MT2500 diagnostic scanner

[Tom.Ferguson]

If I am trying to find a scanner that I intend to use exclusively for OBD1, butvon multiple older vehicles, is the Snap On MT 2500 any good, or is there something better? I have a fully equipped, fully bidirectional Autel OBD2 scanner, (DS808) its OBD2 capabilities are phenominal, and rival the Snap On Solus ultra, but its OBD1 coverage is basic at best. In most cases the OBD1 features dont work at all. So, I started looking at the MT2500. I was just wondering if its the best way to go OBD1 wise, or if there's something better out there, in about the same price range. I am on a bit of a budget

 

[Fedwrench]

Back in the day, the snap on red brick or MT2500 was about as good as it got for OBD1. However, OBD1 itself doesn't offer a whole lot in the way of data compared to today's platforms.

 

[hrichard]

I have one for obd1 stuff, works great and is more user friendly than other platforms I have played with. just don't pay too much for it, I believe I paid 150 for mine with most obd1 cartridges, the black programmable cartridge, and all of the adapters snap on offered as far as I know

 

[jimindm]

I have a couple. I have had more modern ones since SO quit servicing the brick.

If I recall, they originally had a different cartridge for what ever system you wanted to work with. Each cartridge was sort of complete when updating.

Later they came out with black cartridges, that they could just download updates on. I do not remember if they includes all systems, but I think they did. I just do not recall changing the cartridges after the blacks came out.

One thing with OBD !, make sure you get the connectors that you will need. Unlike obd2, every make had its own connector. If I recall there was something like 20 connectors.

Depending on manufacturers, you needed other connectors to work on other systems. ABS, transmission and so on. Again different for each manufacturer.

Hooking the scan tool up on any OBD1 could not even be compared to today. AS far as speed and information. Even just the information is pretty basic, compared to today.

Example is you may only have a code 13 wich i think was an o2 sensor. You sort of had to figure out what was wrong. Now they have how many codes for an o2 sensor.

Many times it just led you to a sensor problem and you had to trouble shoot from there

I had one that I bought new many years ago. I bought another at an auction the was a graphing one. I bought another just in case one of them quit working, right after SO quit servising them

 

[texasprd]

I don't know what your budget is, but I'd consider going with a Snapon Modis instead of the MT2500. You can get a Modis that will have everything the MT2500 cartridges have, plus perhaps some stuff that didn't make it into cartridges (I cant swear to that, though - you'd have to research that, especially what would come in the black cartridges). What you would gain with the Modis is a 4-channel scope/graphing-multimeter capability, if you are interested in getting into that area of diagnostics. There's a lot of stuff you can see with a scope/GMM that won't show up on a scanner.

I'm a DIYer. I started with an MT2500, then got an MT2400 Vantage (and a bunch of extras), then a Modis (for the extra and combined scanner/scope capabilities). I still have the Brick and the Vantage, but the Modis is now my "primary"...