O2 Plug Fowler istalled On A 95 L But Still Getting the P0420 ?

[Zangado1]

I have a UEL Header and two factory CATs with the fowler installed on the second CAT. The car is ( OBD 1). It had a resonator which I removed and then have the Magnaflow 6" factory polished tip muffler which im super happy with. Now everything has been fine with no Check Engine Light until today. But last inspection I was told by my mechanic that he had to test the emissions twice and it barely passed. I think it's time for two new CATs.

[rkrenicki]

I very occasionally have a P0420 pop up in my car. I clear it, and it stays gone for 6+ months before it comes back.

I would try the same, just clear it and see if it stays off for a period of time. If it comes back frequently, then I would dig into it further.

[Zangado1]

Well since it is such a giant pain in the ass to find someone who has a scanner to read the OBD1 codes I had to drive an hour to get the check Engine light checked. It came out to be a Knock Sensor that lasted for the day and went off at the first start up this morning. I wound up replacing both CATs with high flow Magnaflow's and also changing out the second O2 sensor just to be sure everything was sorted under there since the car has 271.000 on it. Advanced Auto said that both O2 sensors are identical. The exhaust dude said the cats that came off the car didn't seem to be clogged on the visual inspection. But by then they were already sawed off and laying on the floor. Bought a new Knock sensor $45 at AutoZone with a year warranty.

[Zangado1]

Even though my check engine light went off by itself the code was still in the ECU. My exhaust dude cleared it and it has been off since. I have looked everywhere on here with the search tool and have found no links on where to find a cheap OBD1 scanner tool. Sure there are other ways like counting lights flashing but I can't believe Auto Zone or Pep Boys don't have a $30.00 OBD1 scanner. But yea they have shit loads of OBD2 scanners all over the internet. This is a bummer that having an older pre 1996 car everybody wants $50.00 to scan your code when you could buy a scanner once for that price. Anybody have a link to buy a OBD1 scanner?

[rkrenicki]

The only OBD-I Legacies are the first gen (1990-1994). All Legacies (and Outbacks/Bajas) after that (including 1995) are OBD-II.

The US required cars be made OBD-II by 1996, some manufacturers did it in 1995, and some back in 1994. Subaru choose to use the generation break to do it for the Legacy platform.

Any OBD-II scanner will work properly on your car for code scanning.

[Zangado1]

Thanks for you're reply but I am not having luck with AutoZone scanning my Car with the OBDII scanner. It's coming up "No Codes Found" even though I had a check engine light at the time it was scanned. Had Advanced Auto scan as well while my light was on the same day and their scanning tool had no results as well. Seems like the only readers that give me the P0____ Codes are the high priced Snap On and other Dealer high end scanners. Once they read the code they cancelled it out for me. Reading here on the search feature it seems that the Automatic 1995 Legacy's have the OBDII ECU and the Manual 1995 even with the OBDII port are OBDI ECU's. that is what im reading here as well as guy's saying that they are are mixed bag of OEM options on the 1995's so it's a shot in the dark weather they will be able to pull a code or not..

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The only OBD-I Legacies are the first gen (1990-1994). All Legacies (and Outbacks/Bajas) after that (including 1995) are OBD-II.

The US required cars be made OBD-II by 1996, some manufacturers did it in 1995, and some back in 1994. Subaru choose to use the generation break to do it for the Legacy platform.

Any OBD-II scanner will work properly on your car for code scanning.

[rkrenicki]

Take a look under your hood. You will see this sticker:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/03/EmissionsSticker-1.jpg

It will state what sort of OBD compliance it has.

[Zangado1]

Take a look under your hood. You will see this sticker:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/03/EmissionsSticker-1.jpg

It will state what sort of OBD compliance it has.

I wish I still had the original hood. I have a 98 black LGT hood on the car now. There is a vin tag in the drivers side door jam or is that not the same?

[rkrenicki]

Unfortunately no. The only location for EPA Compliance statements were on the hood stickers.

Basically, the service manual says that all 1995 Legacies are OBD-II compliant. I do see that there is a lot of conflicting information on the internet about this subject, but the service manual is quite clear.

Luckily.. I know someone with a 1995 Legacy w/5MT. I will look at his car when I get a chance with my scanner.

[rkrenicki]

Actually.. wait. The shop tells you that you are getting a "P0420"? That is an OBD-II error code. OBD-I codes are two digits, anything that begins with a Letter is OBD-II no matter what.

[Zangado1]

Actually.. wait. The shop tells you that you are getting a "P0420"? That is an OBD-II error code. OBD-I codes are two digits, anything that begins with a Letter is OBD-II no matter what.

