I have a 96 LT4, so I want to be able to easily read OBD II codes and check sensors. The Auto Xray seems to be a popular tool. They have an OBD II Scanner for $290 or the EZ-Link Diagnostic Scanner Kit for $390. I want to be able to use it on my 89 Firebird which is OBD I. So I'm assuming that the Kit is what I will need.
Do you experienced folks have any suggestions? I don't own a laptop.
:)

 

ttt
Any thoughts?
:)

 

Without having a laptop I am of no help :lol:
but if you bought a Laptop there are quite a few different packages. I use the Ease software but for OBD1 and OBD2 you will need to buy 2 seperate software packages.. it also requires a Laptop

 

I vote for the Tech1. I have one and I'm able to do OBD1and OBD2. It works great. It can access all functions, engine management, body functions, ABS,SRS. Pricey but worth it.

 

What price range are we talking about?

 

Well I bought mine a couple of years ago and it cost me A cool $1800.00 with all the GM software. I told it's pricey!! :crazy:

 

For OBD2 vehicles, the best bet (pricewise) is to visit http://www.obd-2.com .
They have a reasonbly priced package that'll scan/datalog most vehicle makes.

You'll probably have to get a separate package for OBD1.

All my stuff is OBD2... I'm a glutton and have EFILive V5 Pro (on the fly temporary reprogramming is 'da bomb'... but is currently skimpy on LT1 specific parameters....hopefully that'll change), AutoTap v2.02, and LT1 Edit. I'll be adding the multi-vehicle package from http://www.obd-2.com within a week. It does have LT1 specific PID monitoring and should work well.

As a side note.. for those with LS1 engines EFILive v5 Pro would be excellent (that's its target audience). For LT1 owners, some of the features will still work (like on the fly fuel/spark adjustments) but can act/read a little weird. I'm told that they may add more LT1 functionality in the future. The software just doesn't read some of the LT1 parameters quite correctly (yet).





[Modified by Dan Parker '96, 4:12 PM 7/28/2002]

 

This is the tool I bought from my Mac tool guy. I think it is about $650 now. Comes with all the cables for just about any domestic obd1 car and of coarse the global obd2 cable. It will record data and play it back or print it. Has code lookups. Resets codes. I have used it a bunch and am happy with it. The only thing I have found that I don't like about it is that it won't show spark retard on my '86. It does show the knock sensor counts tho. I sent an e-mail to the tech people and complained about that omission but havn't heard back. I suggested that they include that info on the next software update. I think you should decide how much you can possibly spend, then double that, and get whatever scan tool falls into that price. The more money you spend the more things you can do. I would love an OTC mindreader but decided can't afford it. Good luck.

http://www.actron.com/cgi-bin/web_st...=1194458_16432

 

ttt
Thanks for all the responses. I'll have to think this one through and decide exactly what I want the tool to do and how much $$ I want to part with.
:)

 

I'll vote for the Snap On MT2500 Series with the proper moduals for OBD1 and 2.There are mechanics (and shops) going out of business all the time.Try the classifieds first(Divorced wives who really don't know what the ex old man's tools are really worth).Then try the local "hock" shops(Really!!!).Then Ebay.Snap On will be there to repair them and provide moduals and manuals for as long as you own it and resale will always be high because it's a "Snap-On"!!! :yesnod:
As far as "re-programing", I currently rely on Ed Wright. :yesnod:

 

I agree that the mt2500 is a very good scan tool. The only problem I have with it is all the modules and stuff. I was just looking through my Snapon salesman's truck and he had a used one that he wanted $1200. He said it needed a bunch of updating tho, he wouldn't say how much it would cost once he got it all updated.

 

My dad is a snap-on dealer. To get the ODBII modules and cables is just under $600.

 

lead-foot,

Check out the following scan tool sites:
1) Ease Diagnostics at http://www.obd2.com or http://www.easesim.com
2) Diacom at http://www.rinda.com
3) Autotap at http://www.autotap.com
4) Do-it-yourselfer EFI page at http://www.diy-efi.org
5) AutoXray XP-240 at http://www.autoxray.com
6) AKM page at http://www.mindspring.com/~amattei/dss.htm

The two systems OBD1 and OBD2 are not compatible. Any tool you buy would either be OBD version specific, or it would have seperate modules for each version. Most tools will work with the majority of OBD1/2 specific vehicles from a given manufacturer. I.E. if you buy a GM OBD2 scan tool, you can use it on OBD2 Buicks, GMC trucks, Saturns, etc. For the 89 Firebird you need a GM OBD1 scan tool (or OBD1 module depending on the tool).

If you don't have a laptop, something like the AutoXray (#5) above will probably provide the best solution for you. On the other hand, you could consider buying a decent used laptop and using Craig Moates software. His software is/was free and Craig is a Forum member. I've seen fairly nice IBM P-133 Thinkpads going for $250 used. That is a good enough laptop to run just about any scan tool software package including Ease scan tools.

