New scan tool ideas

[mrsleeve]

Well the time has come for me to up grade my scan tool. I currently have a OTC monitor 2000E up dated as far as I can (duce 02 card ). I need something newer an more advanced as everything I own an my family has the 02 card knows nothing about. We have 3 duramax's a new 08 tahoe and 2 e46 BMW's and a few older things in the family.

I am looking for advice on what to get as far as a new scan tool. Now I am not after a actron or Innova, I need something that is easily updated and is still able to go obd1 .

All that said I am leaning toward the OTC Genisys, or maybe the Nemisys. Would love a tech II but I dont think It will do European stuff, Will it??? Any real reviews on either of the OTC's or any other advanced scan tools for that matter.

Thanks
RJ

 

[Fedwrench]

That's an unusual combination of vehicles to get one scantool to cover. the Tech II is the perfect GM scan tool but, it doesn't do German and you'll have to add a Candi module for it to work on the 08 Tahoe.
I don't work on Eurpean so, I can't help you there except to say that European coverage is sketchy at best with any OTC platform. I would keep your old monitor for the OBD1 stuff.
The Nemisys doesn't offer any bidirectional control capability.
I have a Genisys but, it is a compromise at best and certainly doesn't come close to a factory scan tool. It's easy to use, updatable, and prices vary widely. OTC customer support isn't great though. It's not bad for Ford and GM PCM stuff. It's when you try to do much in the BCM area that you'll hit a brick wall. There are numerous laptop based programs such as auto enginuity that alot of techs use. Unfortunately, anything other than a factory scan tool is a compromise but, it gets real expensive fast maintaining a group of factory scan tools.

 

[jay50]

I have the Genisys in my shop plus other scan tools. It is a decent aftermarket scanner but does have some holes in various areas. Can not get much depth in BCM on some GMs, plus ****** is a little weak on some makes/models. It has the biggest strength in the engine/PCM side. For German/European cars, it is not so great.

For older GM and DC vehicles, it has fairly good bi-directional controls. It seems to take OTC a few years to get these into their software, so after 03-04, there are very few IIRC. It has good bi-directional controls on Ford engines, but not very good coverage on Ford PATS (passive anti-thief system).

The scan tool market is rapidly going towards laptops with software. My recommendation for you is the autoenginuity Pro software which gets you the best aftermarket coverage in an aftermarket scan tool (my opinion).

It is very expensive to keep scan tools up to date. I also have the SO Modis which is very good but very expensive to own and keep updated.

 

[mrsleeve]

Keep it coming, I am just a joe shade tree but I fix lots of stuff for both side of the family an friends.

Hey guys thanks for the in put. Most of the stuff I do is GM as we are GM families (both sides) The BMW's I can get away with generic data most of the time. I guess at this point I will start looking for a used tech 2, Up dating should not be a big deal (the father in law runs a GM parts an service department)

 

[DavidtheDuke]

if you can find some sort of laptop that'll hook up to a scan tool adaptor or something, I would try to go w/ that as well, so you can upgrade your laptop if need be but not have to buy all the adapters and keys and whatnot. That said, our shop has a MODIS.. it's nice. I had to sell a relative, but it's nice.

 

[AutoTech]

I think all the guys that answered your post gave you some pretty good advice! Myself I have a snap on modis that is very expensive and very expensive to update. I also have to autoenginuity for laptop that has pretty good aftermarket coverage especially on Ford and GM as close to OE tools as yo will get in the aftermarket scan tool! As for your BMW I would hate to rely only on Generic OBDII to do diagnostics with and I've heard the the BMW enhanced software for autoenginuity is pretty decent especially for the price!

 

[1stwarrior95]

Just listening in...and a couple questions...
I'd like to have a scan tool myself but it's hard to justify the cost of 'em for what I work on.

Anybody wanna enlighten me as to what specs to look for in a laptop to use it as a scan tool? I've got a HP laptop and access to a couple others.

Searchin for autoenginuity right now.

 

[grillmasterp]

Anybody wanna enlighten me as to what specs to look for in a laptop to use it as a scan tool? I've got a HP laptop and access to a couple others.

We are talking minimal computer requirements - I've got it running on a 7 yr old laptop-

If you have a serial port or USB port you can use
http://www.obddiagnostics.com/

I've had one for a few years and have been more than pleased- Have gotten alot of use from it as well.

 

[1stwarrior95]

We are talking minimal computer requirements - I've got it running on a 7 yr old laptop-

If you have a serial port or USB port you can use
http://www.obddiagnostics.com/

I've had one for a few years and have been more than pleased- Have gotten alot of use from it as well.

Cool! My laptop is maybe 1-1/2 years old. Right now it's in the shop gettin fixed though...

Is there any software for pre OBD vehicles?
(I've got an 89 Tran am that's gonna donate it's TPI 305 to my 98 Sonoma)