1995 and older models use each manufacturer's proprietary computer systems and language. You need a scanner or fault code reader designed to speak each language. In the case of the dealer's equipment, their scanners usually only work on their vehicles. For your truck, you need a Chrysler DRB2, (diagnostic readout box, version 2). Version one, if you can even find one, only displayed the fault code numbers on a two-digit readout. You can do the same thing yourself without that box.
The first scanner I bought for myself was a "Monitor 4000". It was made by OTC by the same company that made the DRB2s for Chrysler. Both models require a plug-in cartridge that covers the vehicle it's being used on. At first there were many different cartridges for the DRB2, so if you find a scanner on eBay, be sure to find a cartridge for your truck. More on that in a moment. The Monitor 4000 came with a cartridge that covered Chrysler, GM, and Ford, all in one. Every year there was an updated cartridge available. The important consideration here is both scanners only work on OBD1, (On-board diagnostics emissions system, version 1), vehicles and can't be updated to work on newer vehicles.
For Chrysler vehicles, 1992 is right about the time they began using a second diagnostic connector for Transmission, Body, Air Bag, and ABS Computers. That's a small, 6-pin blue rectangular connector, typically found under the dash, just to the right side of the transmission hump, or behind the fuse box cover left of the steering column on minivans. Accessing those computers requires a different scanner cable. The connector for the Engine Computer uses a larger, black, square, 6-pin plug with a corner missing. It is always under the hood, near the left strut tower or hood hinge.
At first there was a separate cartridge for every model, including Mitsubishi models made for Chrysler. Instead of trying to find all of those, in the later years they combined all the models into one cartridge. The labels on those were the same color as the color of the service manual covers for that year. For example, I have a 1993 Dynasty. The service manuals for that year were dark blue. For 1994 models, the color was yellow. That's the cartridge that's most desirable. Light green was used for 1995 models, but there is no cartridge with that color label. That's because there were no changes made, so 1994 cartridges work on 1995 models.
Beginning with all 1996 models, every brand and model sold in the U.S. Used the newer, standardized, OBD2 emissions system that included three-digit, more specific fault codes. You can still read those codes yourself without a scanner or code reader.
For all of those years, cycle the ignition switch from "off" to "run" three times within five seconds, without cranking the engine. Leave it in "run", then, for '95 and older models, count the flashes of the Check Engine light. You'll see a group of flashes for the first digit, a short pause, then a group of flashes for the second digit. After a longer pause, the next code will flash the same way. The last code will be code 55, meaning it's done sending data. Often the first code will be code 12. Ignore that one. It basically means the ignition switch had been turned off.
For '96 and newer Chrysler models, cycle the ignition switch the same way, but instead of counting flashes, read the code numbers in the odometer display.
A better alternative to Chrysler's DRB2 is their DRB3. Depending on the year it was manufactured, they will work on '96 and newer or '98 and newer models. These can be used directly on the vehicles they were intended for without any plug-in cartridge, however, there are a number of "Supercards" available that can be plugged in at the bottom that allow these scanners to work on all older Chrysler models back to 1983. I have one of these scanners for most of my vehicles. One Supercartridge1 with a white label lets this scanner work on all 1983 through 1993 Chrysler models. A Supercartridge2 with a yellow label lets it work on 1994 through 1997 Chrysler models, and it provides functionality to use it as an oscilloscope and for pressure readings. There is a separate kit for that with all the transducers and probes. I have that kit but have never used it. It was mostly intended for use with the A604 automatic transmissions.
The DRB3 was the only dealer-level scanner that, with the Supercard2, could also access emissions-related data on all car brands sold in the U.S. For that reason, they were a popular choice for independent repair shops. For some time now they have been obsolete, so those shops have been selling them. They typically sell for around $2000.00 on eBay, but be sure to also find the cartridges you need for the vehicles you want to work on.
The first vehicles the DRB3 went obsolete on were the 2004 Dakota / Durango. They were still used on some 2008 Jeep models. Between those years, various other models gradually switched over to the newer CAN BUSS emissions system. For those newer years, I have a Snapon Solus Edge and an Autel model. Annual updates for Snapon scanners are very expensive, so a lot of shops let them get out-of-date by four or five years, then it's less expensive to just buy a brand new one. For that reason, you can find a lot of these on eBay at good prices. They do not have to be updated as long as they are updated far enough to work on your vehicles. I bought mine in 2018, updated through 2018 models, and haven't done anything to it since. My friend has the same model in his shop. He spends around $1000.00 each year to update it, plus he has to pay extra for a subscription to access 2019 and newer models. I'll never buy a vehicle newer than a 2018 for that reason.
For my last comment of value, be aware there are a couple of things that can only be accessed with dealer's scanners. The one that always comes to mind is Anti-lock brake Computers on one or two years for the Dakota. As I recall, that included the 1994 model, or possibly a little older. I was told there were so few made that it didn't pay for the scanner builders to try to reverse-engineer the software and include it in their cartridges. In general, dealer's scanners can do everything that can be done or read on their models, but only on their models. Aftermarket scanners typically have a few things they can't do, but they cover many more manufacturers in one tool.
Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 AT 6:42 PM
