OBD Confusing me

In another thread I have been discussing and issue I have with my 1994 Trans Sport and more than once it has been suggested I come up with some way to read the codes.

Either with a code reader or by making an interface cable to plug into a laptop.

This is where the confusion is coming in I have found pictures of GM OBD 1, OBD 1.5 and OBD 2 connectors and the connector in my van does not match any of them.

if you pardon my gross attempt I will try and show what it looks like:

it's a 12 pin OBD 1 style connector with only 3 wires in it.

O = blank spot and X = wire

OOOOOX
OOOXOX

so thats what it is laid out like so could someone put me out of my misery and tell me just what it is I have there and possibly point me in the right direction to either buy a reader for it or a tutorial for making an interface cable written in english please.

---edit---

After finding a better diagram that showed the letter codes for all the pins it is pins A, M and K that have wires in them on mine.

Now this is an export model made for the european market so maybe thats what is causing me the confusion

Yes, this is , just as yuo decribed, what we are talking about for this "interim" GM contraption that was used in '94, 95 TS. M is the data line. http://www.aldlcable.com/

Yes that is the GM 12 Pin ALDL... Through 1993 GM had a Diagnostic Pin for the SES flash feature.... As of the 1994 Model year GM dropped the Flash feature leaving no Diagnostic Pin... So for the 1994-1995 Transport and other GM U Bodies with the 3800... You need a scantool capeable of reading the OBD1 Data from this PCM.. Eventho this PCM is OBD1, it does use OBD2 codes.. There will be Data Group 1 and Data Group 2... Both of these groups can have stored codes... as well with the PCM you can watch the Cylinder Misfire data as it happens..

Just as an Example, My 95 Bonneville has the OBD2 16 Pin DLC, But uses the exact same PCM as the 94-95 U Body 3800 Vans:)

ok so from that I take it that it is possible to make an interface unit to connect to a laptop and read everything live.

Does anyone have a link to an english tutorial the only one I have seen is in german and I can't read a word of it :)

From the link I gave above, you could reach that
http://www.obd2allinone.com/aldl-USBinstructions.pdf

THe diagram must be modified because they use E for data whereas yours is from M

oops sorry my bad I missed that part

OK LMP you have been so helpful so far I can't thank you enough.

Just one more silly question reguarding this thing.

I have an older laptop with a serial port that does not get used for anything that I could happily use as a diagnostics computer.

And I read this on that site:

"The ALDL Cable
Let's look at the ALDL (Assembly Line Diagnostic Link) OBD1 interface cable first, since we sell low cost ALDL OBD1 interface cables. It may possibly be the only thing you will need to buy to do your own diagnostics."

So for my vehicle do I need the $100 all in one scan tool thing and the cable or just the ALDL to Serial cable?

I have bought the serial ALDL cable for my old laptop about a year ago....but have yet to make it work. It comes with a CD containing several softwares but when I tried , the computer did not detect the cable..SInce I had no problem with the car at that time, I just put everything to rest saying "I'll take care of it when needed" and that has not happened yet....so I have no personnal "hands on" experience with this one...shame... BUt all that is needed is the cable containing the interface. ALso, mine being a '93, I can flash the codes, so the cable would be to read real time data only.
I'll "ping" nicke66 in Sweden : he has a '94 or '95 so his configuration is just like yours; he has built the "german" interface that is, in fact, much more sophisticated than the circuit coming with the cable, but I have read other threads using the referenced cable with printouts of the data they got..so obviously, it would work.
...your questions just made me go search under the table and pick back my cable and I might resume trials on that...but yesterday my '93 TS..which is hangared for the winter...revealed to have a dead battery..so no joy.
WIll come back ASAP.

Hi,
All of you are right. The TS 94-95 (and 96 in europe) 3.8 use ODBI (ALDL 8192 baud) for comunication, but use OBDII codes. There is not possible to use the paper clip trick any more for this year model. You need to use a code reader of interface and software to read data or codes.

