Recommended Diagnostic System
Drifting
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento, CA Money can't buy happiness - but it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than a Yugo.
Re: Recommended Diagnostic System (radhunter)
For your 1988 OBD1 vette you have a couple of good choices. Check out the following sites:
1) Ease Simulations at http://www.obd2.com or http://www.easesim.com
2) Diacom at http://www.rinda.com/
3) Do-it-yourselfer EFI page at http://www.diy-efi.org/
4) Craig Moates Software at http://members.tripod.com/moatesenheimer/gmecm/
5) Cables for Craigs software available at AKM Page http://www.mindspring.com/~amattei/dss.htm
Unfortunately there is no side by side comparison of the different tools that I know of. I use the laptop version of Ease Simulations Personal GM Scan tool for OBD1 on my 88 coupe. After purchasing my tool I liked it so much that I became a part time sales rep for Ease.
When I was looking to buy a scan tool I wanted a Windows based version (upgradeable) for my own use and the Ease tool was the best by far at the time. For OBD1 it is still the best in my opinion. Diacom is a good tool for OBD1, but it runs in DOS, and it costs a LOT more for the Diacom Deluxe version which doesn't have the graphing and other capability of the Ease OBD1 tool. Also, I have heard from several people that the support after the sale for Diacom was less than optimal.
Ease requires a Pentium or above CPU running at 133 MHz or better. If you don't already have a laptop or have an older 386/486 machine then I would not suggest buying a laptop just for the Ease version scan tool. If you have an older laptop and you aren't planning on upgrading, try to get a version of Diacom used, or look at Craig Moates software.
Craig Moates software is a very good choice (FREE). Especially if you are interested in scanning only your vette. I considered going with Craig's software and making/buying the AKM cable but went with Ease tools because Ease tools have the parameter sets already installed to scan all available GM OBD1 vehicles. For instance, I used my scan tool to scan my neighbor's 89 Buick. Most of the DIY software is limited to a particular model like LT-1 or L-98 only. I can scan anything OBD1 that GM made from 1982 - 1995 with my Ease tool.
AutoXray has a good scan tool for about half the price of an Ease or Diacom. The AutoXray tool is not a laptop scan tool, but a self contained unit with several lines of output. The reason I didn't get an AutoXray was because it doesn't display all of the engine values at once like laptop based scan tools can. It also doesn't record unlimited runs of data for playback. Most importantly it doesn't play back recorded runs in graphs so that you can compare O2 sensor readings with MAF or MAP values, or Throttle position sensor voltage, or injector pulse time. If you are looking for an intermittent problem, recording and playback time is crucial. I had an intermittent that the dealer could not resolve when I went looking for a tool. For chip programming however it is a good cost effective option.
It all depends on what you want to scan and what you feel is cost effective for your needs. I already had a P-133 MHz laptop running NT4 so the Ease tool was ideal for me. I like being able to scan my neighbors vehicles as well as my own. Remember that NO scan tool will make you an expert at troubleshooting without the required knowledge. That is why I think there are several books that you should consider buying first. My personal favorite is "How to Modify and Tune Chevrolet Fuel Injection" by Ben Watson. It is available from Amazon.com and most major book stores for $16.95. Excellent resource.
After looking at the Ease web site, if you are interested in actual screen captures of the Ease OBD1 tool in use on my 88 Coupe email me directly and I'll be glad to send you a write-up in HTML that I did which shows the tool in use on my Vette. As a rep for Ease, I give CF members a rebate of 10% on Ease scan tools ordered through me.
Mike
mike_88z51@yahoo.com
1) Ease Simulations at http://www.obd2.com or http://www.easesim.com
2) Diacom at http://www.rinda.com/
3) Do-it-yourselfer EFI page at http://www.diy-efi.org/
4) Craig Moates Software at http://members.tripod.com/moatesenheimer/gmecm/
5) Cables for Craigs software available at AKM Page http://www.mindspring.com/~amattei/dss.htm
Unfortunately there is no side by side comparison of the different tools that I know of. I use the laptop version of Ease Simulations Personal GM Scan tool for OBD1 on my 88 coupe. After purchasing my tool I liked it so much that I became a part time sales rep for Ease.
When I was looking to buy a scan tool I wanted a Windows based version (upgradeable) for my own use and the Ease tool was the best by far at the time. For OBD1 it is still the best in my opinion. Diacom is a good tool for OBD1, but it runs in DOS, and it costs a LOT more for the Diacom Deluxe version which doesn't have the graphing and other capability of the Ease OBD1 tool. Also, I have heard from several people that the support after the sale for Diacom was less than optimal.
Ease requires a Pentium or above CPU running at 133 MHz or better. If you don't already have a laptop or have an older 386/486 machine then I would not suggest buying a laptop just for the Ease version scan tool. If you have an older laptop and you aren't planning on upgrading, try to get a version of Diacom used, or look at Craig Moates software.
Craig Moates software is a very good choice (FREE). Especially if you are interested in scanning only your vette. I considered going with Craig's software and making/buying the AKM cable but went with Ease tools because Ease tools have the parameter sets already installed to scan all available GM OBD1 vehicles. For instance, I used my scan tool to scan my neighbor's 89 Buick. Most of the DIY software is limited to a particular model like LT-1 or L-98 only. I can scan anything OBD1 that GM made from 1982 - 1995 with my Ease tool.
AutoXray has a good scan tool for about half the price of an Ease or Diacom. The AutoXray tool is not a laptop scan tool, but a self contained unit with several lines of output. The reason I didn't get an AutoXray was because it doesn't display all of the engine values at once like laptop based scan tools can. It also doesn't record unlimited runs of data for playback. Most importantly it doesn't play back recorded runs in graphs so that you can compare O2 sensor readings with MAF or MAP values, or Throttle position sensor voltage, or injector pulse time. If you are looking for an intermittent problem, recording and playback time is crucial. I had an intermittent that the dealer could not resolve when I went looking for a tool. For chip programming however it is a good cost effective option.
It all depends on what you want to scan and what you feel is cost effective for your needs. I already had a P-133 MHz laptop running NT4 so the Ease tool was ideal for me. I like being able to scan my neighbors vehicles as well as my own. Remember that NO scan tool will make you an expert at troubleshooting without the required knowledge. That is why I think there are several books that you should consider buying first. My personal favorite is "How to Modify and Tune Chevrolet Fuel Injection" by Ben Watson. It is available from Amazon.com and most major book stores for $16.95. Excellent resource.
After looking at the Ease web site, if you are interested in actual screen captures of the Ease OBD1 tool in use on my 88 Coupe email me directly and I'll be glad to send you a write-up in HTML that I did which shows the tool in use on my Vette. As a rep for Ease, I give CF members a rebate of 10% on Ease scan tools ordered through me.
Mike
mike_88z51@yahoo.com
