How to Troubleshoot Diagnostic Problems in a 2006 Saturn Ion
The Saturn Ion came onto the scene in 2003. Since then, it has proven to be an economical and reliable buy, even though more expensive contemporaries have greater luxury to offer. The Ion comes in both coupe and sedan styles, and both styles offer 14.7 cubic feet of space in the trunk.
When your Saturn Ion's "Check Engine" light has come on, or you've noticed trouble, pulling the engine's diagnostic codes is the best step to take. Trouble codes are created and stored within the computer when a problem is recognized.
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Instructions
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Take a look under the dash of your Saturn for the Assembly Line Diagnostic Link (ALDL), also called the diagnostic test port. The test port is on the driver's side of the car. It's an electrical device with 12 to 16 ports. If it has a plastic cover, gently pry the cover off and set aside.
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Plug the test lead of the OBD scanner into the ALDL. Turn the Saturn on, but don't crank the engine. Turning the car "On" without starting the engine initiates the diagnostic sequence in the Saturn's computer.
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Switch on the scanner. Answer the prompts as they appear on the screen, answering such questions as the year, make and model of your car.
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Select the option to retrieve the diagnostic codes from the Saturn's computer. The codes will appear on the screen. Write them down and consult your owner's manual for each code's meaning.
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Get to the root of the problem, based on the meanings of the codes. For instance, Code P1543 means a problem with the air conditioning has been detected. Address the air conditioning.
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Tips & Warnings
Once you've attacked the problem, retrieve the codes in the same manner, then select the option to reset them. This clears the computer of fault codes.
If the code reappears, the original problem hasn't been repaired.
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