Snap on Mt2500 red brick ?
- Thread starter man-a-fre
- Start date
toplessHO
Well-known member
I have one that goes to 2004 and the other to 2006
after that they no longer supported it.
after that they no longer supported it.
BillK
Well-known member
Call Snap On and ask them ?? They have always been very helpful when I call them. The last cartridge I got for mine I found on Ebay for a bargain.
I believe cartridge version 7.4 goes to 2006 but was told there is a version 8.2 and 9.2 after that.8.2 may work for 2007? and 9.2 to 2008? if they were even made.I know these scanners are obsolete but that's the story of my life,and I like the old dinosaur and it works for my application.I wish some tech person would come up with an updated cartridge and keys for this scanner for the newer cars if possible.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Sorry, that's not happening. The red brick had a great run but, you can only take a platform so far. Think about it, the red brick's heyday was OBD 1 & early OBD II. How long ago was that? How much have automotive electronics changed in the last 20 years?
If you want to work on anything remotely current, it's time to move on.
WES51
Well-known member
I have a 2500 with the 9.2 Domestic, Asian and European update. It goes up to 2007 domestic and not quite as far for some of the European ones. Not sure of the Asian ones, I only briefly tested for those, but forgot already. Probably the same.
I bought it hoping to be able to use it for our 2004 E46 BMW coverage, but even with the correct cable adapter and personality key, it can hardly do more than display codes. In this instance, possibly any universal code reader like the Blue Driver may be better. I heard it supposed to be much better on Mercedes, but not sure.
One thing I do NOT like about it, is that you can no longer run both cartridges at the same time. I guess there isn't enough storage for it. So you have to either run the Trouble Shooter (which I hardly ever do) or habe the Primary Cartridge inserted by itself.
I bought it hoping to be able to use it for our 2004 E46 BMW coverage, but even with the correct cable adapter and personality key, it can hardly do more than display codes. In this instance, possibly any universal code reader like the Blue Driver may be better. I heard it supposed to be much better on Mercedes, but not sure.
One thing I do NOT like about it, is that you can no longer run both cartridges at the same time. I guess there isn't enough storage for it. So you have to either run the Trouble Shooter (which I hardly ever do) or habe the Primary Cartridge inserted by itself.
WES51
Well-known member
Also 9.2 is the very last update for the MT2500.
Ign
Well-known member
Ok so am I understanding that it's the CARTRIDGE(S) that dictate the "version" you see when it first starts up? So this isn't a firmware update per se?
I'm running cartridges that claim good thru '99 on domestics and it says V1.8 when I start it up, which seems really old.
I'm trying to communicate with a '98 Ram 1500 with a K13 personality key, but no luck. Anyone have suggestions? Allegedly K13 should work, and I read if you went V6.2 or later you'd probably need a K22
I'm wondering if my V1.8 is so early it needs something other than K13?
I'm running cartridges that claim good thru '99 on domestics and it says V1.8 when I start it up, which seems really old.
I'm trying to communicate with a '98 Ram 1500 with a K13 personality key, but no luck. Anyone have suggestions? Allegedly K13 should work, and I read if you went V6.2 or later you'd probably need a K22
I'm wondering if my V1.8 is so early it needs something other than K13?
WES51
Well-known member
I'm not sure if I'm reading things correctly, but this attached pdf table shows a few more combinations.
http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/602967b389ad0/KeysAdaptersReferenceChart.pdf
Edit: I tried to post it, but the attachment seems not to work for some reason. I googled "snap on mt2500 personality keys" and this table came up.
http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/602967b389ad0/KeysAdaptersReferenceChart.pdf
Edit: I tried to post it, but the attachment seems not to work for some reason. I googled "snap on mt2500 personality keys" and this table came up.
Ign
Well-known member
Yeah that link doesn't open for me but the .pdf I find direct from Snap On would seem to indicate the K13....using the darker brown color key for V4.1 and earlier which is me.
Problem is the chart doesn't even reflect a K13a which is the other option I've read of. I have a K13a on order, we'll see. There are certainly reports out there of either the K13 or K13a working for this era, and they claim the two don't interchange, ie only one will work in a given Dodge truck.
Thank you for the reply though! I know this tech is ancient but if I can get it to do what I need for a ~$20 investment, why not....
Wrench97
Well-known member
Wrench97
Well-known member
Even in it's hay day the brick was terrible on eurotrash.
Ign
Well-known member
If you can point me to a generic that'll give me misfire counts on a '98 Ram I'm there. Apparently Mode 6 wasn't really a thing for these Chryslers. But I'm all ears
Wrench97
Well-known member
No missfire counts on the old Dodges were never good, what your looking for is not in the ECM to get.
Even the factory DRB3 left a lot to be desired for that, I believe this has more to do with the crank sensor running off the flywheel and cam sensor being the distributor.
Even the factory DRB3 left a lot to be desired for that, I believe this has more to do with the crank sensor running off the flywheel and cam sensor being the distributor.
Ign
Well-known member
I'm told it's there, and the brick has a line for it after selecting the vehicle, but I gotta find a key that'll communicate....