The older versions of Diacom easily run in DOS on the older slower laptops. The combo can sometimes be had for a song on eBay used.

If you decide that you are interested in a GM OBD2 Ease Scan Tool, email me directly and I will be glad to send you a complete review including screen captures of the Ease Scan Tool in use on my OBD1 88 coupe. I also have the GM OBD2 version for use on friend's C5s so I can answer question about it too. (Just haven't taken the time to do a review on the OBD2 version since the user interface is essentially the same.) As a rep for Ease, I will get any CF member a rebate of 10% on everything ordered through me. Ease takes credit card orders and offers a com 30 day no questions asked money back gaurantee .

Good Luck,

Mike
mike_88z51@yahoo

 

Just a point of interest Mike_88Z51. My Mac scan tool does not use any cartridges. And it works for GM, Ford, Chrysler OBD1 systems from approx. '83 on. And all Global and enhanced OBDII systems. I don't want to argue about what is the better tool. I'm just trying to make sure people don't think this tool needs a bunch of cartridges like the Snap-On and some others need. And you don't need two different tools for OBDI and OBDII.

 

You Lucky Dog!!!

 

ttt
Thanks again everyone for your responses and please excuse my ignorance since I've never used a scan tool or scanning software.

My goal is to keep the cost down to $400 -$500. I basically just want to be able to read and reset error codes and do some intelligent diagnosis when I have a problem. I'd like to be able to collect data for some short period of time in real time too. I'm not looking to be able to reprogram or do anything fancy. I'll let experts do that when I've made all of the modifications on my list. Considering the length of the list and the $$ it will take it will be a few years before I need a full reprogram.

As usual the CF has overwhelmed me with information.
:crazy: But I appreciate it.

If there happens to be anyone in the Phoenix area that has any of these tools and would be willing to give me a demonstration I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks again.
:)

 

Bob86ZZ4,

Thanks for the feedback. No argument here, I looked at the web page you posted and did not see on the main page or on the features page anything explicitly stating that it didn't use included modules. I apologize if my comments were misleading to anyone, but my experience with my mechanic's Snap-On and some other similar tools lead me to believe most if not all require seperate modules to be plugged in. Your experience seems to be the same as mine with with the Snap-On. I don't have experience with every scan tool out and there are new tools comiing out all the time so I should not have said every too available required modules. Obviously the Mac has everything built in which is a big plus.

Since the OBD1 and OBD2 standards are different, although the Mac tool works with either system without cartridges it is doing something diferent "under the covers" for the different OBD versions and different mnanufacturers. Ease actually offered a similar "all in one" software package, but in reality all it did was launch the seperate OBD2 or OBD1 software packages based upon the vehicle being scanned under the cover of a software wrapper. The Mac probably has some programmed in intelligence to handle this. Another plus for the Mac.

For about $770 (latest check of the Mac page) with the capability to scan OBD1 & OBD2 GM, Ford, Chrysler vehicles, your Mac tool is a bargain. For the DIYer or general mechanic it probably is one of the best choices available if not the best. Unless you can steal a Tech-2 from somene. Similar capability with an Ease tool for each OBD/manufacturer type would require the Full Pro Version which is a considerably more money. Unless I was a Pro Mechanic with an established clientele needing ECM/PCM tuning I'd probably choose your Mac tool over any of the other tools I've seen so far including Ease.

The thing I like best about the Ease tool is that it will chart several different parameters against each other in real time or playback and that I can save several different scans of my own or run the scans of other Ease users in playback mode. I can pull up an old scan and rerun it after making changes years later. All on my laptop with full 1024x768 screen display. Of course using the printed output of the Mac you can probably do something similar.

Since I have to pay for my tools from Ease (no freebies for part timers), for a single vehicle type or OBD version where you're doing mods or ECM/PCM tuning I like the capabilities of the Ease tool at $315 OBD1 or $350 OBD2 best. For multiple vehicle types where replaying other scans is not a concern I'd have to say that at $770 the Mac appears to be a better value.

Mike :seeya

 

Thanks Mike!

 

ttt
More questions guys. Remember I'm new at this so I don't know what I should expect from a tool or a software package.
Can you use the Mac tool on a real time run to show the A/F ratio and those types of things that you need to know to properly tune the engine?
:)

 

My Mac tool will show real time data. It shows what the o2 sensor is showing. It also shows the knock sensor counts. The only thing it doesn't show on my '86 is the spark advance/retard that the computer is doing. I have sent an e-mail to their tech people suggesting they add that capability to the next software update, havn't heard back. It also stores all the data while driving when you push the record button so you can play it back or print it out later. It stores different lengths of time depending on the car because the newer computers have much more data to record.