OBD Question
#2
03-12-2009, 11:51 PM
Obd
your car is OBD1 compliant- you can verify this by checking under the hood on the "emissions" sticker (think that's what it's called) located just forward of the radiator. If your car was OBD2 compliant it would state that on the sticker. As far as checking codes is concerned, you're right. your car has a 16 pin ALDL connector, but has the OBD1 system that normally is associated with a 12 pin plug. Fortunately, you have a couple of good options as far as scanning:
1. using a laptop PC- Go to http://www.moates.net (click on the top navbar link on the left "all products" and scroll down. you are looking for this: (ALDU1 and CABL2 Combo) this combo will ONLY work if you have laptop with a USB port and the cost together is $80. If, you have a laptop with serial ports, then go to http://www.aldlcable.com/sc/details.asp?item=aldlobd2 (I suggest copy-paste this.) you will find a cable that will fit directly from your laptop serial port to your 16 pin ALDL connector located right under the dash (to the right of the steering wheel). then, find a program you are comfortable with using - you can find links to several of them (most of which are free) at this address: http://www.obd2allinone.com/sc/pages.asp?pageid=60 -again, copy-paste.
2. Using a scanner - You can find several excellent obd1 scanners. the autoxray 3000 will work just fine (available on ebay for about $100). Now, you're not done just yet, remember this is an OBD1 scanner and while it is compliant with your system, it's not going to have the correct cable to fit to your car. Your best bet with this scanner is to make an adapter that will connect your scanner's 12 pin cable to your 16 pin plug. Here's a link showing how to do this - http://shbox.com/1/xraycable.jpg. You could also purchase a scanner that will scan both OBD1 and OBD 2 systems. They are more expensive, but some of them include the correct cable to fit right from the scanner to your car. Here's an example: right now, as I right this, there is an autoxray 6000 OBD1, OBD2 scanner on sale on ebay for $262.99. that's complete with everything you need to scan your car (I'm not trying to plug anyone's auction, but that's pretty typical of what complete setups are going for on that site.)
I hope that this helps
1. using a laptop PC- Go to http://www.moates.net (click on the top navbar link on the left "all products" and scroll down. you are looking for this: (ALDU1 and CABL2 Combo) this combo will ONLY work if you have laptop with a USB port and the cost together is $80. If, you have a laptop with serial ports, then go to http://www.aldlcable.com/sc/details.asp?item=aldlobd2 (I suggest copy-paste this.) you will find a cable that will fit directly from your laptop serial port to your 16 pin ALDL connector located right under the dash (to the right of the steering wheel). then, find a program you are comfortable with using - you can find links to several of them (most of which are free) at this address: http://www.obd2allinone.com/sc/pages.asp?pageid=60 -again, copy-paste.
2. Using a scanner - You can find several excellent obd1 scanners. the autoxray 3000 will work just fine (available on ebay for about $100). Now, you're not done just yet, remember this is an OBD1 scanner and while it is compliant with your system, it's not going to have the correct cable to fit to your car. Your best bet with this scanner is to make an adapter that will connect your scanner's 12 pin cable to your 16 pin plug. Here's a link showing how to do this - http://shbox.com/1/xraycable.jpg. You could also purchase a scanner that will scan both OBD1 and OBD 2 systems. They are more expensive, but some of them include the correct cable to fit right from the scanner to your car. Here's an example: right now, as I right this, there is an autoxray 6000 OBD1, OBD2 scanner on sale on ebay for $262.99. that's complete with everything you need to scan your car (I'm not trying to plug anyone's auction, but that's pretty typical of what complete setups are going for on that site.)
I hope that this helps
#3
03-13-2009, 10:42 PM
I have an autoxray and it's great, got my kit a few years ago for 400 bucks, and it will do obdI/obdII and also many imports as well as the bankrupt three. Came with 5 cables to connect to various car ports. With autoxray, you can also monitor several sensor and settings. For a little bit of dough, it gives you a lot, and it's upgradable via the net.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