As I said, K13a on the way. If that doesn't work I'll probably go chase something else shiny and forget about the project
Wrench97
Well-known member
Oh its there, it was a epa required data point, just don't expect it to be reliable, we've pulled plug wire off and had them every cylinder except the one without a plug wire.....................
WES51
Well-known member
I think the main question is what personality key to use on that 1998 Ram 1500.
I have looked up an old MT2500 accessory page and Chrysler is listed here with 3x personality keys.
K-13, K-13a and K-22.
I used to use my 1999 cartridges for a very long time with my 1999 Tahoe. In fact, I still use them. They provide comprehensive diagnostic capabilities for this model year. Bi-directional controls included.
I can't imagine that the MT2500 would do anything less for your 1998 Dodge 1500.
As mentioned earlier in this thread, I have the latest cartridges (9.2) as well. The only difference I can see using the latest primary cartige on my 1999 Tahoe, is that there is an added ABS bleed function. Otherwise all functions and capabilities seem to be identical.
I have looked up an old MT2500 accessory page and Chrysler is listed here with 3x personality keys.
K-13, K-13a and K-22.
I used to use my 1999 cartridges for a very long time with my 1999 Tahoe. In fact, I still use them. They provide comprehensive diagnostic capabilities for this model year. Bi-directional controls included.
I can't imagine that the MT2500 would do anything less for your 1998 Dodge 1500.
As mentioned earlier in this thread, I have the latest cartridges (9.2) as well. The only difference I can see using the latest primary cartige on my 1999 Tahoe, is that there is an added ABS bleed function. Otherwise all functions and capabilities seem to be identical.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
I can check my generation 1 modis tomorrow. I'll see what key it asks for.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
My gen1 modis has 11.2 on it.
98 dodge 1500 asks for key k13.
98 dodge 1500 asks for key k13.
Ign
Well-known member
Alright thank you for taking the time
Joe-ShopCleaner
New member
Hello. Couple additional thoughts for the OP:
1) While 9.2 is the max for the VCI, the TSI (Troubleshooter) max version was 8.2
2) The scanner will tell you what keys are needed when you plug into a vehicle. And it can sometimes require different keys for different features (e.g. transmission or body vs engine) on the SAME vehicle. I've seen that for early 00 Jeeps.
3) I think on the late cartridges like your 9.2, they did away with the keys. At least I know for sure they're not needed on later vehicles like '07's etc ...and I *think* even on earlier vehicles (although I'm less certain on that).
4) The way the cartridge software version numbers work is, v9.2 would have come out in the 2nd quarter of 2009 and be good for vehicles before that date (taking into consideration development time). A v7.4 for example would have come out in Q4 of 2007. Cartridge software version numbers are different than the actual 'brick' software version you see when you first power the actual scanner up.
5) Snap on had come out with the Solus scanner around 04-ish and they had special 'trade-in' offers to mechanics to trade up to a new Solus scanner. The Solus had more memory, better graphing capability, was faster, more stable, and could save data to a card. Eventually S-O was able to add other makes like Land Rover, etc that don't show up on 9.2. Also, Snap on dealers didn't have to manage a whole bunch of cartridges with the new unit. A lot of mechanics and shops traded in which is why you see a lot of cartridges for sale on, say, ebay, that go up to '04 but not as many of the later cartridges like your 9.2. If you ever use the older (red) cartridges that go up to 99 or '01, they're a lot faster.
Hope it helps
1) While 9.2 is the max for the VCI, the TSI (Troubleshooter) max version was 8.2
2) The scanner will tell you what keys are needed when you plug into a vehicle. And it can sometimes require different keys for different features (e.g. transmission or body vs engine) on the SAME vehicle. I've seen that for early 00 Jeeps.
3) I think on the late cartridges like your 9.2, they did away with the keys. At least I know for sure they're not needed on later vehicles like '07's etc ...and I *think* even on earlier vehicles (although I'm less certain on that).
4) The way the cartridge software version numbers work is, v9.2 would have come out in the 2nd quarter of 2009 and be good for vehicles before that date (taking into consideration development time). A v7.4 for example would have come out in Q4 of 2007. Cartridge software version numbers are different than the actual 'brick' software version you see when you first power the actual scanner up.
5) Snap on had come out with the Solus scanner around 04-ish and they had special 'trade-in' offers to mechanics to trade up to a new Solus scanner. The Solus had more memory, better graphing capability, was faster, more stable, and could save data to a card. Eventually S-O was able to add other makes like Land Rover, etc that don't show up on 9.2. Also, Snap on dealers didn't have to manage a whole bunch of cartridges with the new unit. A lot of mechanics and shops traded in which is why you see a lot of cartridges for sale on, say, ebay, that go up to '04 but not as many of the later cartridges like your 9.2. If you ever use the older (red) cartridges that go up to 99 or '01, they're a lot faster.
Hope it helps
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Very interested in this, how would you use a scope to detect misfires and identify which cylinder it is?
On topic - buy a used modis ultra and keep the brick for odb1
WES51
Well-known member
Awesome info. Many thanks for taking the time and putting this together.
I'm still using the brick for our 1999 GM vehicle, but I have already started plannig about upgrading, since we have added a new Chrysler vehicle in 2017.