My parents have a '99 Max SE w/about 40K.
Check engine light has been on for about a year now. They took it into the dealer last year while it was still under warranty, where they diagnosed a leak in the evaporative system and said the charcoal canister had a crack in it. They ordered the part but my parents delayed in taking the car back, and since the warranty expired in that period they refused to fix it.

My question is how do you download the codes from the ECU. Can this be done with a voltmeter or does it require a scan tool? If they can be checked with a voltmeter, is there an online source to find the meaning of the codes or do I need the service manual? The canister is a $180 part from the dealer so I want to make sure that it is the source of the code.

Thank you very much for your help.

Ashok Babu

 

http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/ecu.html

 

If the only problem is a crack you could consider repairing it with a bead of sealer. RTV Silicone Rubber, Welder, or Shoe Goo might do the job.

 

Thanks for the information guys. The ECU code website is excellent. I dumped the codes yesterday. I could have sworn I got 0309 and 0705. 0705 is EVAP control system. 0309 is undefined. I tried 0903 and it gives EVAP canister vent control valve. By that time I had already reset the codes. Anyway, I traced the purge hose from the solenoid valve all the way back to the canister which they mounted by the rear bumper! I thought these were usually under the hood, where they are safe Anyway, the canister had a piece cracked off of it and luckily the piece was still hanging there after all this time. I used JB weld to glue it back in place. I think I have an airtight seal. I guess we'll see if the code comes back. BTW, at least on the '99's, they added a idle speed control adjustment to that same screw on the ECU.

An incidental finding while I was under there was a crimp in the b pipe after it turns toward the passenger side of the car that looks like there is less than half the stock diameter open. The funny thing is there is no other damage anywhere under the car, just the crimped b pipe. Anyway, I might drop the b pipe today and see if it can be hammered back, but if anyone out there has a stock b pipe anywhere near chicago, IL let me know.
BTW, my parents bought two '99 Max se's around the same time. This silver car always seemed slower than the black one, especially on the high end. Maybe this explains it!

Thanks for your help.

Ashok Babu
'91 TSi AWD

 

for complete error code listing:
maximadriver.com
http://www.seas.ucla.edu/~cheston/ecuerrorcodes.html