Can anyone recommend a good ALDL Scanner for 86 VERT? I need one but am not sure what model or brand might work best.

 

Do you have a laptop? I'd recommend Tunerpro (Free) and a usb ALDL cable ($60). Much more powerful than a handheld unit, and much easier to review your logs after the fact.

http://tunerpro.markmansur.com/
http://aldlcables.com/

 

Another choice for reading the aldl datastream is winaldl. You will still need a aldl cable but this will also allow you to read codes, etc and datalog the info using a laptop computer too. It helped me a lot a couple years ago when troubleshooting some issues. There is also info on this site about constructing your own aldl cable if your handy w/a soldering iron. FWIW.

http://winaldl.joby.se/

Good Luck!

 

I agree with both recommendations as a good place to start.

BTW, great service at aldlcables.com. I ordered my cable from them Friday afternoon and I received it in the mail on Monday!


Gary

 

Wow, thats so awesome, thanks for all the info. I'm going to order an ALDL cable tomorrow and I just downloaded the software.

 

If your handy, the cable can be made for less than $5

 

Already ordered one from ALDLCables. I'd make my own but i'm not that good with wiring stuff.

 

I had made up this cable a couple years ago to troubleshoot an issue w/my 84. Interesting this week I needed it again because the check engine light came on. This time vs the basic cable, I modified it by adding a dip switch to select the different resistance values needed to put the ECM into the different modes. I also added a cig lighter plug to pickup the 12 volts vs just a wire before. Only thing missing is the proper mating aldl connector. However by simply inserting the three pins into the appropriate connector points, it works just the same. I also added a connector this time so I could leave the three pins inserted into the aldl connector and still be able to easily remove the rest of the cable.

And the best part was that I already had all the parts needed to assemble it all "in stock".



If I can assist anyone in making their own cable, let me know.

 

Yep, Listen to the above posts you will be sooo glad when you read all the great info you get off the scanner, One of the best tools in the tool box!

-Tom

 

, that's what I'm using. Takes a little getting use to, but works great.

 

hi there guys,
i noticed on the tuner pros site there are two programs!
there is the tuner pro - free, and there is the tuner pro RT- $ 30.00 u.s dollars.
whats the difference between the two as far as what you can see and do please?
is it worth while paying the $30.00 and getting the rt version?
thanks
cheers
glen

 

I have no first hand knowledge with this program (yet) but clipped directly from their website was this:

• TunerPro Features

* Full bin editing capability raw or via definition referencing
* Full bin definition editing capability including reordering and item comments
* Supports publically available ECU files
* 2D Graphing with multi-point dragging
* 3D Graphing with multi-point dragging, surface plot, colored height map, rotation, translation, and zoom.
* Function graphing (Ford-style)
* Table manipulation functions for scaling rows, columns, and entire tables
* 3D table smoothing functionality with user-defined alpha
* Compare the current bin to up to 4 other bins at once
* Includes a bin stacking tool for compiling multiple bins into one image for switches
* Docking windows
* Bin Change Logging - changes can be auto-saved to a log file for easy tracking
* Search for items by title keyword, address, or size
* Rapidly list the differences between two bin files
* View bins graphically for finding patterns and tables
* Export bin data/contents to a plain text file for easy viewing and/or printing
* Table range selection and editing ability - pull fuel/spark out of regions with minimal effort
* Ability to Copy/Paste tables to/from Excel for extensive editing
* Full-featured raw hex/octal/binary/dec editor
* Easily check for the latest available version with one click via the Internet
* Much more!

• TunerPro RT Features

TunerPro RT includes all of the features of the free version of TunerPro, plus:

* Emulation functionality - Fully supports Craig Moates's AutoProm and Ostrich as well as XTronics Romulator, Speedtronics Prominator, and Bob Bailey's MAF Translator Pro.
* In-editor support for burning and reading PROMs with Craig Moates's Flash & Burn and AutoProm.
* Simultaneously emulate and data log using AutoProm or serial->USB converter
* ALDL Data monitoring and logging - record to file for later playback
* ALDL Dashboard and data graphing for easy viewing of ALDL data in-car
* View/Log 3 additional channels of A/D (WBO2, etc) using the AutoProm
* ALDL Dashboard for easy in-car viewing of critical real-time engine data
* Easily view engine parameters and state information via easy to use tabs
* View parameter history in 4 simultaneous side scrolling charts

 

Get the better version...for a little more you cannot go wrong.

Never know if that extra stuff it can do can come in very handy sometime.

 

Thank you all for the great information and feedback. You guys are great!

 

great thread!