The club has a Formula with a 95 Park Avenue 3800NA and transmission. It has a constant check engine light. The man who built the car is deceased but his girlfriend says he always had the SES light, so the light isn't really an issue.

TopNotch has connected an OBD1/OBD2 SnapOn scanner and is still not able to determine anything. Raydar tells us that the 95 Buick Park Avenue may have used an OBD 1.5 program or an OBD1 program through the OBD2 ALDL. It has a 16183247 ECM with broadcast code BNUW. Other information on the computer is 215714 BNUW and *868NUWM64271R121*

The following is quoted from TopNotch about his attempts at pulling info from the ALDL, which is an OBD2 connector. Can anyone give us any insight on how to properly retrieve information from the computer?


[Quote]:
I tried Mike's OBD1/OBD2 scanner on the car, and got wildly different readings depending on what year and VIN code I picked. According to information on this site, the VIN code for a 1993, 1994 and 1995 3800 engine is L or 1. From what I found elsewhere, 1 is the code for the supercharged version, so I used L. In 1995, they also added VIN code K for the 3800, but there is still L and 1, so I'm not sure what K is.
Anyhow, if I set the machine for 1994 VIN L or 1995 VIN L, it says there are no DTC codes in the ECM. If I set it to 1993 VIN L, I get a boatload of DTC codes, including one for PROM error and some that don't make any sense. I'm inclined to think that the 1993 result is closer to the truth.
If I set it to 1995 VIN K, it says that it can't read the system.
And in any case I have to use wires, as in this picture, because the OBD2 connector only works with OBD2. [Quote]


I couldn't retrieve the picture he refers to. It's of a 95 F-Body 16 Pin DLC (OBD 1 ALDL but OBD2 12 pin connector. He jumpered cable pin M to ALDL port 9 and cable pin A to ALDL port 5.

[This message has been edited by fierofool (edited 07-10-2017).]

I really don't like the term OBD1.5. It's confusing.

OBD1 with a 16 pin connector is better. Yes you should be able to scan it with your 12 pin scanner with pin A connected to pin 4/5 and pin M connected to pin 9. Pin 4 is frame ground and pin 5 is data ground. You might want to try it using pin 5 or 4&5 together.

Connecting to the 94/95 3800 with TunerPro is a little flaky. I have multiple definitions and recommend trying each three times till you find the one that works. If you have an USB to 12 pin connector try using TunerPro and the definitions on my disk. You can download my disk at http://reddevilriver.com/aldl.html The link that states "Download Drivers" is actually the whole disk in zip format.

[This message has been edited by phonedawgz (edited 07-12-2017).]

Thank you. I'll pass this on to TopNotch.

95 was an odd ball year some got the newer 16 pin dlc but were wired different then the 96 up OBD II and can not be scanned with OBD II scanners. The older style plug had the provision for shorting two pins and counting check engine light flashes to get codes where the 95 with the 16 pin did not have this option. Most cases only the dealer can read the 95 codes

Tools I know that should work.
Actron Cp9185, cp9190, and cp9690
Auto Xray ax6000 or other models with blue gm obd2 cable and GM OBD1 unlocked.
Bosch OBD 1300
These will be in the DIY price range.

[This message has been edited by T4Turtle (edited 07-14-2017).]

Thanks. TopNotch has been busy and hasn't had time to delve into the problem any further. Maybe in the next few days.

Also OTC 3211.

The 3800SC for 1995 was in a transition year from OBD1 to OBD2. The ECM even uses an eprom memory. I do refer to the program as OBD 1.5 as the code is way different than on OBD 1. Its very similar to the Cadillac 4.9L ECM code. An Actron CP9110 scanner should be able to hook up , scan and read the codes but you may need the 12 pin to 16 pin adapter that can be found on eBay for about $7.00.

------------------
" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 07-14-2017).]

Thank you, Dennis.

If Snap On tool had issues I would assume these DIY tool sare not going to do much better.

I have a Auto Xray tool with blue gm cable. If you want to try it let me know. You pay for shipping and I'll let you borrow it.

Thank you. Let's see what we can do on this end. I think one of our guys has some scan tools since he has a 4.9. The SnapOn scanner we got from another member who owns an automotive service garage is an older model from around the early to mid 990's, so he thought it might work for us.

I'll have to get permission from our board of directors to make the expenditure for shipping, but I'm sure it will be approved if we can't get things worked out with what we have.

Here's the picture the first message mentions: