Scanning Older GM Vehicles

Hi
The car has a cross over system not OBDI or OBDII and requires a GM Tech I scanner,am not aware of another scanner. If you suspect the TPS put a volt meter pos lead on Dark Blue wire and Neg on either Black,Black/orange or Purple. Key on slowely open throttle less than 1 vdc at closed throttle and slowely goes up as opened to 5vdc. if it does then TPS good.
Hope this helps
Thanks for donate

I knew it was called something, I just couldn't remember what and while I think I asked this before, its buried under mountains of other free questions.

But yeah it is a Cross-over, and while it has the OBD-2 sensor reader plug, it doesn't operate. What they were thinking, can only remind me of Digital Equipment Corp and their computers that had USB 1.0 plugs, but didn't have any support for them inside, so they were useless.

Now I just need to find that tool I saw in a catalog somewhere, so I can break free the cycle of paying for $100 checks every time there is a loose wire somewhere.

Thanks for the help Doctor.

Apparently there is 2 of types.

GM Tech 1 & GM Tech 2 scanner.

They are pricey, but I'm sure it's possible to find something that is reasonable somewhere. Considering the old way was a paper clip between two leads, it's amazing it went up that high.

There was 3 Tech type scan tools.

Tech 1 Covered from 87-92

Tech 1 A Covered from 87-89 (Woulda been good for my 88 Century that got taken to the dump prior to the Cash for Clunkers).

AND the All important Tech 2, which works on the 1994 Buick LeSabre up to 1997 when they went to OBD 2. Oh and the best part. These suckers are around $3000-$5000, and you need the updated software to make them work correctly. I think i'll suffer with the $100 dollars, unless EBay has the answer. A good number of dealerships went bye-byes during the "Great Recession" as their calling it now.

Might be able to buy from dealer because they are not working on that old of a vehicle. Maybe E-Bay

I found a place called Bezema Buick in Dedham, MA that handled it.

They were totally happy to take my $100 to tell me that it would cost nearly $400 to replace the EGR valve and gasket. Charging me $270 for the part and $8 for the gasket, comes to about $390 for the whole repair.

I checked at the always trusty Autozone, and found it in RI for $129 with a free gasket included. And it works. No more stalling, rough driving, or idle problems. It made me think that perhaps that's my problem with my 98 Mercury Sable, so I'm taking my extra EGR valve back to Wisconsin with me later next week. The same trouble codes, with the O2 sensor and emission leak appear, though on my car the EGR valve has no electrical parts, just an air hose.

Just needed the help to get to where I could pinpoint the problem and get it done the first time.

Thanks so much, till next time.

You should have only 1 or 2 oxygen sensors. All OBD2 have 4 oxygen sensors. Now if you would like to pull the codes yourself with out the scanner tool then here is how you do it. You get paper clip and you make a u out of it. Now you put between term 5 and 6 on the diagnostic connector (look at pic below) or if your connector is labeled the it is term A and B. Now you turn the key on engine off and then count the blinks of the check engine light. It will first blink 1 short pause then it will blink 2 (code 12) and then longer pause then it will blink the codes in the same manner. So if you get 2 blinks and short pause then 3 blinks and a longer pause the that is code 23 and so on. It will repeat each code 3 times before moving on to the next code. Let me know what you find.

Good its fixed. Thanks and till next time.