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Thread: Scan Tools?

  1. #1
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    Default Scan Tools?

    I had asked the question in a thread in the Tech forum: LINK

    But there was no response. There had been discussion of using laptop software from a few sources and also standalone units such as the Equus OBD I and II/CAN scanner or Actron 9150.

    I don’t have a laptop and am a Mac user anyway, so I’d be looking for a standalone unit. What are the current suggestions so I can communicate with my ’94 if necessary?
    '94 GMC 6.5TD K1500 4L80E 2-Door Yukon SLE 221K
    '93 Chevrolet 6.5TD K2500HD NV4500 Std. Cab Longbed 187K
    '85 Toyota 22R RN60 4x4 Std. Cab Shortbed 178K (Currently retired for rebuild)
    Diesel Page Member #2423

  2. #2
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    That is an OBD I...? Not sure how much communicating you can do with OBD I.
    I have used a couple different scan tools for OBDII. Laptop type and regular non of the regular were two way capable only the laptop scanner was two way.
    1996 Chvy 3500 CCDWLB 6.5 Heathed, NO vac, marine injctrs, ARB bumper, BIG pipe, 3" lift, bright lights, bypass oil system.
    1986 Chvy 6.2 M1009 blazer RAM AIR, Headers, Custom interior
    2001 Chinook RV, V10 gas
    1974 John Deere 1530 diesel tractor
    1993 John Deere 455 Diesel lawn mower
    1967 GTO, 1989 Honda Transalp
    2009 VW Jetta TDI, flashed and piped, 6speed, fun car!
    1998 6.5 suburban, stock, daughter's
    1993 6.5 3500 CCSWLB GM8, Heathed, big exhaust, gauges, Son's

    1984 6.2 ATS turbo 3500, SCDWLB - Son's
    3 kids, 1 wife, 1 dog
    Gunsmith, Tactics Instructor, Fabricator USMC 87-93 Semper Fi!

  3. #3
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    Yes, OBDI, so I guess “communicate” should have just been “read.”

    At that level, I suppose that any of the basic readers will work? I ran into some comments that some don’t have the required capability for the diesels?
    '94 GMC 6.5TD K1500 4L80E 2-Door Yukon SLE 221K
    '93 Chevrolet 6.5TD K2500HD NV4500 Std. Cab Longbed 187K
    '85 Toyota 22R RN60 4x4 Std. Cab Shortbed 178K (Currently retired for rebuild)
    Diesel Page Member #2423

  4. #4
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    I think the basic OBDI that I have had for 10+ years does ALL of the OBDIs that I have ever plugged it into. I think it cost me $45 back then.
    They might make a code reader plug for a smart phone....
    I think any of the better OBDI readers will cover what you want.
    1996 Chvy 3500 CCDWLB 6.5 Heathed, NO vac, marine injctrs, ARB bumper, BIG pipe, 3" lift, bright lights, bypass oil system.
    1986 Chvy 6.2 M1009 blazer RAM AIR, Headers, Custom interior
    2001 Chinook RV, V10 gas
    1974 John Deere 1530 diesel tractor
    1993 John Deere 455 Diesel lawn mower
    1967 GTO, 1989 Honda Transalp
    2009 VW Jetta TDI, flashed and piped, 6speed, fun car!
    1998 6.5 suburban, stock, daughter's
    1993 6.5 3500 CCSWLB GM8, Heathed, big exhaust, gauges, Son's

    1984 6.2 ATS turbo 3500, SCDWLB - Son's
    3 kids, 1 wife, 1 dog
    Gunsmith, Tactics Instructor, Fabricator USMC 87-93 Semper Fi!

