OBDII - Linking Error

hear

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Prosper, TX
Helping a friend with his jeep, has a CEL but is unable to read the codes because it keeps saying "Linking Error" when it tries to connect. The reader will power up no problem, just no communication. And the key on 3x trick doesn't seem to put codes on the odometer, but I've literally never gotten that to work on any jeep. Also, the jeep starts and runs, zero issue. Nearly every thread out there on this topic has to do with bad grounds or a faulty CPS, and seems like usually the jeep won't start; this is not our experience. We also have no fuel gauge or speedo, BUT we also just removed the transmission so it's possible something got jacked in that wiring along the way. Willing to treat that as a red herring for now.

There are 7 wires in the OBDII connector (called the Data Link Connector in the FSM):

Pin 3: CCD Bus (+), VT/BR wire. This has ~4V on it with the key on. I expected this to be between 0V - 5V, so I think it's ok.
Pin 4: Ground, BK wire. This has continuity with the chassis, so I think it's ok.
Pin 5: Ground, BK/TN wire. This also has continuity with the chassis, so I think it's ok.
Pin 6: SCI receive, LG/BK wire. This has ~3V with the key on, and has continuity all the way to pin 29 on C3 at the PCM. I think it's ok.
Pin 7: SCI transmit, PK wire. This has 0V on it, but since we aren't transmitting anything, that's probably ok. It has continuity all the way to pin 27 on C3 at the PCM. I think it's ok.
Pin 11: CCD Bus (-), WT/BK wire. This has ~4V on it with the key on. I expected this to be between 0V - 5V, so I think it's ok.
Pin 16: Fused B(+), TN/BK wire. This has +12V on it at all times, which is expected. I think it's ok.

So, I've basically tested every wire and have not been able to identify a problem. The instrument cluster appears to be fed by those CCD bus wires, which also go to the DLC...so if you have info at one place, you should have it the other. What I'm hoping for by posting this is that we have an OBDII guru here who can help with some other diagnostic tests to figure out what is going on.

One last piece of information: the PCM is brand new from WranglerFix. I spoke to Mark yesterday, he's talking to his techs and will get back to me. I mention this because somebody will likely want to tag him here, but that isn't necessary; he's already looking into it.
 
There's only a few yrs the key trick doesn't work on. On off on off on as quick as you can. Works on my 92 and 06. What yr are you dealing with?
 
There's only a few yrs the key trick doesn't work on. On off on off on as quick as you can. Works on my 92 and 06. What yr are you dealing with?

it's a 99, but I have a 97 & 02 in the garage, and a neighbor with an 00 and I've never gotten it to work.

EDIT: I guess I never tried on the 02, it just worked. Same process did not work on the 97.
 
From this thread, I posted:

Only 1997 and 2001-2006 can do the key trick. 1997s show the 2 digit OBD-I codes and the rest show 4 digit OBD-II P codes in the odometer display. If you use a code reader, all model years show 4 digit OBD-II P codes.
 
I don't have any codes on my 97 at the moment, but it only ever showed the odometer reading, nothing else. The 02 is also code-free, but it reported "done" after doing the process.
 
Helping a friend with his jeep, has a CEL but is unable to read the codes because it keeps saying "Linking Error" when it tries to connect. The reader will power up no problem, just no communication. And the key on 3x trick doesn't seem to put codes on the odometer, but I've literally never gotten that to work on any jeep. Also, the jeep starts and runs, zero issue. Nearly every thread out there on this topic has to do with bad grounds or a faulty CPS, and seems like usually the jeep won't start; this is not our experience. We also have no fuel gauge or speedo, BUT we also just removed the transmission so it's possible something got jacked in that wiring along the way. Willing to treat that as a red herring for now.

There are 7 wires in the OBDII connector (called the Data Link Connector in the FSM):

Pin 3: CCD Bus (+), VT/BR wire. This has ~4V on it with the key on. I expected this to be between 0V - 5V, so I think it's ok.
Pin 4: Ground, BK wire. This has continuity with the chassis, so I think it's ok.
Pin 5: Ground, BK/TN wire. This also has continuity with the chassis, so I think it's ok.
Pin 6: SCI receive, LG/BK wire. This has ~3V with the key on, and has continuity all the way to pin 29 on C3 at the PCM. I think it's ok.
Pin 7: SCI transmit, PK wire. This has 0V on it, but since we aren't transmitting anything, that's probably ok. It has continuity all the way to pin 27 on C3 at the PCM. I think it's ok.
Pin 11: CCD Bus (-), WT/BK wire. This has ~4V on it with the key on. I expected this to be between 0V - 5V, so I think it's ok.
Pin 16: Fused B(+), TN/BK wire. This has +12V on it at all times, which is expected. I think it's ok.

So, I've basically tested every wire and have not been able to identify a problem. The instrument cluster appears to be fed by those CCD bus wires, which also go to the DLC...so if you have info at one place, you should have it the other. What I'm hoping for by posting this is that we have an OBDII guru here who can help with some other diagnostic tests to figure out what is going on.

One last piece of information: the PCM is brand new from WranglerFix. I spoke to Mark yesterday, he's talking to his techs and will get back to me. I mention this because somebody will likely want to tag him here, but that isn't necessary; he's already looking into it.

How did you get on with this ? I have the same problem on my 1999 4.0L auto still no OBD connection with no gauges & no bus