said:

On a 1998 car having the battery disconnected (and removed from car for safety) and turning the headlights on with the battery disconnected then either bridge or touch the pos and neg battery terminal clamps together and perhaps holding them like that for a count of 10 would reset things ready for battery reinstallation.

 I should have also added don't forget to turn you headlights (and any other electrics) off before you reconnect the battery (pos first, neg last).

 

If any warning lights are on start the car and go for a short ride, as put you will have to drive the car further for things like throttle body.

 

If this doesn't clear the airbag light fair enough but resetting the electronics can help with unknown and unnoticed previous computer systems brain-farts so can be a good thing in other ways, from the old "try turning it off 'n' agen" if computers and their programs were as good as some make out the turning off and on again wouldn't work but as you may have learnt or at least heard it's often necessary and a solution.  Your computer made it through the millennium bug  it deserves looking after a bit.  😆

 

If you want I can find the video for the battery trick on a later VW or BMW, just ask, I don't have them saved now.

 

2 hours ago, mikefelicia said:

While im here I did have a look for the OBD port and I could not find it any were under the passenger side by the fuse box (mine is a right hand drive UK) all under the drivers side and at 80 its not a easy task in fact not much is easy these days.

Just remembered this - IIRC(?) (or I might have misremembered or dreamt it, never sure nowadays) OBD ports had to be within x inches cm of the steering(?) wheel(?), as with most things on a car it'll probably be black plastic against other black or dark coloured plastic, may be hidden just for fun.  I'm almost sure this has been covered on here before but can't remember the resolve and it might have been for LHD, D.FYLAKTOS might have put up a drawing IIRC so don't moan too much at him. 😄

 

ETA: found this on this site, it looks like the OBD (not 2) connector socket might well be a hidden dangly thing, 16 pin-sockets with only 3 or 4 connected. -

 

" . . . RHD car, it's under the dash on the right-hand side, placed vertically just behind the edge of the dash that's furthest forward (looking towards the front of the car).  If you put your head where your feet are when you drive and look up, you'll see it." - from djaychela formerly of this parish.

 

HTH.

 

Thank you guys will give the battery trick a try this morning and let you know.

The battery trick did not work light still stays on car running ok, so looks like its a trip to the garage that is unless anyone knows of a cheap OBD scanner that will work on a old Felicia.

 

One good thing I found the port for the OBD it is to the right of the steering wheel thats in the driving seat my car in a right hand drive.

15 hours ago, D.FYLAKTOS said:

Reseting the ECU does not means that the errors will vanished (problem is fixed), if there is a cause they will show up again.

 

😏

1 hour ago, mikefelicia said:

The battery trick did not work light still stays on car running ok, so looks like its a trip to the garage that is unless anyone knows of a cheap OBD scanner that will work on a old Felicia.

Well that confirmed what the others thought and proved me wrong then, still worth doing in my mind as a reset for the rest of the computer stuff.  

 

Not sure if you'll find a cheap scanner that covers 1998 and airbag but I don't know that for sure.  I suggest looking on that list/map that I put a link to as anyone on it with the correct program for a 1998 I bet has and knows how to reset airbag light but you may be fed up with my suggestions. 🙃

 

1 hour ago, mikefelicia said:

One good thing I found the port for the OBD it is to the right of the steering wheel thats in the driving seat my car in a right hand drive.

That's same as my wife's 2015 Fabia, was the port black plastic with 16-pin holes and tucked up behind dash or in a fixed position?

 

16 pin, black plastic, in a fixed position right at the end of the dash.

 

Just found this OBD2 port Skoda Felicia (1994 - 2001) - Find your plug ! (klavkarr.com) it looks like it for a left hand drive and it using a OBD2 

Edited 14 June, 20241 yr by mikefelicia

21 minutes ago, mikefelicia said:

16 pin, black plastic, in a fixed position right at the end of the dash.

Thanks.  Oh, so modern (looking at least). 🙂

33 minutes ago, mikefelicia said:

using a OBD2 

 

We have OBD I (1) so OBD 2 scanners and phone applications don't work in Felicia.

Update the garage has sorted it out he used a OBD 2  scanner and choose a year 2000 Fabia to delete the airbag  and all was ok, so it seems Fabia air bags are the same as the Felicia.

 

So some of the Felicia can use a OBD 2 Scanner. Light still off after many miles.