Hey guys, i'm currently racking my brain, and exhausting Google, over how to pull codes from my 1995 Buick Regal. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer me.

- 1995 Buick Regal
- 3.8L V6
- L27


At first I tried to pull the codes using the paper clip trick.

When that didn't work, I inspected the ALDL and noticed port B is empty.

I initially thought this may be one of the transitional OBD 1.5s, because it'* a 1995 - but from what I've read those have 16pin ALDLs, whereas mine is a 12 pin.


Here is a photo of the ALDL, and, as you can see, it has ports A, G, J(or I?), and M wired: http://imgur.com/a/D9q4t



Do you know how i'd go about reading these codes? Any information you can give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Sorry, messed up the hyperlink: OBD with ports A, G, (I or J?), M - Album on Imgur

Just about every GM in 94-95 is plagued by the "transitional" OBD 1.5.

You will need a scanner capable of this feat, that can also plug in to the ALDL connector. My '94 Regal is also using the ALDL Data port. 93 is the last year of being able to use the paper clip trick to get codes out of it.

I use an Actron CP 9145 with a CP 9127 cable to get it. You'll be pulling OBD 2 codes from it. Live data and code pulls work like a dream however.

And to share some of my experience with the madness, the 94-95 C/H bodies generally have the OBD 2 connector, giving OBD 2 codes. The 94-95 Regal also gives the OBD 2 codes, but uses the ALDL connector. My mom'* '95 S10 Blazer uses the OBD 2 connector, but uses the old style OBD 1 codes.

There was stuff flying everywhere during that time.

Thanks! That is an extremely wacky collection of decisions on GM'* part, and it seems like they should've known it would cause them so many more problems in the long run.


The Actron CP 9145 is absolutely necessary, right? i.e. I couldn't get by with my current OBD2 and the CP 9127 cable?

I remember when we had the Tech I, we couldn't read the 94-95 years, without an adapter....the Tech II had no such problems....

I don't know what scanner you have, however it must specifically state it is compatible with that era of GM. There are other units that can do it as well, most of which are capable of both reading OBD 1 and OBD 2.

Straight OBD 2 equipment won't be able to connect.

Also, if memory serves, I believe this issue was due to supply issues with the transition to the OBD 2 standard in 1996, and that they were doing what they could with what they had.