kuchak

Hi,

I have a '95 Z28 with a 16 pin OBDII style connector. Are all '95 Z28s OBDI? I purchased an Actron GM & Saturn OBDI scanner CP9001. It has 3 pins. It does have a pin A, but it does not have a pin M as shown here on the shbox website:

http://shbox.com/1/xraycable.jpg

On the Actron website it says if you have an OBDI car with an OBDII connector, buy Actron scanner CP9145 or CP9150, but Actron does not offer them on their site.

How do you '95 guys check codes?

bw_hunter

All 95 lt.'s are OBD1.

I never ran into a pin problem you mention...maybe some of the others can help there...

Kevin Blown 95 TA

It could be OBD2 if it is a California car. One other possibility - the Actron scanners don't always get enough voltage from the 16 pin connector to boot up, so maybe try the external power option if you have that. Were you trying it with the car not running?

shoebox

All 95 LT1 f-body cars are OBDI.

kuchak

Kevin,

Not a California car. I'm the 2nd owner, in NJ. 1st owner bought it in NJ.

I can't even try it as I do not know what pins to connect from the scanner to the 16 pin OBD connector under the dash. Scanner pin locations are different from what is shown on shoe box site.

Injuneer

No.

Kevin Blown 95 TA

There is an OBD2 type cable for the Actron scanner that works with the OBD1.5 protocol, Are you trying to convert an ALDL type cable yourself for the 16 pin "D" connector??

Sorry - Just saw the other posts - I didn't try to look up your "scanner"

Injuneer

The Actron CP9001 is not a "scanner". It's a code reader that shorts the pins in the ALDL connector to flash the codes on the SES light. Last year that worked on an LT1 was 1993 model year. In effect, you just spent $30 for a device that is equivalent to a 2-cent paperclip.

Get a "real" OBD-I scanner.

Kevin Blown 95 TA

I must just be thinking of the 1995 dual cat California cars - I thought they were also OBD2 - my mistake.

Injuneer

95 California A4 LT1's got dual cats. Nothing else. No OBD-II, no after-cat O2 sensors. I remember crawling under them in the showroom at the end of 1994 when I was living in CA.

kuchak

Kevin,

I'm trying to read the codes any way I can, and thought I could with this code reader and the picture from the shoe box site.

Fred,

I was not able to tell the difference between a code reader and a scanner from the suppliers website, and yes, all I want to do is to be able to read codes. I could buy a real OBDI scanner as you suggest, but I know that when I get it, it will not mate to the OBDII connector on my '95. I could buy an OBDII scanner that will mate to it, but wont read OBDI codes. The Actron website says to get the CP9145 or CP9150, but they don't even sell it. You also say you can't just short pins together after '93.

So how do you guys read codes on a '95?

Kevin Blown 95 TA

I use a laptop, but I also have an old Actron that had 2 cables - one cable was for 94 with the rectangular ALDL connector and one was for the 95 cars which had the OBD2 type connector but still had the OBD1 PCM. I think the only difference is the cable. So you need an OBD1 tool with the cable which has a 16 pin D type connector. Maybe they are getting scarce or something. You might be able to buy a laptop cable in the for sale section and then get some free scanning software from Freescan or Datamaster, then you would have a lot of capability to look at your parameters and engine codes (assuming you have a laptop). Just be aware that the earlier cables were for serial ports and the later ones were for USB. Hardly anyone has a lappy with a serial port these days, so if you go with one of those you would need an adapter or a serial card.

shoebox

There are places that still sell the older CP9145. Google can probably help you with that.

Injuneer

People read codes on a 95 by using a true OBD-I scanner, with either 1) a 12-pin->16-pin adapter plug, often available from the scanner manufacturer, or 2) Rob/Shoebox's jumper wires. Simple as that. Not sure why you won't believe it will work that way.

Obviously there is no way you can read an OBD-I PCM with an OBD-II scanner. The DTC protocol is completely different.

As Kevin mentions, there is also very useful scanning softwater available, but they require a cable specifically for the 95's 16-pin connector.

http://www.akmcables.com/

http://andywhittaker.com/ECU/FreeSca...0/Default.aspx

http://www.ttspowersystems.com/DataMaster.html

bw_hunter

Gents...is there a downside to retrofitting the 94 connector to the PCM harness? We obviously have access to the pin-outs...