When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Is this OBD 1, 1.5, or 2 and what scanner do I need?
General GM ChatWhen starting new posts, please specify YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, ENGINE type, and whatever modifications you have made.
Chat about all things GM (and related cars). Off-topic stuff should be in the Lounge, and all Model specific mechanical problems should be posted in the proper forum.
Well I went a head and bought the Actron CP9145 like you have Rjolly87. I believe it has the CP9127 cable with it. I ran across just the scanner by itself for $40 but then needed the CP9127 and a power cable. That would probably have been another $40 or more so I just spent a little more and got a whole kit. Thats ok though.. It has a cable for my van which is OBD 1 and I believe it has the standard OBD2 cable which will fit my 2002 Saturn. I looked on Actron'* site but couldn't find an update for the scanner, perhaps it is up date for its age. I wonder how new of a car it will work on? I was also thinking about the info it stores. Was reading an online manual for the scanner and it says you can save the scanned info, one just needs to enter the info for the car. I wonder how that will work since the only difference in the two Regals is the vin. Well one is a Limited and the other is the Custom.
Honestly I don't use it to store data. I have had mixed results with obd2, especially with stuff made after 2000. Some cars it can read codes fine, others it does funky things showing live data, and it wouldn't even connect to a 2013 Altima. If I had to work on OBD2 more I would probably consider a newer more specialized tool, but I would still keep the actron around because it does OBD 1 and gm 1.5 so well.
But I believe it will pay for itself the first time you need to chase a gremlin on one of the Regals.
Yes, the one we changed the head gaskets on seems to be doing fine so far but the one we just bought that shows 66k, at times not so good. Sometimes it runs great and other times it wants to stall and die unless you give it a little gas. So there is some sensor not working. The PO said her mechanic put a new fuel pump in so I am going to guess for now that it is something else.
Another problem it has is missing transmission fluid. We added 1qt the day we bought the car and only drove it abut 5 or 6 miles. Yesterday I was just fooling around with the car and noticed it didn't want to move when I put it in gear, it was a qt and a half low on transmission fluid!
I checked the vacuum line for the modulator and it was dry. Put some cardboard under the car and in 5 to 10 minutes of idling there was only a small leak. There is a transmission pan bolt missing though. Will drain the coolant in the next few days and see if there is any transmission fluid in the coolant. The only other way I have read that one can loose trans fluid is from one of the axle seals while driving. Anyway good thing we bought it for the engine and other spare parts!
