Problem Check engine light on 2017 Chevy Colorado (63K miles)

[Neal]

OnStar shows all good but I have a steady check engine light. Chat GPT is suggesting I get the OBD device below. Before buying I welcome opinions.

ODBLink MX+ Bluetooth

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

Or go to any auto supply, and they will read it for you, give you the diagnosis, and maybe sell you the part to fix it.

 

[BGMAC]

The one you’re showing looks like it is only a reader. I would look for one that can reset as well. What happened to me was I got an error codon my throttle body and had no throttle response. I got it going by resetting and was able to get home and order the new part. I got carried away and got this.
It will take care of our 2 vehicles and my gasser rv

 

[Neal]

The one I’m showing apparently does clear codes too. I’m going to order it. Seems good to have with me.

 

[T’sOVR&Explore]

That model has a lot of actual positive user experience documented about it, real users.. Works with an app that you load on your phone, of course.

One important caution for your model year Colorado (I have a 2019): If you routinely press on the parking brake, you will find that the OBD-II port is where your foot will catch the plugged-in bluetooth interface model and BREAK IT BACKWARDS OUT OF THE SOCKET!

MY $450 OBD-II shop tool also uses a plugged in bluetooth interface. No cable, of course. With the tablet on my lap, recording torque converter slip rate and related parameters, I pulled in and parked. And foot pressed for the parking brake.

But I full-forced the bluetooth OBD-II interface module instead, bending all pins in it way over as it came sickenly out backwards toward the firewall. Bent the pins back straighter afterwards; still plugs in.

One more distracted parking brake push on the module like that and it won't survive to be used again.

Just offered that in good will. Hope you can stay off the parking brake while using the tool..

Happy travels!

 

[Underboss]

I had a code on my Blazer last month. Went to Advance they read it and cleared it. It has not come back. Sometimes a code pops up on newer vehicles, once cleared never comes back

 

[DennisT]

OnStar shows all good but I have a steady check engine light. Chat GPT is suggesting I get the OBD device below. Before buying I welcome opinions.

ODBLink MX+ Bluetooth

View attachment 32890

Have had that one for years and highly recommend.

Even had it setup with a dashboard for monitoring items on our old class c with the v10.

Have used it for multiple people to read and clear codes. Even saved the data and took a printout to a dealership so they could see what was getting triggered.

 

[DennisT]

As a note they are partnered with manufacturers to get codes not normally available to “over the counter” readers. I know for Ford they have a lot of items to check.

The model you linked is the one that can do resets as well - they have at least one other model that is just a reader.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

OnStar shows all good but I have a steady check engine light. Chat GPT is suggesting I get the OBD device below. Before buying I welcome opinions.

ODBLink MX+ Bluetooth

View attachment 32890

Funny! I was just researching this topic yesterday.

I decided to get something compatible with this app.

AlfaOBD

 

[Neal]

What a little nugget of gold this thing is. Thank you Amazon for the next day AM delivery so I could check/clear before going to lunch. Amazing the technology and connected data we have today, just like the Diesel Laptops Handheld for the coach, I'd say this is a must have for your car/toad.

Easy to use, researched what the codes were, cleared them, went to lunch, came back, still good. Not going to mark this case resolved yet but I can say well worth the money.

Have you ever gone into a dealership service department and have them say "we cleared the codes, if it happens again let us know and we'll take the next steps." Nope, this would have been a half day or more of my time, a $1,000 bill for diagnostics and service.

If you don't have one, get it!

 

[T’sOVR&Explore]

Neal -

Just an FYI below on the Colorado regarding temp indications and how the truck’s logic reacts.

Was driving the 2019 Colorado home from my machinist’s shop one evening this summer and the A/C compressor quit cooling. Did not notice the panel gauge immediately but the engine coolant temp that normally runs above 190F had dropped way low and stayed there.

Turns out that the tstat had failed open. The GM control logic reacted by going onto presumptive failed coolant temp sensor mode and was determined to preclude possible OVERheating it seems, because it disabled the A/C compressor and set the electric fans out front screaming continuously on high. A laser temp tool reading of engine coolant water surfaces of hoses and on reachable metal elements of the coolant system under the hood confirmed that the coolant temp really was in the bottom of the gauge range, so the reading on the dash had not failed or improperly indicated.

Very noticeable the next morning after starting the engine from fully cold because the electric fan was screaming right off the bat. Drove around a day or two without any compressor function in the oppressive Florida heat and humidity until the renewal parts arrived. It required a very skinny combination of long-reach extended 10 mm socket worked down thru the V6 intake valley to finesse into the almost unaccessible fastening location of the tstat assembly, which includes integral housing/tube neck.

Sure would have sucked to randomly have GM’s Lawyer-Code “protection” kick in and end air conditioning function in the cabin needlessly while Toad Touring the Southwest in summer temps just because the LOW engine coolant reading was faithfully reporting a stuck open wax pill in the tstat (at 64K miles on the odometer)..

Be ready if the compressor suddenly stops cooling on our model series of Colorado - look at the engine coolant temp first thing. There was absolutely NOTHING wrong with the air conditioning system elements.