1995 3800 sure way of telling if it's an obd1 or obd2
 

Hey I know this is a rookie question but we just got the car and I'm currently 3 hours from home. It's throwing the service engine light and I'm not there to see it. I know it's a "California" car it's the 1995 with the 3.8 engine but I was unsure if all of them were updated to obd2 or if some are the "1.5" is there something simple I can have her check or take pictures of for me to verify if it's obd1 or 2.

I suppose sending her to autozone to attempt scanning it would work but I already know how that's going to play out either way. :icon_fryingpan:

Check the labels under the hood. It a requirement that one specifies the OBD version compatibility.

thank you. I had her taking pics and it is indeed an obd1 with an obd2 plug. She keeps complaining about a smell and the light is on but says it's seeming to run fine. I'll be there this weekend to try and check it out. Now she thinks it's starting to shift hard all of a sudden as well. (not sure if she's imagining it or not)

so a smell.. a service engine light.. and potential hard shifting (and she drives very sensible) so this sounds like a nice weekend of trying to figure it out. It's currently her only driver since her other vehicle was hit and totaled on the interstate. Last thing I need is for this to break down while I'm away.

I may be wrong about this, but the 95 service manual update for the 3800 engine seems to say that the pcm can be accessed with either OBD1 or OBD2 methods. It definitely has both wires going to the data connector. The manual only shows the OBD2 codes in the descriptions. I would take the car to an auto parts store and ask them to read the OBD2 codes, if possible. Write down the code numbers that are found.

I did read that the GOOD obd2 scanners can read it but you have to have them input the car info when doing so. (can't remember where I was reading this on the obd1.5) but her trying to tell the service guy that and them treating her like she has no clue what she's talking about wont end well. I'll just check it out this weekend.

annd this is where I'm already wanting to do a 5.3 swap LMAO too bad I have no place to work on it or the skills or knowledge I'd actually consider selling my cherokee to start the funding for it but I'd pay so much in labor costs it'd kill me.

OBD2 is universal, don't have to input any vehicle info. It's with OBD1 that you have to tell the scanner the year and model/engine. Certain OBD2 scanners can also do OBD1 even if it's not advertised well. That's where the info has to be entered. The very simplest OBD2 reader is what you want here.

alright i still have a cheapo one and my ultra gauge but I'll send her over to have it scanned. I'm starting to hate this 95 model already...

the 95 lt1 is obd1 and can be read with a obd1 scanner if you do this, i dont know if it works on a 3.8 being it is a different system using multiple coils. http://shbox.com/1/xraycable.jpg