Hello, looking for advice. I want to buy a code scanner. I see some $50products out there and some really expensive products.

I also see some laptop based scanners.

So laptop or handheld and can someone recommend a decent product that works with both obd1 and 2?

Thanks for any recommendations.

 

For OBD II I got an inexpensive code reader from Amazon. It was around $25 and has worked on a bunch of cars. Easy enough to fix your DD with one in my experience.

For OBD I and the 'vette I got laptop based tuning hardware/software. I used the Moates.net equipment. I went this route so I could make changes to the tune. If you just want to read codes, the old paperclip code read out trick works fine and costs nothing.

 

What exactly did you get from Moates?

 

I got the Burn2 ($80), it will erase and program chips. And the G1 memory adapter ($35), that will allow a programmable chip to be used. Get two 27SF512 chips, one for a back up.

I also got the ALDU1 and CABL1 XtremeALDL and NewCABL1 Combo ($80), so I could data log. I use TunerPro RT (free or register), for adjusting the program and data logging.

If you have the funds the Ostrich would be nice, so you aren't removing the chip each adjustment to write to it.

The miniram combo I am using now needed a LOT of help.

 

Can someone point me to a write-up on getting into tuning via a laptop? I have a couple laptops and just got a 93 LT1. I would like to play with it- my last Vette was a C3 without a computer. My Jeeps don't need a tune, LOL, they just need to run well at 1100 RPM or less.

 

Are all C4 vettes are OBDI?

 

The C4 scan and tune section has a sticky topic FAQ that will help.

OBD I early and OBD II late.

Tuning can be easy or difficult depending on what you want to do.

 

Definitely look through/search the scan & tune section for more info---getting one that works for both may be tricky. I tried one of the newer Autoxray products and had to return it (it didn't function right and couldn't download updates)---others like their earlier products though. Some of the products that claim to support both OBDI and OBDII have very limited functionality for OBDII so read the fine print.

No. The early Vettes (like the OP's & my '87) are OBDI, the later years OBDII, and there is a transition year that is OBDI but uses the later OBDII style connector!!!! Sorry, I don't have the dates handy but believe they are in the sticky mentioned above.

I ended up with the Moates adaptor and Datamaster---go to their respective web sites & it's fairly easy to figure out what to order. I don't know if Datamaster can be used for OBDII, but will check that out---my son's car just threw a code and I had no way to scan it, d'oh!

 

thanks for the tips, i will hit the scan and tune section... Aardwolf, looks like you've got Road America in your avatar. Love the place... I think I will have my ol lady dump my ashes in the corvette coral.. i will be there for the amls race in a couple of weeks...

 

Dump the ashes, yes me too AND my car!

 

I have both the AutoXray 6000 and the Datamaster program for my laptop. For my 89 Corvette Datamaster is by far the better of the 2 , but the AutoXray works good for the Corvette and I can do all the other cars in the family with it.. With the Autoxray you have to scroll through the menu to see all the readings, with the laptop and Datamaster you have all your readings showing at once on the screen , you can also download a program called Tunerpro, this is a free program that you can use to change the perameters on your tune and then use a chip burner to burn a new chip...Hope this helps......WW

 

96 was the first year for OBD-II. The 95 was a transition year - has the OBD-II connection, but is OBD-I compliant.

A scanner will not only read codes, but it can record dynamic data over a period of several seconds as well; especially helpful for problems that are incidental in nature.

I bought an AutoXray scanner after the dealer returned my car after a week of fussing with it and "no problem found" BS. I found the problem (an intermittent issue with an O2 sensor) and fixed it myself.

Since then that scanner has paid for itself many times over - one of the best purchases I've made. However, I intend to move to a laptop & turner program soon. I might not have bought the scanner knowing this in the beginning, but at the time the scanner was only $120 with software, I didn't have a laptop then, and I couldn't pass it up.

fWIW (your mileage may vary!)

P.

 

I have the XiTech X90, which sells for about $24 on Amazon. It does not have all the super functions of the high end units, but will do what I need (read the codes).

For PC based, there are lots of adapters on the market including those for PC based systems using USB, WiFi and Bluetooth connections.

I recently purchased a cheap Chinese made Bluetooth adapter on Ebay (still waiting for it to be delivered) for less than $4 with free delivery. I plan to try it with my Droid X and the Android operating system. You can download Torque Lite software for free from Android Market, and if it works I'll likely upgrade to the $4.75 Torque full version.

NOTE that Torque does not recommend the use of the cheapo adapters, but for $4 I'm willing to give it a short. For more imformation on what Torque recommends take a look at the Torque site: http://torque-bhp.com/wiki/Bluetooth_Adapters.

By the way, the reason I bought the little ELM adapter on Ebay was that it will fit easily in the center console of my '96. I almost always have my Droid X phone with me, and I also have the Motorolla Xoom so that with either I can use the Bluetooth adapter. At worst, if the Chinese unit conks out I'll be able to see if I like the Bluetooth idea, and then I may buy the more expensive unit.

 

Just to add... If you also purchase their software, you can download the AutoXray and see all of your data on one screen, AND "click" on one or many parameters and it will graph the dynamic results and overlay them on the graph. I found this feature to be very helpful in diagnosing problems - you can see graphically what each selected parameter is doing compared to the other selected parameters.

A couple of "fun" situations I ran across (indicated by analysis of the graphs):

Right bank injectors dwell time suddenly going more than double left bank at 3000rpm at WOT, yet right bank O2 indicating zero (dead lean) volts, and black smoke pouring from right pipe (full dual exhaust on the 95 LT1 car). Problem? A bad O2 sensor!

Both BLMs going "lean", starting at 4500 rpm at WOT and trending leaner till 7000 rpm. Taping fuel pressure gauge to the windshield and re-testing confirmed fuel pressure dropping as low as 38# at WOT. Problem? Bad secondary fuel pump.



Next stop? Like you said...Tunerpro!

P.

 

Too bad it is OBDII only