OK, I think I am finally ready to invest in a scan tool. I have been researching here and elsewhere and am thinking about an Actron 9145, or maybe the ProScan software package for Windows and a laptop.

Do I need to buy the OBD 1 cable for the 9145 for my '95 Bonneville? This seems like kind of a gray area.

I am looking to spend less than $250 total. Figured I could pick up an old used laptop for less than $150 for the ProScan if I decide to go that way.

Any advice from those who have already passed this way?

Thanks,

Bill B

I'm not sure that scan tool will work. (just from googling it)

Your 95 bonneville has a gm specific OBD2 plug but it is still OBD1.

I have the same Actron scan tool thats in this for sale thread:
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...ic.php?t=36278
I have the GM cartrage and the gm specific OBD2 cable.
I'm stressing on 'gm specific' because my scan tool came with a chrysler OBD2 style cale that did not work.

Don't you mean OBD1 plug with OBD2 protocol?

No... 94 and 95 had the OBD2 plug under the dash, but still used the OBD1 Protocol, for the most part. These years are sorta grey areas as far as tuning, but a scan tool should have no problem.

If you are going to get a laptop to run the scan software on, I suggest checking out this site: http://aldlcable.com/. They have cables that go to laptops and software suggestions. There is another site that is pretty good, but I will have to get the link to that.

Edit: Found the other link: http://www.moates.net/. My friend gets all his stuff from this guy and knows him pretty well. Was the first person to purchase his chip burner for his honda.

I'm already ingrained with the 97.

OBD2 protocol
OBD2 cable
Easy to scan
Easy to mod

Some things I miss about the 95, but not the scan.

That Actron linked above is the only scantool I know of for sure that will read ALL parameters on the 94/95 other than a Tech 2. I have the same tool with the cable for my 93, and need to buy the cable for my 95.

I have yet to find a software package for my laptop that will work with 94/95.

Wow! thanks for all the info guys. Let'* see if I have this right.... for the '95, I apparently have an OBDII connector in the car and an OBDI PCM. If that is the case, the Actron 9145 ought to work since it comes with an OBDII cable for all the newer cars. They offer an OBDI cable for older cars (like my '92 SSEi I presume). My question for 9145 owners (calling Don....) would be: does the use of the OBDII cable on the 9145 configure it automatically for OBDII, or can you just plug and play with the 9145 and the OBDII cable on your '95?

It appears that I can do the '92 and the '95 with Dr. Jay'* offer using the Actron 9110 - but I would need a cable for the OBDII plug on my '95 adding about $30- $40. So I would be in for about $140-$150 by the time I add shipping. That'* not a bad deal, but I would be good only up to '95 then. It would be kinda nice to have something that would do it all. Thanks for the link, 95naSTA.

Thanks Jimmy, for the laptop links - looks like that is cheaper than I thought. Old laptop for maybe $50 or $75. But by the time you add software for OBDI and OBDII, and the necessary cables, I think it will be close to the price of the 9145. I have seen references for sales on the 9145 as low as $170. And Bill'* advice re software for the '95 is probably a red flag here.

So it'* looking more and more like the 9145 is the way to go. Just one more question: does the 9145 do all that the 9110 does?

Bill, my Actron CP9110 is the same tool Don has (and a few others here). With that tool, all I have to do is switch to the 16-pin cable to read the 95. That simple. I just need the cable.

Contact SSEi95. Billboost just told me he may have a software package for the 95. Just be careful. You're in the same boat as me. If I get software, I want it to work with the 93 and the 95. Most software won't work with OBD1, or doesn't come with the 12-pin connector my 93 and your 92 need.