Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] time to buy a diagnostic scanner
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| Re: [GMCnet] time to buy a diagnostic scanner [message #112170 is a reply to message #112168] |
Sun, 16 January 2011 19:06   |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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| Gary Worobec wrote on Sun, 16 January 2011 16:46 |
Hi,
Does anyone have a recommendation for a handheld ODB scanner that will check codes for:
GMC with Howell kit
91 Tracker
2002 Nissan Frontier
2002 Dodge Sprinter Van
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
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I am fairly sure the Tracker doesn't need a reader to pull the codes. With my '95 Sidekick (same difference) I jump two pins and count light blinks.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] time to buy a diagnostic scanner [message #112172 is a reply to message #112168] |
Sun, 16 January 2011 19:18 |
Craig Lechowicz
Messages: 541
Registered: October 2006
Location: Waterford, MI
Karma: 0
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I don't know much about the Tracker, but some of the imports (and yea it's a Chevy, but not from a design standpoint, so not sure if it's got GM electronics in it) are really picky about what scan tools will work with them. It's also OBDI vs. OBD II that most of the vehicles on your list are. (the Howell is OBD1 as well). So, might want to check each scan tools website to see if they list specific vehicles. The Frontier and Sprinter should be less problematical as they are OBDII and the codes and output are more standardized for OBDII.
To make a long story short, you need one that covers both OBDI and OBD II or else two separate tools, which depending on how sophisticated of one you want, might actually be cheaper. A lot of the tools are only compatible with OBDi only. I have a fairly old entry level, but still pro-grade OTC one, that is nice, but not cheap, and it does both I and II, but stopped working on vehicles after 2000 or so, as they went to something called a CANBUS for data communication, which OTC told me it couldn't be upgraded for. So, I recently went with an OBDII only Innova 3160, which was cheap compared to the OTC one, but, still one of the pricier ones in the Innova line-up. It seems to work pretty well on my Trailblazer and my friend's Avalanche, which is all I've used it on so far. I went with that one as it adds ABS capability, which I figured would be useful down the road. If you just want codes and not data, they are cheap, but if you want snapshots (storing specific data on conditions) and more extensive data capability, you need a higher level one.
So, not really a recommendation but some background. If you go out to Sears Outlet center, they have a few on sale right now, I'm not that up on the market to know how good a deal they are, though.
<http://www.searsoutlet.com/d/products.jsp?md=ct_md&cid=2143&pn=2>
It also wouldn't hurt to try "scan tool" on Craig's list in your area, sometimes people buy them, and decide they still don't know what they are doing.
I did a fair amount of googling when I got my Innova one, but didn't come across any profound sites for information. It's worth reading some reviews on Amazon.com, which is where I got mine. I'm sure others will chime in, as well.
Craig Lechowicz
'77 Kingsley, Waterford, MI
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| Re: [GMCnet] time to buy a diagnostic scanner [message #112182 is a reply to message #112168] |
Sun, 16 January 2011 21:25 |
Patrick Flowers
Messages: 195
Registered: February 2004
Karma: -24
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Funny this should come up. I just ordered the Autel MaxiScan MS409 from
Amazon for $58:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LHW9YG
Just got it Friday and haven't played with it yet.
I'm not sure about the 91 Tracker, but it will certainly work for the
other cars listed. OBD-II started post 1996.
Patrick
On Sun, January 16, 2011 7:46 pm, Gary Worobec wrote:
> Hi,
> Does anyone have a recommendation for a handheld ODB scanner that will
> check codes for:
>
> GMC with Howell kit
> 91 Tracker
> 2002 Nissan Frontier
> 2002 Dodge Sprinter Van
> 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
--
GMCnet Listmaster
'73 CanyonLands
Tyrone GA
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Patrick Flowers
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'73 CanyonLands
Tyrone, GA
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| Re: [GMCnet] time to buy a diagnostic scanner [message #112184 is a reply to message #112168] |
Sun, 16 January 2011 21:54 |
Dennis S
Messages: 3046
Registered: November 2005
Karma: 2
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Gary,
Just this week I purchased an Innova 3100, $89 at Costco. It is an OBD2 scanner for 1996 and later cars. Autozone scanned my car for the check engine light and gave me the codes and some possibilities. This scanner captured a freeze frame of the conditions at the time the light came on. I linked it to the computer and bought a report for $15 that was very detailed and listed the top five most likely issues.
