Educate Me On Scan Tools

[Gooch]

I am to a point that I need to buy a scan tool e.g. hypertech, auto x-ray, etc...
I have four vehicles: '89 Supercharged MR2 MKI, '84 Vette, '00 Mitsubishi Galant 2.4L, & '05 Chevy Silverado 5.3L.

My question, which scanner/programmer, laptop application will complement all my vehicles. I'm not looking to tune them, just chase and erase and test for problems.

'89 supercharged MR2 MKI - OBDI??? correct???
'84 Vette - OBDI
00 Mitsubishi Galant 2.4L - OBDII
05 Chevy Silverado 5.3L Not sure OBDII??

And what is CAN??

Thanks in advance

Gooch

[1990-C4-41001]

Gooch...

The Silverado is also OBDII.

You're correct on the others although I'm not certain what kind of connector the MR2 uses. You should call the scan tool vendor direct and make sure their unit has a cable for the MR2 available. (GM products use a 12 pin connector for the OBDI models (84 through early 93 'Vette) and the OBDII vehicles are supposed to all use an industry standard 16 pin connector from 1996 on.

Starting in late 93, Vettes use a 16 pin special OBDII connector even though OBDII didn't become the standard until 1996. If you ever buy a late model 93 through 95 C4, you'll need to use a special GM version of the OBDII cable. the 96 Vette is full OBDII.

Basically, the DIY scan tools you mention only check the ECM. To my knowledge, to check the CCM, ABS, S.I.R., etc., you need a Tech I or II scan tool like the dealerships use. Ebay is the place to buy one of those but they are pricey (Go to ebay motors and put the phrase GM Tech I or GM Tech II in the search box.)

I have an older Auto-Xray scan tool with both the OBDI and OBDII capability plus the extended GM code package installed. It works well and I've used it many times to troubleshoot both GM cars and also to read and reset the standard OBDII codes on neighbor's non GM cars and trucks.

Don't know what CAN stands for. Perhaps C4C5 will answer that one for both of us.

John

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
Honestly, there is NOT one that will do everything and give you all the information.
The key is that the changes of communcations, as you have noted and the data that the manufacturers must give per government guidelines.
CAN is controller area network and each manufacturer uses their own protocol.
OBD 2 is everything from 1996 to about now, as CLASS 2 communcations is per government mandates and all have to give basic emissions class codes and failures.
Allthebest, c4c5

[Gooch]

Thanks guys. You're responses are what I expected, but wasn't 100% sure about.

1990-C4-41001

What series auto x-ray do you have? Did it come with all the cables you needed?

[1990-C4-41001]

Gooch:

Mine is an EZ-Link.(They don't sell that model anymore but they have replacements I'm sure -- maybe more powerful replacements.)

It came with the 12 pin GM OBD-1 and the generic 16 pin OBD-II cables. I bought the special GM 16 pin pre-OBD-II cable I wrote about in my original reply and also bought the extended GM code upgrade for the OBD-II codes. (GM, Ford and Chrysler all have additional codes that are in the OBD-II format but apply only to their cars. It was an extra cost option but I had a couple friends who had GM cars that used the OBD-II format so I bought that option to help them.)

Another thing about the EX-Link (and I assume the Auto-Xray current model) is you can monitor the engine in real time -- look at injector pulse width, block learn, RPM, TPS position plus all the pollution related engine sensors. It also has a capture mode where it monitors as you drive along and if you have an intermittent, you press a button and the device captures all the monitored parameters starting a second or two before where you pressed the button and continuing another few seconds after the event so you can scroll through them later and get a clue as to what was going on. I've used that function quite a lot when someone had a car that hiccuped for just an instant but otherwise ran OK. Another option was a program they sold that allowed you to capture a cars parameters when it was running correctly so you had something to compare to when it wasn't running right. I bought it but since I only had my own cars on it, it didn't help when troubleshooting friends cars.

You'll have to contact Auto-Xray to see what the capabilties and options are with their current line but if their current line is anything like their old one, I'd recommend it.

John

[Gooch]

Thanks again for the info. It has given me more insight as to what I may need. I especially like the real-time and intermittent capture modes. Sounds about what I'm looking for.

[aquaholic]

i have one of those $69 actron's. so far its read and erased everything i've thrown at it. jeeps, fords, chevys. never seemed to matter.

[digartz]

Check out Actron's that does odb 1 & 2, codes explained, all cables included in one kit along with a nice hardshell case. Pretty nice deal on Amazon. Pretty happy with mine

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ss_T12_product