I have built a number of interfaces, all of them after a schedule using a MAX 232 curcuit translating the ALDL 8192 bauld communication to serial RS 232. The schedule for the interface is found at www.pontiac-interface.de (Yes, it´s in german, but it is not that hard to find the schedule. Just click at "Pontiac Trans Sport", "interface", "modelle" and "nach meyer". The interface is made out of one MAX232 curcuit, a 7805 power regulator, some capacitors and a resistor and a diode. The interface use the serial 9-pin to connect to the Laptop.

Software
There is a lot of different software for GM ALDL diagnostic available at internet, but I have only found 2 software claiming they can handle Pontiac Trans Sport 3.8 cars. First, there is Turbolink (www.turbo-link.com) claims it can handle TS 3.8 ) but only the PCM, not ABS or AIRBAG). I have tried to use turbolik, but I havr not get the software to recognize my interface. I think, but I am not sure, that the software is only working with the interface that turbo-link website sells. Second, there is the DOS software that the clever german fellow Mafred Stuhlfeder wrote 4 years ago. This small software packages works excellent for all cotrol modules, not only the PCM, but also for th ABS and AIRBAG. The software is written in DOS, and writes and read the the hardware com 1 port. Because of this, the software have to be running in real DOS, and the interface have to be connected to the hardware com 1 port. There is not possible to use any USB to serial interface, or use any ALDL to USB cable. It will never work! The software is possible to download from www.pontiac-transsport.de ("download" "software" and then "diagnose" and "ABS" and "AIRBAG") Make a DOS boot disk, extract and copy the software to the disk. Boot a old laptop from the disk, and start the software you would like to run. Almost all of the software is in english (even that you can´t read this, once more thanks Manfred!) Manfreds software is also working great for the european 2.3 litre quad 4 trans sport.

Above info is enough for anyone to make there own interface and set up a diagnostic laptop for 3.8 Trans Sports (or 3.8 Lumina APV and Silhouette). As a fact, an interface together with the software is so useful, that every owner of a Trans Sport should build or get one!

For anyone not ready to make there own interface, I may make some more interface sets for sale. This will include a DOS boot disk with the software, and a simple instruction. The cost is about the same as for simlular interfaces for sale at internet. If this is of interest, please send me a PM.

For what it's worth, I have made 2 ALDL interfaces, and put one of them up for sale on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260369379093&sspagename=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT&viewitem=

The auction ends March 6.



Above info is enough for anyone to make there own interface and set up a diagnostic laptop for 3.8 Trans Sports (or 3.8 Lumina APV and Silhouette). As a fact, an interface together with the software is so useful, that every owner of a Trans Sport should build or get one!

For anyone not ready to make there own interface, I may make some more interface sets for sale. This will include a DOS boot disk with the software, and a simple instruction. The cost is about the same as for simlular interfaces for sale at internet. If this is of interest, please send me a PM.

THe guy who won the auction has a lot for his bucks....; the description you gave in your ebay listing should make everyone wanting to have one; while engine codes could be flashed until 1993 (but not ABS) , 94 and up need this scanner interface; what model year do you have ?
as mentioned in another post, my vintage WIN98 portable was so screwed up it could not detect this interface but I have finally managed to format and rebuild . Will report results as soon as outside temperature allows for human being to survive ... still -24°C, -10°F this morning...

I'm not having any luck with that turbolink (http://www.turbo-link.com/) outfit.. looks to me like their website is busted, or perhaps no more?

Looks like that German software (& setup) is the only one out there to get the codes (& that means NO usb option)?

I'm wondering how folks out there are retrieving codes for the 94-5 3.8 vans other than with the German software? Read up on it a bit & afaik GM used to get those codes with a GM tech1 (http://motors.shop.ebay.com/_Automotive-Tools__gm-tech1_W0QQ_fxdZ1?_rdc=1) & 2(cost too much ~ 2k) scanner but surely that is not the only other options (or at least I read that there are)?

I'm also not clear on the 94-5 & retrieving OBD2 codes? Can a OBD 1 (& 2) scanner be modded with a 94-5 16 pin plug to get codes?

