Greetings all,

I have a 1995 that has the 16pin OBD2 Connector but has and OBD1 CCM.... Are OBD2 scanners able to read OBD1 cars?

Anybody have any experience with some of the lesser expensive units on like amazon?

 

No...OBD1 have 12pins I believe so won't connect. I am trying to find an OBD1 for my 1990. Seems like all my friends who 5 years ago only had the old stuff have replaced it with newer...uugh!

 

If you have a laptop just buy a cable from the internet and use tunerpro

 

I use an Innova 3140 on the Vette and my ODB2 cars. So far it's done all I've asked of it which is mainly reading codes and doing resets as required.

I don't know if I'd call it cheap or not, price is what it is.

 

 

Some scanners are dual OBD1 and OBD2. Some are strictly one or the other. Some claim to read OBD1 but won't read the C4. I'd get an MT2500 with the right modules and it can even pulse the ABS for you.

Good stuff won't go cheap because it doesn't have to. You wouldn't take $10 an hour if you are worth $20. Cheap stuff isn't good. It's cheap because it is wanting somehow.

 

Can it read data from the OBD1 system that the C4 is?

 

You want a good scanner not a cheap one. Many OBD1 scanners use cartridges for software so you want to be sure it compatible with your car. Plenty of used scanners on eBay.

 

Innova 3140 - i have one and it reads both the ODB2 and the older ODB1 like my 91 C4 is and my older trucks & cars. It also does "real time mode' where you can see the data while you drive or log it to review later. On the ODB2 cars it shows you the emissions test self-checks (Readiness monitors) so you know when you can get the smog test done. Love mine.

Don

 

This may be too much information but FWIW, here are some notes from having just gone through this process:

--->Watch scanners that claim to be ODB2+1. Mine didn't work with my '93.

Edit: my unit is an Innova 3120. I see that others here have had luck with the 3140, but I get errors whenever I try to connect it to my '93 LT1. FYI, the 3120, 3130, and 3140 are all still available. However, with the exception of an SRS / ABS upgrade ($99) updates are not available. Support is friendly but unhelpful. The 3120 works nicely for ODB II, and talks to my desktop and laptop PCs. Also, remember that this unit is a code-reader only. It will clear codes but it doesn't have the bi-directional capabilities that the Vetronix/Bosch units do.

--->It's worth looking on eBay for a Tech 1 with the right cartridges, or a MasterTech 3100 unit (same as a Mac Tools ET2100MT). The MasterTech units support Tech one carts but can do some other things as well.

--->The Tech 1 will allow you to follow the charts in your FSM and test relays in additions to pulling and resetting codes. I'm new to that world but tomorrow I'm starting to chase down some things on my '93 that I would have had to pay a garage to do last time. I anticipate the unit will pay for itself with this one project. (It's actually a laudry list of projects, but you get the idea.)

--->Unless you're in a hurry, don't jump on the first unit you see. You can get a MasterTech for less than $400 with all the adaptors and cables if you're patient.

--->The Tech 1 units seem to me to be overpriced. I bought one, but what I needed were the 1993 cartridges that came with it. The MT unit does more.

--->Pre-1993 cartridges seem to abound. Don't be in a hurry! 1993 and later carts don't. Jump on them if they're what you need!

--->Tech 1 carts that you might want to look for (years vary... make sure your model year is included):
*GM 81-93(for example) Power Train
*GM xx-xx Body Systems
*GM xx-xx Chassis
*Mass Storage (PN 30000003. The latest version is v3.2, I think. This has all three of the above on it, I think. I haven't seen one yet but will update this when I get mine.)

Edit: Mass Storage 3.2 P/N 3000003 contents:
81-96 Powertrain v2.2
88-96 Chassis v1.2
88-96 GM Body Systems v1.4
90-95 Service Programming v5.2
91-94 J/L/N ABS VI EBCK Reprogramming v2.0

--->There are two versions of the MT3100, one that natively supports ODBII and one that requires an adaptor and cable. The ones that come from Toyota dealers seem to be the former. I haven't played with the Toyota Card that usually comes with them to see if they read generic ODBII as well as the Tech 1 carts.

--->If you find a MT with the Multifunction Tester Program Card, it supports both the simple and advanced diagnostic modules. I *think* the Toyota card does too. Again, I'll try and update after some experimentation. In any case, make sure the appropriate probes as included. The diagnostic modules provide a digital volt meter and a wiggle-scope function with a waveform library included.

Best,
Jerry

 

Holy Crap. That is a mouthful. Thanks for the info.

Last time I checked the Actron units at O'Riley they said it should but it didn't. Also when I called up the company since they bought Auto X-ray and I thought it would incorporate my car but it didn't. Company said that if it works, it works but they are not really interested in supporting that old a car.

 

www.moates.net
www.reddevilriver.com
www.1320electronics.com
www.tunerpro.net
and ALDLdroid on google play store.

 

I use the Actron CP9690 unit from Amazon:




It has a lot of nice features, automatically detects the vehicle and type of computer. Best for me is that it had all of the cables needed including the OBDII connector for OBDI computers. Not sure if it meets your criteria of cheap, I paid $175 for it on Amazon.

 

aklim,
Can you use the mt2500 to diagnose ABS problems? I have access to one and it would be great if it could.
Thanks

 

Wonder if a Chromebook would work for this? Got my wife one for Xmas and she's not using it, for anything...I wonder...

D.

 

AFAIK - no. There was a separate tester for diagnostics on the ABS system. Sorry don't remember the name off the top of my head but I put the info I found in another thread relating to an abs issue.