Scan Tool

TX14Z71 · February 4, 2019

I'm not mechanically inclined so please excuse me if I don't ask this correctly. Is there a specific type of scan tool I need for a 1995 GMC Sierra 1500? I'm trying to erase the air bag light code.

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TW97C1500 · February 5, 2019

You might be able to go to one of the national chain auto parts stores and get them to do it for free, if they can erase an air bag code. Some of them have basic scan tools that might not be able to. A couple of months ago I had O'Reilly's read a code for me and they had a different meter than the previous time. They said it was a new, more powerful one.

To answer your question, there is OBDI (On Board Diagnostics version 1) that was used until the mid-90's, then it changed to OBDII. I think your '95 is OBDI. I'm pretty sure that when the engine changed from Throttle Body Fuel Injection to Multi-Point Fuel Injection, the electronics changed to OBDII. '96 was the first year of MPFI. I have a '97 Grand Cherokee and I know '96 was the first year of OBDII on them.

Most scan tools will read either, it simply requires a different plug to connect to the vehicle, and the scan tools will come with adapters, or some have separate cables with the different plugs. That being said, a new one able to read OBDI may not be able to erase codes. You would think surely it could, but I have heard people say that they didn't bother to program some capabilities in new scan tools and you need to find an older one to do certain things. Maybe that is just the cheaper ones.