I have 1999 SL with a manual transmission and have never used a OBD scanner. I'm, also, on a fixed income. Does anyone have a recommendation for a scanner?

 

Amazon has a lot of options for cheap. The more expensive ones have more informative error messages, but you can search the codes on the internet, so that's minor.

 

MOTOPOWER MP69033 Car OBD2 is what i use for my 1997 Saturn Sl1 it helped diagnose a failing O2 sensor. costs a whole $20 dollars and like you said just look up the codes or read the accompanying book.

Hope this helps!
Edit: I forgot to mention I got this on amazon

 

Thanks tweakweak - That was what I was looking for. Someone who actually used a specific reader on their SL and recommended it.

 

You're very welcome! I hope it helps you figure out the trouble codes!

 

Not sure that this site will help anyone with codes, but here's a link Engine Light Codes.

 

Code readers do not display live data. You want that.

 

The code reader i referenced does have live data.

 

If it reads live data it's a scan tool. That one you show is properly called a scan tool. A scanner is always scanning which is bringing you new data as it scans, A code reader does NOT scan, It grabs the code data and displays it.

 

Sorry, my terminology was off. It happens to be a scan tool. I bought it for the primary function of being a code reader. So my nickname for it is mortalpower because I always misread the motopower logo or i call it a code reader because I'm the only one on my property with one and this is the first time i've ever been corrected.