My 94 Z28 is giving me a Service Engine Soon light so I picked up a code scanner. I am supposed to plug it in, turn the car to RUN but not start it and count the flashes. It does not flash. I have checked and I do have the right scanner for my car. Anything else I should check before taking it to the shop and paying them?

Thanks!

 

Not sure what's going on but I'd check the fuse for the circuit the DLC port is on, I know on later OBDII cars it's the CIG/ACCY fuse. What type of scanner is it, thought '93 was the last year you could "flash" codes?

 

Actron OBD I Code Scanner. I looked at the book and the website and from what I can see it should be the right scanner. What they say is that 94-95 GM used a mix of ODB I and II so you need to look at a few things. I have a 12 pin plug in my car so they say that I have OBD I and the product number they give matches my scanner.

Thanks, I will check the fuse.

 

94 and later cars won't flash codes. You'll need a scanner that can read the codes directly.

 

OK, the Actron code reader thing won't work on a '94, even though it says it will. Get your money back.

 

The box is incorrect when it says it works on the 94. All the cheapie "code reader" does is short the pins in the ALDL connector, something you can do with a paper clip. It works on 93, but from 94 up, it will not work. As noted in the post above, you need a full OBD-I scanner, like the AutoXray, or softwate like TTS DataMaster or Freescan.