1994 Cavalier - Need scan tool

[viking1]

Autozone and Discount auto do not know which one to use for the 1994 Cavalier. They say their manuals do not state if it is an ODBI or an ODBII. I would prefer to get one that can read real time if possible since my check engine light comes on while driving, then clears everytime it is restarted. Anyone know a good unit to buy for this car?

[thecommi]

99% of GM vehicels produced in 1994 are OBD1, and use the old code key trick to pull engine codes... upper right two pins horizontal to each other should be shorted and key turned to the "on" posistion to get codes. Autozone should know this there are real time scanners available but you probably wont find them in any autozone or other type of parts store, being i'm a manager at an autozone i know what we can get, realtime OBD1 scanners are not part of Autozones database. as for the light coming on while driving, is it after a certain speed? or a certain lenghth of time? what motor do you have? the 3.1L motor is nitorious for intake manifold vaccuum leaks, that may occur only after a certain speed is reached, once vaccuum returnes to normal (i.e. slowing down) the light may or maynot go off, but will reset after the car is shut down. could also possibably be an Oxygen sensor, it may short out at a certain tempature after its been running for a while, or could just be faulty.

[public]

I also have a 1994 Cavalier. They have a odd combo. An OBDII computer with a OBDI plug. The jumper trick will get nothing. Actron does make a tool that can work on this system but it cost $300 so I skipped it. Good Luck.

[viking1]

This is the 2.2L 4 cyl. The light doesn't have a certain time, temp, etc that it comes on. I have an hour commute one way and it will come on at some point. It seems to run just fine, but i want to be a head of the game in case something is breaking down. It is my understanding that if the light goes out after restarting the car that no code will be stored and that is why I would like to get a real time scanner.

[public]

The code should be stored but the reader is expensive. You may want to take it to a shop and they usually will scan one for $30 or so.