Hey guys I went to look at a 1999 Max SE-L and it has a SES light on. So I go to pull the codes and there is no screw, it is just a hole. The car is a manual but I dont think that has anything to go with it. Also, did I hear something about 1999's having faulty coil packs? And when I was listening to the engine I kept hearing a pop every second, the car drove amazing but is that pop something I should worry about?

P.S about the screw issue, I was the first person to break that plasic sticker around it, so noone else could have broken it, and I know I didnt break it.

 

It has to be there (or have been there). As you alluded to, the '99s have a delicate plastic screw where all other years have a metal screw. It's not too hard to peel the plastic sticker out of the way and put it back. The clear sticker does not have to be 'broken'. The screw was probably broken by someone else. I guess you'll just have to use an OBDII scanner?

Yes, '99s have a bad rep. with coil packs. I had to replace mine right after going boosted around 80k miles (not sure why boosting brings out the bad coil pack symptoms but it happened to me and The Wizard on our '99s).

I wouldn't buy the car unless it is running perfect. Good luck.

 

If you still want to check codes, get a $40 OBDII code reader from Harbor Freight and plug into the OBDII port under the dash, just to the right of the fuse panel. The ecu screw inside the hole is really easy to bend over if not handled carefully. Maybe someone did that before you came along.

Yes, '99s sometimes have faulty coil packs... but mine never did.

.

 

There should be a screw there, unless someone broke it off as said above. 99's are a philips head screw tho, unlike 95-98s which were flat head screws. If all else fails, go to AZ and have them pull the code for free.

 

So you guys think I should hold off on a 1999 SE-L manual with 119k for $5000? Do you think that is over priceD?

 

^^^^ If it's in very good condition, thats a good price. ^^^^

The screw on 99's is set back a bit in the ECU. Use a very small phillips and "feel" around in there.
Be carefull, don't force anything!

 

i bout my 99 SE with 97000 miles on it perfect condition all options leather and all a year and some months ago for 6100 so yea if its in very good condition its a good price

 

I noticed the same thing on my 99 SE-L. I think it's in the first hole, you just cant see it.