For some reason when i plug in my scan tool it says place key to on position but the car is on and i think maybe the connector is bad the scanner is a brand new craftsman which i have scanned other cars with so thats not bad and i checked the cigarette lighter and that works bc i heard most of the time if that fuse goes out it wont work so my question is is there a common problem where the diagnostic port doesnt work if so plz let me know

 

There is a problem chart for this in the FSM. I don't have an 88 FSM, so I can't walk you through it. What you can do is to check to make sure the orange wire in the ALDL is in the right hole. I think it's pin M, but I couldn't swear to it.