My backup car has recently developed a hell of a problem. It's an 83 buick lesabre with a carbed 305. It started a week ago when I found a vacuum hose split. I replaced it, but the car was still running bad. I took it to a shop where they found my cat was melting and had destroyed my muffler as well. I've got an SES light, and I'd like to be able to read what the problem is. I've got a laptop and ALDL cable, but I'm not sure what the ECM is. I know that WINALDL didn't work when I tried to scan, but i might have just had a setting wrong. Is there any software available for this ECM? The O2 sensor is also powder coated black, and the spark plugs are also just as nasty. It runs like it has no power, even when floored, and spits out black smoke when driving.

 

as far as doing a scan on it i can't help you. you need to get the numbers off the ECM to find out which one you have & someone else may be able to help you out.
you can pull codes by jumpering A to B in the ALDL connector which would be a start.
i would recommend that you don't drive it with it running like it is or you will probably melt down the new cat pretty soon.