hi all im new to this site and i was wondering how to check engine code due to my engine light came on i have a 2001 monte carlo ss 3.8 and do u have a spot it tells what does each code means thankyou!!!

 

i dont know if this will help you but here it is
http://www.darklair.com/monte/codes.html

 

Take it to your local AutoZone, they wil pull the code for free,

 

But don't necessarily trust that they'll sell you the right part. I took mine in and they told me it was a O2 sensor, but the code was PO420 (catalityc converter code), turned out it was the cat not the O2 sensor.
If it's your catalityc converter it may still be covered, mine was. Some of the '01-'02s had a faulty one and they extended the warranty to 10 yrs/120K miles. I found the info here https://montecarloforum.com/m_12459/tm.htmand called GM direct, they even called the dealership and put me through to them to set up the appointment.

 

As DustyBird said, DO NOT TRUST THEM to diagnose your code for you, just have them read it, write it down, and then you can clear the code while the scanner is hooked up, but they can't do it for you. Then call a GM dealer's service dept, check in a Haynes manual, or even post it here, and get it diagnosed.
A good dealer's service manager will answer it for free, but if you talk to an adviser in a large dealership, they will just give you the run around. You need to talk to the manager! Then ask him what typically causes that to happen on your particular model, and 90% of the time it will be the same thing causing it, because of past problems they have had to deal with on others cars similar to yours.
A GOOD service manager can be INVALUABLE to you! They are hard to find, tho. Don't talk with an advisor, cause they can't answer ?'s