Make your own OBD1 cable for under $20.
Version 1 (4Aug2013) by GaryDoug
1.
Buy a "6pin FTDI FT232RL USB to Serial adapter module USB TO TTL RS232
Arduino Cable". Ignore the part that says RS232. This is an error. It
should cost under $10 including shipping. Cut off the small 6-pin
connector; it will not be used. Trim off all wires other than the black,
white, and green ones; the others will not be used.
Here is just one of many sources: http://www.ebay.com/itm/6pin-FTDI-
FT232RL-USB-to-Serial-adapter-module-USB-TO-TTL-RS232-Arduino-Cable-
/400356015296
2.
For the 94 only: Buy a "GM 12 Pin To OBD1 OBD2 16 Pin Connector
Adapter Car Motor Diagnostic Tool Cable". You will use only the 12-pin
part by cutting off the 16-pin connector. (The 16-pin connector on this
adapter may not be usable for a 95, since it has the wrong connections
for this use and is sealed in epoxy and not easily changed.) It should
cost under $8 including shipping.
Here is one of many sources: http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-12-Pin-To-OBD1-
OBD2-16-Pin-Connector-Adapter-Car-Motor-Diagnostic-Tool-Cable-
/170798772364
For the 95 only: Buy a “Universal Male OBD2 16 Pin Connector OBDII
EOBD OBD”, about $3 with shipping.
Here is one of many sources:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/180907853829?item180907853829&viewitem=&sspagenam
e=ADME:L:-OU:US:31`60&vxp=mtr
These sources are both in China or Hong Kong and will take 1-2 weeks to
arrive.
3.
After cutting off the connectors from the cable(s), connect the two
remaining cables/connector together (USB and 12-pin or 16-pin).
For the 94 only (12-pin cable): Connect the black wire from
the USB cable to the black wire (pin A) on the 12-pin connector cable
part. Connect both the green and white wires from the USB cable to the
brown wire (pin M) on the 12-pin connector cable. The red wire on the 12-
pin cable will not be used and may be trimmed short.
Fully assembled cable for the 94:
For the 95 only (16-pin cable): Connect the black wire from
the USB cable to pins 4 and 5 of the 16-pin connector. Connect both the
green and white wires from the USB cable to pin 9 of the 16-pin
connector. Shown below are all the pieces to be used. The strain relief
that came with the connector is placed on the USB cable in this photo.
Shown below is one method of soldering the wires.
In order to fully clamp the small cable to the strain relief, the nut
must be completely tightened but then the strain relief will not fit in
the usual place in the body. It can be placed inside the connector body
as shown below and will still provide adequate hold of the cable.
Fully assembled cable for the 95:
Use whatever method you prefer to connect the wires and insulate the
connections: solder, shrinkable tubing, tape, wire nuts, barrel crimps,
etc.
Drivers:
These cables will not come with any drivers. You must obtain them
elsewhere; either from the FTDI web site or from my web file storage
location in the same folder as the SCAN9495 app files. This device will
probably require the version 24 or 28 driver. You can try one of those
first. If that does not work, try the version 30 driver. After that, you
will have to specify which driver to use since you will have two of them
on the pc now. The following instructions are for Win 7; yours may be
different. Open the Control Panel. Select the Device Manager. Find the
USB Serial port device in the Ports section. Double click on it to open
its properties window. Select the Driver tab. Select "Update Driver".
Select "Browse my Computer..." Select "Let Me pick from a List...".
Select the version you want (28) and click on "Next". Repeat the same
exact steps for the "USB Serial Converter" in the "Universal Serial Bus
Controllers" section. You will be asked to reboot each time. You should
wait until after the second device driver is loaded before you reboot. If
prompted to reboot before that, select Cancel.
Unless you are using the latest driver available (30 for now), you may
want to set the PC to NOT automatically download the latest driver
software, or you may get the newer version by mistake. You can do that
this way: Click on the Windows Start icon in the lower left corner of the
desktop. In the search box, type "Change Device Installation Settings".
Click on the match it finds. In the Device Installation Settings window,
select "No, Let me choose what to do" and "Install driver software from
Windows Update if it is not found on my computer". Click on "Save
Changes".