Read somewhere that there are scanners that can do OBD1 & 2 & have diff tips. So the scanner can be set to OBD 1 while using a 16 pin plug (if setup that way like with some in 94-5).

Stumbled on this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AUTOXRAY-GM-OBD2-CABLE-16-PIN-PLUG-BLUE-1994-1995-ONLY_W0QQitemZ290299236685QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotor s_Automotive_Tools?hash=item290299236685&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318) (GM 1994 and 1995 OBD2 CABLE--- WORKS WITH AUTOXRAY CODE READERS AND SCANNERS. NOTE: THIS IS A SPECIAL CABLE THAT WORKS ONLY ON SOME 1994 AND 1995 GM APPLICATIONS WITH A 16 PIN COMPUTER PLUG)
on e-bay..

Here's (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Auto-Xray-EZ-Read-AX2000-OBD1-OBD2-Advance-Code-Reader_W0QQitemZ190290263615QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMot ors_Automotive_Tools?hash=item190290263615&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1171%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A131 8) (Autoxray AX2000 OBDI / OBDII Advance Code Reader) a cheap one on ebay.

Also ran across these (http://www.dtdauto.com/efiscandaewoo_e.htm) folks that claim to support us (3.8 - 95). http://www.dtdauto.com/efiscandaewoo_e.htm

What's the deal with the 94-5 3.1 engine?
===============================

http://www.fixya.com/cars/t1239852-obd_1_2_will_not_communicate_pcmYou are describing exactly what a lot of 94-95 GM car owner are feeling. I have an AUtoXray6000 scanner and it can read the trouble codes on this car, (I have a 95 Bonneville) but wont read the data stream. Basically you have a OBDII plug, but the car is controlled by the same OBDI system as others prior to 96. There are some scanners that have the ability to read the codes and data stream on these cars, others can only read the codes. If you can get or design an interface cable plug and know how to route the wires, you're in like flynt. Here is a web site that makes parts for a conversion cable.. http://www.obd2allinone.com/sc/pages.asp?pageid=63

Have 94 Transport with 3.8 engine. Had check engine light on and brought to local shop and they could not recover codes. Went and bought Auto X Ray 6000 and I had great success. Found code and repaired problem. The port took an OBD-1 cable which came with scanner. Only problem with scanner is that for an average person,its difficult to understand how it works. Not enough detail in operators manual.

Here's a few other scanners that may work:
ACTRON Scan Tool scanner model #CP9110 with cartridges (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280316620535&ih=018&category=43989&_trksid=p3286.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26its%3DK%252BD%26itu%3DUCI%2 6otn%3D2%26ps%3D5)(winning bid ~ 50 bucks on ebay)

http://i39.tinypic.com/2ym6cf5.jpg


OTC 4000 ENHANCED (http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/pts/1007819738.html)

http://i44.tinypic.com/29mkcr6.jpg


snap-on mt2500 scanner (http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkwZmt2500Q20scannerQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdo Z)

http://i42.tinypic.com/10xt020.jpg
(Had links & threads for the above 3 ..but 'pute crashed.. claims were worked with GM 94-5)
===================================

Just stumbled on this one.. (~200 bucks ebay.. dunno anything more about it)
OTC-3498 Enhanced Code Scanner OBD I,II and CAN OTC3498 (http://cgi.ebay.ca/OTC-3498-Enhanced-Code-Scanner-OBD-I-II-and-CAN-OTC3498_W0QQitemZ380007819695QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMo tors_Automotive_Tools?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116)
NEW Features:

New OBD I OEM Diagnostic Trouble Codes!
New OBD II Diagnostic Code Library
New OBD II CAN protocols added
New OBD II Honda OEM Diagnostic Trouble Codes!

New Scanning Suite Software includes:


Print Capture - Utility to print captured data from Code Readers & Scan Tools
DTC Lookup - DTC library for OBD II vehicles
Manual Browser - Online manual reference for the Code Readers and Scan Tools family
Tool Update - Reprogram tool to a different language, or update tool via the Internet or future update CD’s
Adobe Acrobat Reader Installer - Install Adobe Acrobat Reader to read manual