I just picked up a used otc 2000 to do my own diagnostics. I have read over the manuals, checked the unit for basic function, and plan on cleaning off the snow tonight and playing with the new toy tomorrow. My manual goes thru 90, and my vette is a 92 lt1, so I am not sure of the code I need to put in for that engine when the system asks for the vin code. Does anybody know what it should be? The lt1 is a vin P according to the GM manuals, but I don't know if that corresponds to the otc code. Thanks for your help!

 

Does it have a "Generic" function? if so you should beable to read the code and also get some datastream.

 

hope your otc 2000 has the update (90-?)module and hook up connectors. if its like mine with the 81-89 cart. all you will get is "no data" (has to do with the bod rate.) thats all I get on my 91. cliffsurfs

 

need to find pathfinder 92 or pathfinder 93 cartridge, etc,
if not available I try different engine letters or numbers till the data makes since, works about 70 % of the time if only few years away from scanner cartridge year

 

I think the problem you are having with the pre 90 cart. is that you are into a totally different ignition system, so you get a no data message. I originally tried mine with a cart that was good up to 91 and it worked ok except that the manuals with the otc didn't go to my 92. What I learned thru buying later year manuals for the otc, and as reinforced by posts here on the forum, I could use an earlier year cartride for the basic information and data stream if I knew the correct engine code. The code otc uses is matched to the engine code used by gm (as far as I know the applies up to the obd2 series, which provide the user with a lot more information) which can be found in your helms or gm manual. For instance my 91 cartridge only went to like M on the vin code entry, and my 92 lt1 is a P code. By pressing the down arrow on the unit the menu would scroll to a p, and when entered, would ask me if it was a truck or corvette. From that point on the data worked fine. Since then I have picked up some later carts. and have been able to verify the data was accurate. I picked them up pretty cheap since I wasn't in any hurry and waited until I got it dirt cheap. Now I am trying to find an early model brake cartridge so I can diagnose the ABS and FX3 systems. By the way, if you go beyond about 95 (I think) with your cart. they don't work anymore, the otc 2000 croaks with the newer, obd2 systems. I think you would need a 4000 or higher system to read these.