OBD 1 Code reader / Scanner what to buy or stay away

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toolman84@juno.com - 28 Jun 2007 14:49 GMT

In the market for an OBD-1 code reader / code scanner. Found this one
on Ebay
http://tinyurl.com/yuxhga for $46. Also found others online at most of
the major auto parts suppliers for more $$. I'm looking for your
experiences and thoughts about what reader is a better buy.

FYI, I know about jumping A & B terminals to pull the fault codes. My
problem is my 94 Caprice (Ex cop car) cannot give the codes without a
scanner.

Dan

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Comboverfish - 28 Jun 2007 17:05 GMT

On Jun 28, 8:49 am, toolma...@juno.com wrote:

> In the market for an OBD-1 code reader / code scanner. Found this one
> on Ebayhttp://tinyurl.com/yuxhgafor $46. Also found others online at most of
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Dan

You already got a reply to your other post stating that the A-B trick
won't work on 94-up Caprice. I don't know off the top of my head if
this is true, but it is likely to be. If you look at the VECI sticker
under the hood you will see a phrase like "OBDII certified" or some
such. This indicates that your vehicle is OBDII compliant and
therefore will require an OBDII capable code reader.

Since 1994 is in the "quasi-OBDII" or "OBD 1.5" era of EFI system
design, you could even have two connectors, an old style 12 pin ALDL
and the new 16 pin DLC. If there *is* a 16 pin trapezoidal DLC
connector under the steering column (highly likely), get or borrow an
OBDII code reader to extract codes.

The one you linked to will not work any better than a paperclip, and
certainly not at all on an OBDII only diagnostic design.

Toyota MDT in MO

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