I have a 1995 Pontiac Trans Am, 5.7L, manual trans, 120,000 miles. I want to buy a scanner I can plug in and read the codes. Problem is it's one of the GM OBD1.5 systems. OBD2 port with OBD1 system. I have yet to find any scanner that actually works. Do you know which one to get or can point me in the right direction?
Thanks,
Josh
Unfortunately I don't even have a scanner that works on that vehicle. It was the dealer only one that fit that particular year. I don't even have one. But realize even with one of those you don't get that much data out of them. It's too old
If you're planning to keep the car a long time you could consider buying a Tech2, which would be the dealer scan tool for that vehicle. Chinese-made Tech2 clones are available for around $300-$400. Quality on them can be spotty and most ship direct from China or Hong Kong which is a pain if you have problems, though there are some U.S. vendors. (I have one and there have been no issues with it.) You can also find used "real" Vertronix Tech2 scanners around.
It does look like on the 4th-gen Firebird (1993-2002) there are some limitations like not being able to talk to the BCM due to there being no data path to it in the car's electronics:
On our 4th Gen Firebird cars, there is no Datalink communication to the BCM (body control module). All DTC's for that module must be examined using the old ALDL-type manual method (flashing panel lights). So, the Tech-2 cannot communicate with the BCM in the vehicle. Likewise, there is no existing link to the radio or remote cd changer. A special jumper from pin 14 of the DLC to pin 14 of the radio C2 connector must be installed for that purpose. Even so, there are no diagnostics for the radio, only ID information. There are, however, diagnostics for the interconnected remote CD changer.
https://www.firebirdnation.com/threads/tech-2-clone-why-not-im-cheap.445138/
An issue is that you'd be spending hundreds of dollars on a scan tool that is only good for 1991 through 2013 GM vehicles. (Later models require connecting an old 32-bit laptop with serial port running GM software.) Also the Tech2 is clumsy 30+ year-old technology with a learning curve, but there is a lot of info out there on using them.
I think the last time this was discussed it was pointed out that GM's newer MDI scan tool has a Tech2 emulation mode for use with older GM vehicles, but I've personally never tried one of those.
