So my bravo is a 1999 1.9 td75, I am interested to see what the ecu is showing. The car has no 16 pin obd 2 under the dash but only two 3-pin connectors on the top left corner under the bonnet



Now my question is, if I get a 3 pin to 16 pin adaptor, an obd2 reader and connect them to my laptop, will it work or would I have wasted £30 ?

As you've found, your car has OBD, but not OBDII. OBDII was from 2000, when the new EU legislation became effective.
Also, as you've found, you need an adaptor cable, here's one I've found, from a company I've used before and can trust, but others are available, quite likely cheaper.
http://www.scantool-direct.co.uk/fi...uscan-kkl-cable-and-3-pin-connector-31-p.html
I have a KKL cable, never managed to make it work, but it seems to suit the older vehicles.

Have a look at MultiECUScan
http://www.multiecuscan.net/SupportedVehiclesList.aspx
Your car appears to be on the list.
Have a good browse of that site, there is a lot of useful stuff on there.

So, it looks like you can achieve what you need, just a bit more complicated than the later OBDII.

I bought a cheap KL/VAGCOM USB adapter and a 3pin adapter, mine didn't recognise anything, i wasted my money, but it's always a chance when you buy something so cheap it could ONLY be made in China.
EDIT: or it could just be the fact that my car is f**ked.

From what I can see, my car only has abs and airbag stuff to show on obd, now as my car does not have abs, does that mean I can only see airbag stuff? no engine temps/timings/etc?

You know the old TD is not really electronically controlled. It is not common rail, just old injectorpump mechanically coupled to the engine.

I use Multiecuscan on my 1996 1.8HLX it reads my ECU, ABS and Airbag (all 3pin sockets). I did make my own 16pin to 3pin cable though because the one I bought was rubbish quality.

well, just an update, after being very tempted to buy another vagcom connector but resisting as i would be majorly peed off by having wasted 20euros on the first one, i did a little more reasearch, and it turns out that i bought an adapter, modified for VW and derivitries.
a quick hunt on the MES website showed me the correct pin wiring, 4 screws later i checked and modified my cable as required, just tried it and it works! As suspected the temperature sensor is dead, showing 260celcuis. i shall order a new one and try and get this infernal injector light out for good!