I do have the original owners manual since my family bought it new in 95. And yes when the knock sensor code came through the scanner yesterday it was a P0____ code not a two digit code like the OBDI code which would have been a "22" for a knock sensor. But now it seems that not every hand held scanner tool will work for my car. A friend of mine has a scanner for OBD II and it wont even recognize it being plugged in my car. That is why I drove an hour the other day knowing that I could get the code read.

[Wiscon_Mark]

My '95 Legacy was a manual and was one of the earliest built at SIA and it was OBD-II. Don't think there were any '95s that were OBD-I.

[Zangado1]

Why am I having an issue with finding a scanner that will read my ECU codes then? These mainstream parts stores can't do it for me. I want to buy a scanner tool for a decent price but want to make sure it is compatible with my vehicle before I drop $100

[Wiscon_Mark]

Is it possible that there's an intermittent bad connection with your OBDII port that could cause a scanner to not read anything when the port is jostled when it's plugged in? I would check out the back of that port and see if there's any loose wires.

I never had any issues getting scanners to read codes on my '95, regardless of make.

[Zangado1]

Thanks for you're reply. I know that it is being connected correctly when the tech's are inserting the cable and it's a firm acceptance the plug. It just seems weird that certain scanners work and then some don't. I hate driving an hour to save $80.00 to check a code but knowing that I will take the ride. What RKRENICKI said earlier makes sense though. He said if when the scanner is working pulling my cars code gives me a "P0 Code" and not a two digit code makes me think that it is OBDII compliant and not OBDI. I have been searching for a cheaper scanner tool so if it doesn't work I will just return to sender since they are offering a 30 day money back guarantee. But if it says it will work for Subaru specifically it may be worth a shot like this one http://www.ebay.com/itm/OBD-JOBD-OM500-Diagnostic-Scan-Tool-Code-Reader-Scanner-for-HONDA-SUBARU-etc-/131481840010?hash=item1e9ceda98a:g:83cAAOxySoJTUd98&item=131481840010&vxp=mtr
Is it possible that there's an intermittent bad connection with your OBDII port that could cause a scanner to not read anything when the port is jostled when it's plugged in? I would check out the back of that port and see if there's any loose wires.

I never had any issues getting scanners to read codes on my '95, regardless of make.

[Wiscon_Mark]

That's not what I meant. Check the wiring behind the OBDII port to make sure that it's connected to the harness properly. Inspect the port itself too. I'm sure it's being plugged into correctly as it really can only connect one way, but if something is amiss with the wiring in the car, it's possible that the jarring nature of plugging it in is causing the connection to be intermittent.

[Dead91silvia]

Unfortunately no. The only location for EPA Compliance statements were on the hood stickers.

Basically, the service manual says that all 1995 Legacies are OBD-II compliant. I do see that there is a lot of conflicting information on the internet about this subject, but the service manual is quite clear.

Luckily.. I know someone with a 1995 Legacy w/5MT. I will look at his car when I get a chance with my scanner.

haha... the age old OBDI OBDII topic... My 96 (Postal) is tested as an OBDI and had not port for the OBDII. Also had a 95 that was the same. Most of them were OBDII, but not all. ;)

[Dead91silvia]

Oh, I have also had a P0420 code on my 98 GT for 7 years. Comes on and goes off. It stayed off for about 8 months one time after I cleaned up the EGR system, but it always comes back at some point.

[Zangado1]

That's not what I meant. Check the wiring behind the OBDII port to make sure that it's connected to the harness properly. Inspect the port itself too. I'm sure it's being plugged into correctly as it really can only connect one way, but if something is amiss with the wiring in the car, it's possible that the jarring nature of plugging it in is causing the connection to be intermittent.
Ok. Thanks I will look behind the plug itself and see if there are any issues.

[Wiscon_Mark]

haha... the age old OBDI OBDII topic... My 96 (Postal) is tested as an OBDI and had not port for the OBDII. Also had a 95 that was the same. Most of them were OBDII, but not all. ;)

The Postal wagons were also RHD and were not sold to consumers. Not really the same vehicle for the intents of emissions and regulations.

[Dead91silvia]

The Postal wagons were also RHD and were not sold to consumers. Not really the same vehicle for the intents of emissions and regulations.

Incorrect, they were still built in Indiana with the same specs as a normal L, as they also had to follow Federal EPA and DOT standards as new vehicles. You could buy one if you wanted one as a normal consumer, but the only people that wanted that were those that would get use. Same reason we have RHD Jeeps, Saturns and other RHD vehicles here.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Interesting, I did not know they were available for sale to the public. I always figured they were built with the rest of the RHD Legacys at the plant in Japan.