SILVERPLATE
Well-known member
Can anyone recommend and inexpensive GM code Diagnostic Tool?
Thanks...
Thanks...
GM Code Diagnostic Tool
- Thread starter SILVERPLATE
- Start date
Joelfke
Well-known member
any general OBD2 scanner will read GM codes...you just have to look up the meaning of the code as they differ slightly from car to car....
ive been looking at scan tools at sears and such around 100-200 dollars...id like a general scanner too but nothing beats the Tech II we use at work...that thing is amazing
ive been looking at scan tools at sears and such around 100-200 dollars...id like a general scanner too but nothing beats the Tech II we use at work...that thing is amazing
Big Bad Jon
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2008
- Messages
- 719
I guess a tech 2 is out of the question?
Joelfke
Well-known member
theres one on my local craigslist for 2000 bucks.....
and the new camaros and 2010 cars dont use tech 2 and now use a new laptop based system
and the new camaros and 2010 cars dont use tech 2 and now use a new laptop based system
https://www.amazon.com/?tag=atomicindus08-20 Search Equus 3160 $249.00
They have cheaper but this does abs and codes. It gives freeze frame and 25 items you can monitor.
They have cheaper but this does abs and codes. It gives freeze frame and 25 items you can monitor.
jayoldschool
Well-known member
What year is the car that you want to scan? The yellow Vette?
I bought two scanner recently, cheap basic for $39 at HF, and a OBDII USB adapter with software to run on a laptop. The cheapo worked great for reading codes and turning off the MIL, but no "real" advanced features. Ford has some extensive diagnostics the brain will run, but nothing short of about $400 would do it plug and play. The $45 Cresent brand OBDII USB adapter I bought comes with some free software (some freeware, some demo shareware etc.) but includes a "raw" terminal mode where I can type up hex commands and tell the brains to run the tests.
Sounds like the $39 basic unit would do what you need, read the Chevy codes.
Sounds like the $39 basic unit would do what you need, read the Chevy codes.
Attachments
bmxr4life87
Well-known member
the tech 2 is good for gm but IMO absolutely worthless for any type of generic obd2 scanning. Lead Tech at the shop uses an otc genysis and its a very simple and very nice we also have EASE software on a laptop and its nice but very confusing
vette-kid
Well-known member
If its the yellow vette you dont need one. You can read the codes, and reset the engine light from the DIC...no tools needed!
Are you on the Corvette Forum? There is a ton of info on this over there. Here is pretty much everything you need to know:
READING YOUR Engine Diagnostic Codes
The Diagnostic Display Mode is entered with the following procedure:
1) Turn on the ignition but don't start the engine.
2) Press the RESET button to turn off any warning messages. (i.e. door open, trunk open ect)
3) Press and hold OPTIONS
4) While holding OPTIONS, press FUEL four times within a 10-second period.
Initially, on-board diagnostics go into an Automatic Mode which shows diagnostic codes in a pre-set sequence: PCM - TCS - RTD - BCM - IPC - RADIO - HVAC - LDCM - RDCM - SCM - RFA. All codes will be displayed for each. ( i.e. PCM = 4 codes) If none are present in a given module, you will see No More Codes on the display.
There are two kinds of diagnostic codes, Current and History designated with a letter suffix, “C” or “H”. A current C code indicates a malfunction is present and active in the module displaying data. A history code indicates a problem existed sometime in the last 40 or 50 ignition cycles. When not accompanied by a current code of the same number, it's potential evidence of a previous problem, now resolved, that was not removed by clearing the codes.
More likely it's an indication of an intermittent malfunction.
Intermittent codes are the most challenging of the diagnostics. An intermittent code may have happened once, may have happened more than once but is inconsistent or may be happening on a regular basis but not at the time the codes are displayed. History codes can also be caused by a current malfunction in a system that is not operating at the time codes are displayed. An example is the rear window defogger which doesn't operate until the Body Control Module detects engine rpm. For history codes set by a module that does not operate with the key on and engine off, a special diagnostic tool called a Scan Tester is necessary to properly diagnose the malfunction.
