I'm looking at possibly buying a '95 2.3, and I want to make sure I know what I might be getting in to. First off, as I understand it, OBD2 did not kick in as a Federal requirement until 1996. Thus, the states/counties that do "OBD2 code dump" inspections, only do this for 1996 and later vehicles, correct?

The reason I bring this up is because the 2.3 Ranger got EDIS/EEC-V/OBD2 a year earlier than required, in 1995. Thus, it is completely capable of completing the '96+ OBD2 test. As such, I'm wondering if this is widely known by the governing authorities, and thus '95 Rangers are also required to submit to the tests just like a '96. Anyone know what the real world story is here?

Anytime you're talking legalities, we recommend checking what applies in your local area, since it's not universal between all states or even counties.

Yeah, you are going to have to check with locals. But I doubt they will hook it up. In NJ every time I bring a vehicle, they only hook up the ones that where required to have OBDII. But where I work we do inspections also and the newer cars that have high speed CAN do not work on our computers for inspections so we have to do it old school on the dyno....go figure.

Anytime you're talking legalities, we recommend checking what applies in your local area, since it's not universal between all states or even counties.

Understood and agreed, but given that OBD2 is a Federal regulation, I'm inclined to believe there's pretty consistent enforcement relating to this topic.

Here's a link indicating what vehicles phased in with OBD2 ahead of the 1996 mandate....

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/auterra/CARBPre96OBDIICompliantVehicles.pdf

What's sorta interesting to me is that the '95 Contour also was a new model that year, and it got EEC-IV for just the one year and then switched over to the required OBD2/EEC-V in '96.

Odds are they won't check pre-'96 vehicles, but I'd still do my homework with the local authorities and ask them directly since they will be the ones enforcing it, even if it's federally mandated, as each state (and sometimes county) does it a little differently.

I'm looking at possibly buying a '95 2.3, and I want to make sure I know what I might be getting in to. First off, as I understand it, OBD2 did not kick in as a Federal requirement until 1996. Thus, the states/counties that do "OBD2 code dump" inspections, only do this for 1996 and later vehicles, correct?

The reason I bring this up is because the 2.3 Ranger got EDIS/EEC-V/OBD2 a year earlier than required, in 1995. Thus, it is completely capable of completing the '96+ OBD2 test. As such, I'm wondering if this is widely known by the governing authorities, and thus '95 Rangers are also required to submit to the tests just like a '96. Anyone know what the real world story is here?

Your truck is OBD2. You get OBD2 inspection, period.

Trust me, your emissions tester guy/gal will be able to look under the hood at the emissions label and test your rig properly. Well, the fact that the OBD2 port is under the dash is another giveaway.

Gosh I almost wish my truck was OBD2. Really, no CE light and I pass. I'd miss pulling codes with a paperclip or two, though...

Try pulling codes on a 93-95 F-body. OBD1(.5) with an OBD2 port. Try finding the proper cable to hook to an OBD1 scanner for that bad boy. Paperclips won't cut that mustard.

Trust me, your emissions tester guy/gal will be able to look under the hood at the emissions label and test your rig properly. Well, the fact that the OBD2 port is under the dash is another giveaway.

Whoa, wouldn't he have to OPEN the hood to be able to see this label and/or actually LOOK under the dash for the OBD2 port?:nixweiss:

vin number will tell him what test he needs to do.