I've got a 94 C4 and I'm looking for scan tools that will do the same things as the Tech1 and Tech2. I need to do things like "Throttle Position Learn Proceedure" in addition to code reading. I need something that will work on my car but also can be used in my business by my techs. The snap on man doesn't know what his software will or won't do, and the tools we're currently using aren't powerfull enough. I can buy a Tech1 with cartriges from 88-94
but no mass storage cartridge. (what's a mass storage cartridge). does anyone have any suggestions and what would you expect to pay. i'm obviously a little behind the curve here.
thanks
doc :confused:

 

My father is a snap-on rep, let me know what you need it to be able to do and a price range. I'll ask him if he knows of anything they sell that is capable of it. Some of the new stuff is unreal.

 

My father is a snap-on rep,
thanks brian
the speciffic function i need to perform is the "throttle position learn proceedure" which is performed after changing the throttle position sensor.
not to be confused with learning the new idle position. if the snap on 2500
scanner will do this i would rather buy it than the tech 1 because with the right cartridge i can use the snap on tool on about any kind of car that comes into the shop.
again thanks for any help you can find
doc :)

 

Doc, glad you got your answer. Sounds like your in business. I forgot to check this thread yesterday again. :bb

 

Doc, you need to be aware that sometimes when you find a so called good deal on a TECH1a it turns into a nightmare because the Mass Storage cartridges are not there. These cartridges are the brains to the scan tool, it contains all of the instruction sets for which it operates by. If you don't have that cartridge its basically like a PC without its hard drive. Vetronix which is the manufacturer of the TECH1a still supports the tool, but if you purchase the cartridges from them you may as well have bought it new from them in the first case. Them cartridges are very expensive.

Snap On makes a couple different scan tools, One is their latest and greatest which is sorta like a mini hand held PC scan tool, it has a lab scope built into to it along with diagnostics. It is called a Modis system and its very expensive like to a tune of $7500! Then there is their more basic scan tool that has a wheel scroll and is made to be compatible with domestic and asian from the mid 80s and up, it goes for $2500 and up depending on options.

You can find used Tech2 scan tools on Ebay at times for around $1500 or so. I got a new one from GM tools for $2350 which came without any software, but I got some connections so I got the software for free :) But unless you have a way to get it, the TECH2 without the software is like the TECH1a without its mass storage cartridge.

You might check with Rinda Technologies about their Diacom Plus software, it may do what you want. But it needs a old 486 base laptop to run, as it won't run on pentium based machines. I have a copy of it and I found out the hard way when I got my new P90 laptop several years ago. Ease Diagnostics also makes a PC based scan tool but again I don't know if it will do all of what TECH1a or a TECH2 would do as far as other tests are concerned.


[Modified by tjwong, 12:15 AM 1/29/2004]

 

Thanks Thomas
it looks like the snap on mt2500 is the best bet i've got. we're presently
using a mac code reader and an otc abs reader. both tools read and clear codes but thats about it. i think the bi-directional mt2500 is going to work best for my own car and be a realistic upgrade for the techs in the shop.
we're just now starting to do maor and more diagnostics
Thanks for your input......
I hate to spend a couple thousand without a little research
doc :seeya

 

Doc you can often get a used Snap On MT2500 from the Snap On guys. They are often traded in when shops upgrade their equipment. The shop that I do a lot of tuning for had just purchased a new Modis system and had traded their MT2500 as part of the purchase. I used that Modis yesterday, its a cool tool but to me its a bit slow. It does all sorts of neat stuff but like I had posted earlier its a spendy peice.

I love my TECH2, I am planning on geting a OTC flash card which will give me the earlier years for GM as well as Ford and some Asian stuff. I don't care much about anything else other than GM as that is 99% of my tuning work these days. You can't hardly get along without a good scan tool if you are in a shop, its almost like going in blind these days without one.

 

:yesnod: The actual MT2500 itself is inexpensive. It is the software catridges that cost a bundle.

 

You can't hardly get along without a good scan tool if you are in a shop, its almost like going in blind these days without one.

I argree........we've out grown our uni-directional mac scanners and are going to upgrade. i talked to another snap on man and he demoed the modis
for me at the shop today.......outstanding tool but a bit pricy.......he took a mt2500 in trade the other day (comes with an assortment 6 modules) he let me use it for a day and will sell it to me for through my regular snap on guy, and give me a good trade in on my two used mac code readers. looks like i'm back in business.

in a year or so all the new cars are going to the new CAN protocal and a lot of the earlier scanners aren't going to be upgradable. he ran a check on the scanner i'm buying and it's new enough to upgrade to CAN when it becomes necessary.

one draw back to the mt2500 is that it does not have graphing capabillities.......for that you need an mtG2500

can't thank you guys enough for the help
doc
;)

 

Hunt around some. There used to be an attachment cable and PC software so that you could hook the MT2500 into a laptop or desktop and output/graph the data on the computer and save it or print it.

 

QUOTE
Hunt around some. There used to be an attachment cable and PC software so that you could hook the MT2500 into a laptop or desktop and output/graph the data on the computer and save it or print it.

You're right .........there's an output for a modum on the box........i'm sure i can find a way to use it .......finding the software might be tough but i'm on it
thanks again
doc

 

I beleive my TECH2 is upgradable to read CAN or it has an adapter module which I think is out now to connect to the TECH2 so that it can talk CAN :)