Once the system has displayed all modules, it goes into the manual mode which allows selection of each module using combinations of Driver Information Center buttons. Manual mode can also be entered during the automatic sequence by pressing any button except English/Metric (E/M). Once the display shows Manual Diagnostics, select a module by pressing the OPTIONS button to go forward or the TRIP button to go back. Once a module is selected, a code is displayed, and if more than one are present; press GAGES to go forward or FUEL to go back.
To exit the diagnostic mode at any time, press E/M. If you want to erase codes in a given module, press and hold the RESET button To reset the codes once in manual mode, press and hold RESET until it displays NO CODES Press OPTIONS to go to the next module. Repeat the steps until you have reset the codes in all the computer modules.
Once you pull the codes (write them down so you dont have to go back in there when you forget what it was!) Here are a few websites that will explain them for you. Good luck!
http://www.stengel.net/diccodes.htm
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/kb/questions/408/1997+-+2000:+Diagnostic+Trouble+Codes
Are you on the Corvette Forum? There is a ton of info on this over there. Here is pretty much everything you need to know:
READING YOUR Engine Diagnostic Codes
The Diagnostic Display Mode is entered with the following procedure:
1) Turn on the ignition but don't start the engine.
2) Press the RESET button to turn off any warning messages. (i.e. door open, trunk open ect)
3) Press and hold OPTIONS
4) While holding OPTIONS, press FUEL four times within a 10-second period.
Initially, on-board diagnostics go into an Automatic Mode which shows diagnostic codes in a pre-set sequence: PCM - TCS - RTD - BCM - IPC - RADIO - HVAC - LDCM - RDCM - SCM - RFA. All codes will be displayed for each. ( i.e. PCM = 4 codes) If none are present in a given module, you will see No More Codes on the display.
There are two kinds of diagnostic codes, Current and History designated with a letter suffix, “C” or “H”. A current C code indicates a malfunction is present and active in the module displaying data. A history code indicates a problem existed sometime in the last 40 or 50 ignition cycles. When not accompanied by a current code of the same number, it's potential evidence of a previous problem, now resolved, that was not removed by clearing the codes.
More likely it's an indication of an intermittent malfunction.
Intermittent codes are the most challenging of the diagnostics. An intermittent code may have happened once, may have happened more than once but is inconsistent or may be happening on a regular basis but not at the time the codes are displayed. History codes can also be caused by a current malfunction in a system that is not operating at the time codes are displayed. An example is the rear window defogger which doesn't operate until the Body Control Module detects engine rpm. For history codes set by a module that does not operate with the key on and engine off, a special diagnostic tool called a Scan Tester is necessary to properly diagnose the malfunction.
Once the system has displayed all modules, it goes into the manual mode which allows selection of each module using combinations of Driver Information Center buttons. Manual mode can also be entered during the automatic sequence by pressing any button except English/Metric (E/M). Once the display shows Manual Diagnostics, select a module by pressing the OPTIONS button to go forward or the TRIP button to go back. Once a module is selected, a code is displayed, and if more than one are present; press GAGES to go forward or FUEL to go back.
To exit the diagnostic mode at any time, press E/M. If you want to erase codes in a given module, press and hold the RESET button To reset the codes once in manual mode, press and hold RESET until it displays NO CODES Press OPTIONS to go to the next module. Repeat the steps until you have reset the codes in all the computer modules.
Once you pull the codes (write them down so you dont have to go back in there when you forget what it was!) Here are a few websites that will explain them for you. Good luck!
http://www.stengel.net/diccodes.htm
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/kb/questions/408/1997+-+2000:+Diagnostic+Trouble+Codes
Last edited:
Joelfke
Well-known member
i have to agree that for general code retrieval its a bit tedious....but for resolving intermittent conditions and such the tech 2 is in its own world
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
tech 2
4 grand with a candi module
4 grand with a candi module