How to Retrieve Check Engine Codes on a 1998 Escort
- 1). Locate the OBD-II port on the passenger side of the center console, just below the glove compartment. Remove the plastic or rubber cover from the OBD-II port to access the terminal pins; this connector is the data link that your code scanner will use to communicate with the car's computer.
- 2). Plug the code scanner into the OBD-II port, turn the car's ignition to the "on" position and wait for the scanner to engage the car's computer. Some scanners will automatically recognize the car's manufacturer programming protocol, others will require that you enter vehicle make, model, option package and engine information. Base Escorts got the 2.0-liter, single-overhead-cam four-cylinder engine, and ZX2 models got Ford's dual-cam Zetec 2.0-liter.
- 3). Follow the prompts on your code reader to determine the fault code. If the scanner doesn't carry a code database for Ford, you'll need to compare the code number to an OBD-II database for Ford. You can find such databases online by entering "Ford OBD2 codes" into your web browser, or by simply scrolling down to the Resources link on this article.
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