What BENEFIT will I get purchasing an OBD 2 scanner with the CAN BUS. The CAN BUS scanners are slightly more expensive. BIGHANK

 

Not sure exactly which scanner you are referring to but, CAN is going to be new standard for automotive buses. I believe all new cars are use CAN bus, heavy duty vehicles may be excluded.

If it will interface to other cars, it might be worth while to pay a bit more now so that when you get your new c6 SS or something else it will still work.

 

My AutoEnginuity does both with the same Hardware.

 

Found several CAN / OBD 2 scanners on fleebay for about $40-50. Think I will opt for one of these. Most codes on the vette can be read and reset on the DIC but that is not the case on my Montana. Have ABS and TCS lights along with BRAKE light that just popped up. Hope its not the EBTCM that has been discussed widely on this forum. BIGHANK

 

Most "cheapy" scanners will not have access to the ABS computer just the engine control (Generic OBD codes).

 

All '05 and newer GM's are CAN interface. You want a scanner that will do both.

 

Got a Toptak TP-300 scanner. Had a code on the DIC which I saw using Corvettes built in diagnostics (Options and Fuel 4 times quickly).
Scanner didn't see ANYTHING. Turned Vette off and on again and same for scanner, This time got about 15 new DTCs. Scanner STILL DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THEM. (suspect they were caused by scanner interrupting comm link with the cable plugged into the 16 port OBD port)
Tried clearing them with scanner. NO GO. Scanner doesn't SEE ANYTHING and doesn't CLEAR ANYTHING. It MIGHT see emissions data but I'm not pulling a plug wire to find out. ARE THERE ANY SCANNERS that cost less than $2000 which will SEE ALL OF THE DTC CODES?
My Montana has an ABS, TCS, and BRAKE light illuminated and I can't find out the DTCs. BIGHANK

 

www.autoenginuity.com

 

Saw specs on the Geniscan MaxScan VAG405 at www.alpha-bit.com which looks like it is geared toward VWs and Audis but in their comparision chart says it also reads airbags, ABS Auto trans and service reset function (whatever that is). Reading the material I get the feeling that the additional functions are only on the VWs proprietary protocol. The tool that you mentioned above requires a laptop as well as $250 ENHANCED SOFTWARE to read GM codes. Anyone have a solution that works on GM vehicles for less than $200? I'm not going into the ABS/airbag/transmission repair business. BIGHANK

 

bighank,

What do you want a scanner for ?? If it is "just" to see DTC's that have been set, the C5 has a diagnostic that will display EVERY code in EVERY computer in the car ... and it is free. See:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...D=26&TopicID=1

For more info on how to access this.

Most of the "cheap" scanners can only access DTC's from the PCM, they cannot display or access EBCM, BCM, or other modules on the car.

On the other hand, if you want more data than DTC codes (say you want to look at the Short Term and Long Term Fuel Trim data), then you need a scanner. There are a number of good ones out there ... but first, what are you looking to accomplish?

HTH

 

Sorry, just realized you wwere asking about this for your Montana ....

You need to look at a couple of issues ...

* As someone (and I) mentioned previously, most of the "cheap" scanners only display PCM codes, they cannot display codes from the EBCM, which controls Traction Control and ABS.

* There are two "protocols" in GM vehicles. Vehicles such as the C5 use the Class2 Serial bus for communication between the different computers. Pretty much any GM vehicle made before about 2005 uses this system. NEWER GM vehicles (such as the C6 Corvette) use a "new" protocol called CAN (Controller Area Network). Think of CAN as "OBD3" ... the EPA has mandated that starting with the 2008 Model Year ALL new vehicles sold in the US must use CAN as their interface. Does your Montana use CAN or the "older" protocol ?? I don't know, but a web search will probably help answer this question.

* When buying a scanner..... be sure it works with the protocol of your vehicle AND can display the data YOU need ...

Remember, DTC codes start with one of 4 letters ... P,C,B or U .... (Powertrain, Chassis, Body, Communications. Cheap scanners can show P codes from the PCM ... you generally have to move up to more expensive scanners to see C (Chassis) codes such as the EBCM posts when the braking system has a problem.

HTH

 

Stephen,

Montana is an oldie but goodie (1999) so it uses OBD2. The schematics in both the Helm Corvette and Montana Service Manuuals are almost identical regarding the ABS and TCS with the exception that the Montana EBCM is located in VERY INACCESSABLE location UNDER the dash over the foot operated parking brake. One other difference is that the Montana has a BRAKE CONTROL RELAY ahead of the voltage source to the EBCM. If this relay is flaky then POOF no ABS. Will try and see what happens when I attempt to disect this beast this weekend. BIGHANK