hopefully it will come with destructions too

Last I knew, the CP9145 is exactly the same as the CP9150. The 45 does not have the cables needed in your case. This is why they have the 9150.

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Actron CP9150 AutoScanner Diagnostic Code Scanner Kit (Includes CP9145 Base Scanner, OBDI & OBDII Cables with Hard Case)

Thanks, man. I see cables for 9150 but not the whole kit on eBay. Hey, could a very minor exhaust leak up in the engine area flip out the O2 enough to turn on the light? I keep forgetting that when the engine idles I can barely hear a leak. Where I think it is, that cross joint over on the driver side of engine, I can see a donut that seems a little off. I can only hear it; can't feel it leaking when I put my hand there. But, it is very close to the O2 so that'* why I ask,

Mealmonger

Game changer; today I took it on the freeway and everything was fine until it wasn't; first thing I noticed was the speedo varying between 60 and like 50, then it went to zero and stayed there. At that point the engine revved way up, tranny apparently searching for a gear, then found one, I guess either 3rd or 4th. No more rev, tach stable. But the speedo never moved again from zero. It didn't stall. Now when I take off from a stop, it'* a real pig, and I no longer feel a firm 1-2 upshift. Tach seems to like 2K now, doesn't waver much as I drive slow. Also sometimes it won't start in neutral; othertimes it will.

I figure this is valuable info; afterall, it'* called a PCM, for powertrain control module. Is there a solenoid that can cause this? Hopefully, because solenoids are electrical, and could flip the CEL on. Maybe I should hold off on the CP9145...help guys, thanks,

Malt-O-Meal

Check to make sure you have a ground wire on the back side of the engine. Should be near the vicinity of the oil pressure sensor.

I think your PCM got lost once it no longer seen a VSS and weird RPM and bad tach could all be cause by that ground on the engine.

That ground strap is there; saw it yesterday. Thought about replacing the bolt with a stud so that I can run a redundant ground wire there.

Tomorrow I will check the fuse that feeds the TCC solenoid, then if that is good I will check continuity on all the circuits between the PCM and the connector at the TCC. Then if that'* all good I will wait for my Mitchell book to test the TCC. Really hope that'* the culprit,

MealTime

like mike said the vss signal to the pcm is bad somehow and the cant control the trans whithout knowing what the speed is

Thanks, guys. I'll start with the VSS. That looks easy to check. To clarify, the tach may be working; around town, I think it was in 2nd gear the whole time which explains the sluggish starts from stop and also the tach at 2K.

I also took apart that exhaust cross piece and found two donut gaskets at the joint closest to the firewall. I repositioned but could not re-install, so took out 1 of the donuts and then it went back together and doesn't seem to leak anymore. I don't believe there should be 2 donuts there. Man; driving it at night that'* the sweetest instrument cluster lighting I've seen. Very sweet.

NewMeal

the trans defaults to third with no lockup when the vss is lost, and its not good to drive it that way unless you have to.

the bonnie will spoil you, i bought our 98 in 02 for the wife to drive mostly, but with the few things that have been wrong with it and the perfect comprise of sport and comfort, you wont want to get rid of it. been trying to get my wife to look at other cars and stuff and they just dont make anything that is a trade up, you would lose something no matter what newer car you buy. now its got 200k and i just keep fixing everything, not sure how long that will keep working out but for the time being the wife is happy

I guess it makes sense that it went to 3rd and stayed there, because when the thing first revved way up cruising at 60 it then stabilized and sounded ok, which seems more like 3rd than 2nd. Wow; so I was coming to a stop in 3rd and then trying to get moving again in 3rd! No wonder it was a pig. A common problem on the late 80s Cavaliers was a bad TCC solenoid, and when those went they would stay stuck in lockup, so at stop signs it would stall every time and you were stuck. I guess those used a VSS too but the solenoid was usually the problem. I think those had the TH200 trans.

MealMealPizzaPizza