Old OBD2 Scanner on a new car?

Daryl LBZ · July 13, 2013

So I have a question. My Wife's cruze has it's engine light on, and it's surging pretty bad at idle. It's a 2012 and the scanner I was trying to use is probably 8 to 10 years old. It won't link up, and gives me an error. Is it to old to work on our newer car?

It'll go to the dealer on Monday, but I was hoping to get an idea of what's wrong before hand.

Daryl LBZ · July 13, 2013

Yup that's kind of what I was thinking. From what I read it sounds like a bad PCV Valve which I guess is pretty common. Going to take it in on Monday. It only has 40k miles on it.

Morgan1986 · July 14, 2013

Never buy a American made car . I will buy a Honda if i ever bought a car but I love trucks and Americans make the best trucks.

MikeNH · July 14, 2013

Never buy a American made car . I will buy a Honda if i ever bought a car but I love trucks and Americans make the best trucks.

Honda and Toyota sat on their asses and now their offerings suck. The Cruze is among the best compact cars out there now.

OP, newer cars use a communication protocol called CAN (controller area network) that your scanner may not support.

Daryl LBZ · July 14, 2013

The only foreign car that I care for is the Mazda 3 that I currently have as a rental, and even it doesn't hold a candle to my Wife's Cruze. Thanks for the info Mike I appreciate it.

SnakeEyeSS · July 14, 2013

The only foreign car that I care for is the Mazda 3 that I currently have as a rental, and even it doesn't hold a candle to my Wife's Cruze. Thanks for the info Mike I appreciate it.

Seems very early for the PCV to go. Could be a sign, it shouldn't get that dirty in just 40k miles.

Their designers where on something for the current ones. They look odd outside and the interior doesn't make sense. But it sells good numbers on driving dynamics alone. The other compacts cant touch it there. Its really bizarre that was what they released on the heels of the mazda6 like I have.

But have you seen the new 2014? @ the thought of the next speed3.

And the 14 3 automatics finally have the g force mapping transmission. It works great in my 6.

Daryl LBZ · July 15, 2013

Took her car in this morning at 10am. Took a loaner home to run errands, and got a call from them at 12:30 saying it was fixed, and that it was the pcv valve. When I was there dropping it off the Service Manager said they've had a few in with the same problem, and that GM redesigned it so hopefully this one lasts.

On a side note, they had a ton of new Silverado's on the lot.