Hello all!

I am thinking of buying a 993 and after my research, I am moving toward a 95 993. I am pretty handy and work on my Sprinter all the time. My only concern is the fault code I will be getting from OBD1 vs OBD2. For DIY like me, is there much difference of information I can get from OBD1 vs OBD2 scanner? How much more detailed is OBD2 scan compared to OBD1? It is very important for me to get as detailed information as possible for DIY. Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

Not sure if you have an actual car you are looking at but not all '95's are OBD1. I have a MY '95 and it's OBD2.

 

My understanding is that only the connector is OBD2 but it is wired for OBD1.

 

Found a great thread here. I am leaning more toward 95.

https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...ce-in-diy.html

 

I may be oversimplifying the answer but, just by the fact that OBD2 superseded OBD1, you have your answer. That being said, IMHO, an early '95 993 without the IMMOBILIZER is the simpler vehicle to work on. The emissions system is less complex even though the U.S. version still has the SAI pump and plumbing.

 

With the right scan tool there is a ton of useful stuff on ODB1, Porsche was way ahead on this.
a generic scan tool won’t do it though, search here for compatible scantools

 

Are you saying some have immobilizer and some don't for 95? For Sprinter, immobilizer is sensitive to temperature and could malfunction in cold weather. I'd much like a 95 without the immobilizer.

 

Whoa - totally disregard my comment - I don't know what I was thinking. Yes, I have OBD 1 and an OBD II connector. Wow, I am off my game today. Sorry.

 

No worries! Thank you for clarifying!

 

Ironically, this is what I was referring to: Are you saying some have an immobilizer and some don't for 95?

The answer here is yes. I have a MY '95 and I do have the immobilizer.

 

I only have experience with obd2 cars so far. I guess I am used to the "feature" of the immobilizer.

I think the real headache is dealing with the SAI faults when they eventually appear.

There are DIYs to clean the ports out yourself, ways to defeat it via an ECU flash, or ignore it all together depending on your state's smog certification requirements.

 

From my experience and reading here on Rennlist...
OBD-l - Not as much information, the key one being information derived from the before/after CAT 4 oxygen sensors as it only has one. This can be a bonus as it will not report clog related problems with the air injector system, as the Check Engine Light from clogged injectors has to be cleared on OBDCII cars and in some cases, this may be difficult or expensive.
OBD-II - Most if not all are Varioram so they have a small incremental improvement in power. The 1996 MY only OBD-II Motronic controller is unique in it does not report individual readiness code statuses the later MY cars do. Also for reasons, I do not recall, making modifications to its internal data maps is not as easy.on a '96MY. an issue for folks who will want to remap their car's ignition with aftermarket data products.

For me, the clogged air injector reporting is a negative on the OBD-II cars some have to deal with. The Varioram is a plus so pick your poison.
Since these cars are about 25 years old I would make condition my primary discriminator not OBD reporting in deciding on one to purchase as in most cases diagnosing engine-related problems seem similar in both.
Andy

 

OBD1 & 2 both provide much the same data w/ the correct reader, I always used factory readers, both a "Hammer" and PWIS. There are aftermarket readers that do most but not all of the functions of the factory readers.

In the US only '95 are OBD1 and all these are non vram, for RoW all except turbo are OBD1, US '96 up and all turbo are OBD2

Most cars from all years will have immobilizer, OBD1 which has a 55 pin DME and user replaceable chip makes it easy to chip the car and easy to bypass the immobilizer if you so desire. OBD2 uses an 88pin DME none of which are user modifiable, to make thing worse the '96 version isn't even flashable, '97-98 are. So to reprogram a '96 you must first replace the DME w/ a '97/98 version.

In general the OBD 1 cars are far easier to work w/, I've already mentioned the user replaceable chip which allows immobilizer bypass, these also allow for easy reprogramming of the engine operating parameters among these are a change to vram, or other performance upgrades

The OBD2 are harder to use on a modified engine, the main issue is the before and after O sensors which w/ stock parameters are prone to throw codes, these can be problematic in some jurisdictions.

 

Hard to say without knowing your level of sophistication. I consider myself a moderately advanced amateur and while it's easy to find out what the codes mean/how they're triggered, I find myself having to do a ton of research to figure out exactly what the codes actually imply. Maybe they'd mean more to you than to me.

That said, the codes I've seen most during my ownership relate to the Secondary Air Injection system, which 95s don't have. That's a win over anything gained from OBD2's sophistication.

 

Late 1995 here. Another consideration is your location. So Cal?
If the visual inspection catches it, can't remove the air pump.

Not a stringent visual?
Remove air pump, plug the 6 ports. Cleaner area, easy to deal with the connections in that area. No cel light is triggered.
Also the '95 has a lot less o2 sensors. need to look again, but I heard the ones after mine have 4?