1994 Pontiac Bonneville 3.8 Scantool - ODBI or ODBII
 

From searching these forums I figured out I can not use the paper clip anymore. So, whats an inexpensive scantool for a 1994 Pontiac Bonneville? I know this was a transition year and I'm not sure if this car is ODBI or ODBII. How can I tell? Or should I just take the car to Autozone for the free scan first?

your car is an OBD 1.5 or the Hybrid OBD....Most of the autoparts stores cannot scan your vehicle

Hi there, you have the dreaded hybrid year.

What you'll need to scan that car is an Actron CP9110 with the GM Cartridge
You'll also need the CP9115 Cable which plubs directly into the scanner and connects to the connector on your car. It draws power directly from the car so you won't need the cigarette lighter plug that comes with the scanner.

Be warned: As of the beginning of this year, Actron had very low stock on the CP9115 cable. I ordered directly from actron using this phone number: 800.228.7667. Get into Tech support immediately. The Sales guys have no clue.

All said and done, you'll wind up spending about $150 between cable and scanner and shipping, but you'll be able to scan codes, erase codes, and get some really good info about how your car is running.

Check out the one linked in this thread. It seems to be the best option I've yet seen for your situation, IMO.

OBD1 and OBD 1.5 Scantool Kit

Seems like a pretty versitile kit from what it says and the price seems right too.

Wow quick answers! ODB1.5... great :(

Is there any truth to this Info?
In 1995 GM changed to OBD 1.5. Some late 1994 models are also OBD 1.5. For these (OBD 1.5, 16 pin ALDL) short terminals 5 & 6.

http://s-series.org/component/option...,60/task,item/

Could this be an early model 94? Or are all 94s ODB1.5?

That info on S-series looks good to me, though I hadn't heard it before.

The best way for you to determine whther yours is OBD1 or OBD1.5 is to look at the connector under your driver's side dash. If it has 12 pins, then it's OBD1. If it has 16 pins, then it's OBD1.5 (just like in the pictures on the s-series site article). ;)

Let's clear the air. You have OBD1, but you have OBD2 compliant codes, and a 16-pin connector. The flash feature in the link above at S-series should not work on your car. I'd be very surprised if it did.

For bonnevilles made in 1993 and earlier, the flash feature was coded into the PCM itself. After 1993, the PCM is not capable of it.

Thanks for clearing that up, Bill!

I knew that I had not heard that the post '93's could be flash coded, but then I'm learning new things every day.

Exactly...

The 1994-1995 Model C, H and U Bodies using the 3800 all used the Freaky OBD1 PCM with OBD 2 codes...

The 94-95 C and H bodies also got the 16pin OBD2 connector but its OBD1 Compliant...

The Flash Feature in GM cars( except Saturn ) was no longer as of the 94 Model year... 93 was the last year to flash codes...

The S Series trucks were a little diffrent

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And attempting this on an H or C body could smoke the PCM. Don't even try it.