I also am planning to try TouchScan from
http://www.obdsoftware.net/
to see if it provides more accessible and visible information.
As I understand it, the scanner links to a laptop via a ubs cable and TouchScan provides a dash board display on the laptop screen.
New technology for someone who has a carb and points style distributor on his GMC.
Dennis
| Gary Worobec wrote on Sun, 16 January 2011 18:46 |
Hi,
Does anyone have a recommendation for a handheld ODB scanner that will check codes for:
GMC with Howell kit
91 Tracker
2002 Nissan Frontier
2002 Dodge Sprinter Van
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Thanks
Gary and Joanne Worobec
1973 GMC Glacier
Anza, CA
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Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
[Updated on: Sun, 16 January 2011 21:55] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] time to buy a diagnostic scanner [message #112189 is a reply to message #112168] |
Sun, 16 January 2011 22:13 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Gary,
For the GMC, if you're going with EBL, a scan tool is superfluous -- the WUD
offers a malfunction code display. Even without EBL, the codes are
trivially simple to read on any basic OBD-equipped vehicle: Short two pins
in the ALDL connector with a bent paper clip and count the SES lamp
blinks. Before EBL, I mounted a switch on the dash to short the pins at
will. With those pins shorted, and the engine running the blink rate varies
dependent upon whether the computer is operating in open- or closed-loop
mode.
OBDII became mandatory on 1 Jan 96, so anything built before then is
probably basic OBD.
Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI+ & EBL
www.gmcwipersetc.com
On Sun, Jan 16, 2011 at 7:46 PM, Gary Worobec <gtw5@earthlink.net> wrote:
> Hi,
> Does anyone have a recommendation for a handheld ODB scanner that will
> check codes for:
>
> GMC with Howell kit
> 91 Tracker
> 2002 Nissan Frontier
> 2002 Dodge Sprinter Van
> 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
>
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] time to buy a diagnostic scanner [message #112196 is a reply to message #112189] |
Sun, 16 January 2011 23:15 |
Richard Denney
Messages: 920
Registered: April 2010
Karma: 9
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On Sun, Jan 16, 2011 at 11:13 PM, Ken Henderson <hend4800@bellsouth.net>wrote:
> OBDII became mandatory on 1 Jan 96, so anything built before then is
> probably basic OBD.
>
Toyota and some other manufacturers started using OBDII before it was
required. My '95 T100 will deliver OBDII codes into my scanner.
My scanner is the Craftsman 20899 from Sears, and it has snapshot
capability, OBDI and II, CANBUS, and pretty good real-time data readouts
when driving down the road (OBDII only, though). You can also upload it into
the computer, but I find that it's just as easy to note the codes and do
your own computer research. Mine had the plug adapters for the various OBDI
interfaces. It does not have ABS, however. About $300, but I bought it on
sale for about $200 a couple of years ago.
I bought mine when squirrels ate through the ground harness on my Subaru
(not that I knew that at the time). It didn't work--the ground bus also
provided the power return path for the OBDII port and the scanner would not
power up. After I fixed that (which required installing melt-seal crimp
connectors blind with my hands between the block and the intake on that
flat-boxer engine--grrrr!), I left off a vacuum hose. That started throwing
a code, and the scanner helped with that one. The main advantage to having
the scanner is that I could reset the code after reading it. The emissions
inspections in these parts read the ECM to determine that no codes have been
issued recently. Even after making my repairs, I would not have passed
inspection without the ability to reset the code.
Rick "whose GMC has the least number of miles of any vehicle in his fleet"
Denney
--
'73 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
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| Re: [GMCnet] time to buy a diagnostic scanner [message #112220 is a reply to message #112212] |
Mon, 17 January 2011 09:34 |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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>
>> Hi,
>> Does anyone have a recommendation for a handheld ODB scanner that will check codes for:
>>
>> GMC with Howell kit
>> 91 Tracker
>> 2002 Nissan Frontier
>> 2002 Dodge Sprinter Van
>> 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Gary and Joanne Worobec
>> 1973 GMC Glacier
>> Anza, CA
I think that you are out of luck with your 1991 Tracker. The ODBII scanners will work with any vehicle from 1996 up. They will also work with the Howell kit.
Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
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