Can anyone tell me what type of OBD code reader would read my 99 WRX GC8 with an AE801 ECU?

Better yet does anyone have a reader I can borrow? My mate tried his cheap OBD 2 reader and it wont connect the the ECU but will connect to his 2010 FG Falcon.
I am going to try another ECU its an AE802 and see if that will work.

Back ground issue is we are having trouble starting the car. it has fuel and spark but will not fire. So we want to read some codes and see if there's a sensor that had the chop.

Search Ebay for a VAG cable (Volkwagen Audi Group)
and search Google for ECUExplorer

When you install ECUExplorer, enable SSM on the com port you select

BOOM! You can now read codes, clear codes, and real time monitor virtually everything.

Nice idea , appreciate the suggestion but I don't have a laptop, I assume I need one?

Yep, I wrote my reply when I was in a rush, sorry, my bad.

Yes, you need a laptop with a USB port. Cheap-cheap these days.

Because the port in the 99/00 uses SSM and not OBDII, I don't think you'll get any sort of hand held device to read the codes.

The VAG cable was $30 from memory, ECUExplorer software is free, a laptop maybe for $100-$200 from Gumtree, or ask a mate and offer beer?

Thanks Matt, Will give it a burl and see how it goes.

I've tried the vag cable it didn't work for me, i did a lot of research and getting something working for my MY99 GC8 is pretty hard, unless you upgrade your ECU.

However after a lot of research I found an OBDkey works in SSM mode. I've got one and it works with torque but only shows real time information not fault codes, but that's a software (torque) thing not a hardware limit. I haven't tried SSM yet but I'm planning on doing a full write up in the near future now that my android stereo is installed.

OBDKey :: OBD Bluetooth

I posted a reply yesterday but I had a link in it so I hasn't appeared yet. I tried the cheap ones the elm chips don't work there's like 3 chips and only one might work and probably not with torque.

OBDkey works once put into SSM mode, works with torque real time information not the fault codes (not catered for in software). I haven't tried FreeSSM yet for the diagnostics side but will in a bit and then I'll do a more in depth how to shortly.

Wonder if this would work on a 04 wrx. Does anyone know

Should do, you should email OBDkey and ask. It should work on SSMII until CAN bus starts taking over.

With the Vagcom cable with FTDI chip you can read perfectly with ECUexplorer, FreeSSM & EVO Scan v2.9