OBD Scanners

[Maverick]

Bro Willy wants to find code readers for 3 cars:

. '89 Olds 88 3.8L

. '90 Olds 98 3.8L

. '97 Olds 88 3.8L

I'm assuming the '89 and '90 will be OBD I, GM specific. Anyone know of a scanner that would work on both those cars?

Also assuming that any generick OBD II will work for the '97.

Can anyone recommend scanners he should look for? He's not going to spend a lot of $$$$ on the scanners.

Thanks.

[MostMint]

For the 89 and 90, are you sure it even needs a scanner? This might be the kind where you can jump two of the pins in the diagnostic port and it will flash out the code with the check engine light.

[Maverick]

Think you're right. http://www.obd-codes.com/faq/read-gm-2- ... s-free.php Asked Willy to check for that plug. Thanks. Jim

[wxo]

You don't really need a scanner for the older cars. There is simple technique that starts with jumpering the right pins on the OBD connector with a cut off paper clip. Then when the ignition switch is turned on, the code is displayed in the flashing of the check engine light. It works great. I don't have the exact steps memorized, but I'm sure Google can find it easily.

[Basement Paul]

Any local autozone, advance auto parts (or Pepboys if that helps), will have a code scanner and read your codes for you. Code scanners will pretty much only give you numbers, and a lot of the time you'll have to look the codes up relative to your specific vehicle to see exactly what that means to your car. AutoZone carries one that's about $50 that will work will all obdII cars that would be fine.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/access ... 03853_0_0_

-BP

[Maverick]

Thanks for responses.