Does anyone still use the Snap-on red brick mt2500? cartridge programming?

[1950coronet600hp]

So I have lots of aging fuel injected domestic 90s- early 00s vehicles.. the MT2500 serves them well. I know it, I like it.. I've had no reason to upgrade it. Then of course.. The woman has to upset things, with her 2005 Nissan Z with an airbag light, and my poor mt2500 with its only to 99 import cartridge. digging through my memory banks, I recall that the mt2500 can support up to 2008ish with the right cart and interface. so I have the CAN adapter, but I need a cart to support this Z. A quick search says the black carts can be programmed to support up to 2008. but in all my searching, I can't find anything DIY about a cart updater, nor any surplus snapon equipment to program. So did the hardware / software to update these dinosaurs get lost to history, or am I stuck with paying 100s for a new scanner or a left over preprogrammed cart? just sounds silly to pay more than $50 for something with no nostalgia value that's 4x obsolete, especially when it still fits most of my needs.

 

[Sumboodie]

Mt2500 was an antique 20 years ago...

 

[signcrafter]

If it was me I would keep the brick for older vehicles and pick up a new autel or similar for newer vehicles which you are going to run into more.

 

[txvwnut]

I just bought the Zurich from Harbor Freight for this reason. My Genesis is out of date and my wife and kids all have newer cars and the Zurich was cheaper than the upgrade software for the Genesis and even then it would do everything the Zurich does.

 

[charbar]

I agree, I think I would just buy a cheaper scanner that can support newer vehicles. Be careful when you are looking, some of the cheapys will only read powertrain codes so if you do buy one make sure it says it can read chassis and body codes as well.

 

[richfinn]

Launch X431 pro3S/Thinktool Pro S is what you need (more or less the exact same thing), Amazon have some great deals

They come with all the leads and adaptors for all the old stuff and have lots of great features (like YouTube and Google)

I still have an old MT2500 (updated to 2001) but it hasn't had a 9v battery in it for at least 10 years (I took it out so it wouldn't kill the contact pad).

 

[Revlimiting]

I recall that the mt2500 can support up to 2008ish with the right cart and interface. so I have the CAN adapter, but I need a cart to support this Z. A quick search says the black carts can be programmed to support up to 2008. but in all my searching, I can't find anything DIY about a cart updater, nor any surplus snapon equipment to program. So did the hardware / software to update these dinosaurs get lost to history, or am I stuck with paying 100s for a new scanner or a left over preprogrammed cart? just sounds silly to pay more than $50 for something with no nostalgia value that's 4x obsolete, especially when it still fits most of my needs.

Last update for reprogrammable cartridges was Bundle 9.2, it went up to year 2008. So Snap On quit updating these back in 2009, so there is nothing you can do, no one can update your old reprogrammable cartidges because they required unique reader and software with licenses that only snap on truck guys had at the time.

MT2500 is great for cars up to year 2001, but when the CAN-OBD started that is when the tool showed its age.

 

[henrywyatt]

Last update for reprogrammable cartridges was Bundle 9.2, it went up to year 2008. So Snap On quit updating these back in 2009, so there is nothing you can do, no one can update your old reprogrammable cartidges because they required unique reader and software with licenses that only snap on truck guys had at the time.

MT2500 is great for cars up to year 2001, but when the CAN-OBD started that is when the tool showed its age.

Agreed on the Brick. I have the 1999 Domestic primary cartridge and 1993 Asian, Chrysler, Ford, and GM primary carts and a raft of OBDI adapters. I also have the OBDII adapter and five K keys so it will talk to OBD1.5 GM stuff. It's fine for OBDI and RENIX Jeeps too but there are better tools for 1996 and newer OBDII.
The newer Snappy tools have larger screens and bi-directional functions like ABS bleed on the 1994 & newer GM stuff.
The slightly newer Solus 310, Solus Pro 316, and MODIS 300 had coverage from 1980 til the installed bundle and can use the MT2500 OBDI data cable, data adapters, and a raft of obnoxious personality keys. All three of them are end of life. The Solus last bundle was 15.2, MODIS 300 was 16.2, and the Solus Pro was 17.2 . There are rumors of instability of the 17.2 update on the Solus Pro so I'd stay away from anything newer than 16.2 on that platform.
The Solus Ultra was end of life at bundle 21.4 so it's good from 1980 to 2021, if you buy one with the latest and greatest. I would call your tool truck dude and ask whether the serial number is flagged by Snap On financing before shelling out cash for a pawn shop or evilbay unit.
The Solus Ultra no longer needs personality keys for OBDII communication.
The Solus Ultra comm port is a three row high density D-Sub connection rather than the two row DB15 so the MT2500 data cable will not plug into the Ultra.
It can talk to 1980-1996 OBDI US Domestic & Asian with your MT2500 OBDI adapters using the Solus Ultra DA-5 OBDI communication adapter cable. Be alert. The real DA-5 cables have a replaceable fuse that the Asia ripoffs left out so don't bother with the knockoff cables, get the real McCoy. The Solus Ultra OBDI Euro cable kit comes with the DA-5 cable and several OBDI Euro adapters along with 8 "S" personality keys for some Euro OBDI comms ( BMW??? & BENZ??? ). You didn't think they'd completely stop with those obnoxious circuit board keys did you? Some OBDI BMW and Benz stuff is supposed to be worth bothering but Euro OBDI is really pretty darn embryonic.

 

[Revlimiting]

Solus Ultra and all newer scanner do not cover any european cars older than year 1992. This is why MT2500 is still great

 

[henrywyatt]

Solus Ultra and all newer scanner do not cover any european cars older than year 1992. This is why MT2500 is still great

80's through 91 Euro stuff has near zero serial ecm diagnostics.
If any of them do it would be BMW and Benz.

You're better off to look around with a multimeter and oscilloscope.

 

[jetlag]

I really loved the red brick. It was simple, and I never felt like I was waiting forever for it to read. I kept mine just for a 98 Ford Expedition that we finally sent down the road to someone that needed a cheap SUV. I gave it to the people who bought the Expy, maybe they'll get some use out of it.

 

[henrywyatt]

It's a good tool for the GM ALDL, JEEP RENIX, & FORD EEC IV, OBD1.5, and even early OBD2. It's missing a few important functions like GM ABS bleed tho.
I kept my MT2500 for the OBD1 adapters and occasional use. The brick and cartridges aren't worth a lot without the adapters.
I use my 12.4 bundle MODIS for OBDI more often. It covers everything Domestic and Asian that the MT2500 does using the same adapters & most of the same magic keys. Graphing some sensors like O2, MAF, MAP, etc outputs from OBDI & OBD1.5 data can be helpful.
My Autel Maxsys with the J2534 interface is my goto on most 1996 and newer stuff. I have a Tech2 for some functions on 1992-2013 GM stuff and a WiFi MDI clone I used to program GM modules before I bought the Autel.
All of these tools have pros and cons.

***EDIT*** Nov 2 2025
The Asian MDI Clones can not be used as a J2534 Passthrough to program GM controllers anymore. AC Delco will suspend your programming account for using one.
I have a compatible Autel J2534 passthrough that's affordable.
Launch makes one as well.