Diagnose Mira Engine Without a Scanner

If you own a Daihatsu Mira and the engine check light comes on, don’t panic. You can diagnose Mira engine problems quickly and easily—without a scanner. This simple DIY method uses blink codes from your car’s ECU to tell you what’s wrong. Surprisingly, many mechanics don’t even use this method, but you can!

When the check engine light turns on, it usually means one or more sensors are failing or malfunctioning. By following a few simple steps, you can figure out which sensor is the culprit—all with just a wire and your eyes.

Tools You Need to Diagnose Mira Engine

You don’t need fancy tools. Just grab:

A short jumper wire or paperclip
Your car keys
A little patience

Step-by-Step: Diagnose Mira Engine Using Blink Codes

1. Locate the Diagnostic Socket

First, open your car’s engine bay. Look for a small rectangular diagnostic socket, usually near the firewall. It might be labeled, or you can refer to your manual.

2. Insert the Jumper Wire

Now, insert the jumper wire into the correct terminals. For most Daihatsu Mira models, short the terminals labeled “TE1” and “E1”. If unsure, always refer to a wiring diagram or forum for your specific model.

3. Turn the Key to ON (But Don’t Start)

Turn the ignition key to the “ON” position, but do not start the engine. Look at your dashboard. The check engine light will start blinking in a pattern.

Reading and Understanding the Blink Codes

If there are no issues, the light will blink continuously and evenly.

However, if there is a fault, the light will blink in groups. For example:

5 blinks → pause → 2 blinks = Code 52
1 blink → pause → 3 blinks = Code 13

Each code represents a different sensor issue.

Code	Fault Location / Diagnose Item	Probable Cause / Diagnose Content
1	Normal	No faults detected. Continuous blink.
2	Pressure Sensor	Faulty pressure sensor or circuit.
3	Ignition Signal	Ignition signal issue.
4	ECT Sensor	Engine coolant temperature sensor fault.
5	O2 Sensor / Fuel System	Oxygen sensor signal or fuel system fault.
6	Revolution Sensor	Crankshaft or camshaft revolution sensor failure.
7	Throttle Position (TP) Sensor	Throttle position sensor signal fault.
8	Intake Air Temp (IAT) Sensor	IAT sensor signal fault.
9	Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS)	VSS signal malfunction.
10	Starter Signal	Faulty or missing starter signal.
11	Switch Signal	Switch signal malfunction.
12	EGR Control System	EGR valve or circuit fault.
13	Engine Revolution / Crank Position	Crank position sensor or wiring issue.
14	Camshaft Position Sensor	Camshaft position sensor fault.
15	Air-Fuel Ratio (Rich)	Mixture too rich.
16	Air-Fuel Ratio (Lean) / Ignition	Mixture too lean or ignition issue (duplicated code).
17	Multiple Misfire Detected	Random/multiple misfires.
18	Knock Sensor (KS)	Knock sensor circuit or wiring fault.
21	Primary Oxygen Sensor	Open or short in lambda sensor circuit.
22	Secondary Oxygen Sensor	Open or short in second O2 sensor circuit.
23	Primary O2 Sensor Heater	Heater element fault in primary O2 sensor.
24	Secondary O2 Sensor Heater / Mixture Adjustment Resistor	Heater fault or mixture resistor malfunction.
25	Lean Running	System running too lean.
26	Rich Running	System running too rich.
27	Catalytic Converter Efficiency	Below performance threshold.
31	MAP Sensor	Pressure sensor signal >4.9V or <0.7V.
32	Atmospheric (BARO) Sensor	BARO sensor malfunction.
36	Multiple Misfire Detected	Same as Code 17.
41	Throttle Position Sensor	TP sensor circuit fault.
42	ECT Sensor	Open/short in engine coolant temp circuit.
43	IAT Sensor	Intake air temp sensor open or short.
44	A/C Evaporator Temp Sensor	A/C evaporator temp sensor fault.
45	A/C Compressor Clutch	Clutch slip or overload, signal fault.
51	Switch Signal	A/C or idle switch signal fault with test terminal shorted.
52	Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS)	VSS open/short circuit or signal issue.
54	Starter Signal	Missing due to bump start, open/short.
61	ECM Power Supply	ECM power fault.
71	Idle Speed Control System	Idle system malfunction.
73	Camshaft Position Actuator	Circuit fault.
74	Oil Control Valve	Circuit fault.
75	Camshaft Position Actuator	Same as 73.
76	Evap Canister Purge Valve	Circuit fault.
81	Immobilizer Signal	Rolling codes mismatch (Immobilizer ↔ ECU).
83	Immobilizer/ECU Communication	No code exchange between modules.

What to Do After You Diagnose Mira Engine

Once you have the code:

Look up the meaning of the code
Inspect or replace the faulty sensor
Clear the error (usually done by disconnecting the battery for a few minutes)
Test again to make sure the problem is fixed

Conclusion: Quick, Cheap, and Effective

You don’t need a diagnostic scanner or a mechanic to diagnose your Mira engine. With just a jumper wire and a little time, you can decode the check engine light yourself. It’s fast, easy, and saves you money. Try it the next time your Mira flashes that warning light!