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dvldog8793 View Post
    I think any of the better OBDI readers will cover what you want.
    Any suggestions on “better” readers? This is my first foray into the OBD world.
    '94 GMC 6.5TD K1500 4L80E 2-Door Yukon SLE 221K
    '93 Chevrolet 6.5TD K2500HD NV4500 Std. Cab Longbed 187K
    '85 Toyota 22R RN60 4x4 Std. Cab Shortbed 178K (Currently retired for rebuild)
    Diesel Page Member #2423

  6. #6
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    Arrow

    If all you need is to read OBD-I codes, a paper clip does as much as any plug-in device. The "readers" won't read anything the paper clip won't.

    It's very different if you need bidirectional communication.
    1985 Blazer 6.2
    2001 GMC 2500HD D/A
    dmaxmaverick@thedieselpage.com

  7. #7
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    Ok, as I said, I’m new to this computer stuff. The ’94 is my newest vehicle other than a ’97 motorcycle.

    I think I was getting confused by the I/II code readers with the screens. Do the OBD-I readers just flash the check engine light the same as using a jumper? They don’t actually “read” a numerical code? Now that I’m looking at readers just for OBD-I, I think that is what I’m seeing?
    '94 GMC 6.5TD K1500 4L80E 2-Door Yukon SLE 221K
    '93 Chevrolet 6.5TD K2500HD NV4500 Std. Cab Longbed 187K
    '85 Toyota 22R RN60 4x4 Std. Cab Shortbed 178K (Currently retired for rebuild)
    Diesel Page Member #2423

  8. #8
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    Correct. OBDI readers are basically flash interpreters. So yes a paper clip and a book with the codes works pretty good.
    DMAX made it sound like you can have a two way link with a OBDI...?
    1996 Chvy 3500 CCDWLB 6.5 Heathed, NO vac, marine injctrs, ARB bumper, BIG pipe, 3" lift, bright lights, bypass oil system.
    1986 Chvy 6.2 M1009 blazer RAM AIR, Headers, Custom interior
    2001 Chinook RV, V10 gas
    1974 John Deere 1530 diesel tractor
    1993 John Deere 455 Diesel lawn mower
    1967 GTO, 1989 Honda Transalp
    2009 VW Jetta TDI, flashed and piped, 6speed, fun car!
    1998 6.5 suburban, stock, daughter's
    1993 6.5 3500 CCSWLB GM8, Heathed, big exhaust, gauges, Son's

    1984 6.2 ATS turbo 3500, SCDWLB - Son's
    3 kids, 1 wife, 1 dog
    Gunsmith, Tactics Instructor, Fabricator USMC 87-93 Semper Fi!

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dvldog8793 View Post
    ......DMAX made it sound like you can have a two way link with a OBDI...?
    Yes, you can. With a scanner (not reader), such as a Tech-I/II, you can send PID's to the PCM, similar to OBD-II. The difference is, you can't "write" to it, like an OBD-II calibration overwrite.
    1985 Blazer 6.2
    2001 GMC 2500HD D/A
    dmaxmaverick@thedieselpage.com

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dvldog8793 View Post
    Correct. OBDI readers are basically flash interpreters.
    That makes it sound like they do more than the paperclip? Like that it shows you “12” instead of “flash - pause - flash - flash”?
    '94 GMC 6.5TD K1500 4L80E 2-Door Yukon SLE 221K
    '93 Chevrolet 6.5TD K2500HD NV4500 Std. Cab Longbed 187K
    '85 Toyota 22R RN60 4x4 Std. Cab Shortbed 178K (Currently retired for rebuild)
    Diesel Page Member #2423

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by trbankii View Post
    That makes it sound like they do more than the paperclip? Like that it shows you “12” instead of “flash - pause - flash - flash”?
    The cheapest of the cheap readers will flash, like the SES lamp and a jumper (beware -- some of them are no more than a jumper in a fancy box). The lesser cheap readers will show the code number, but they are slower than the jumper method, and are often incorrect. The higher end readers are more accurate, and some have a code library that de-codes the codes for you. All relative to the $$ you spend on them.
    1985 Blazer 6.2
    2001 GMC 2500HD D/A
    dmaxmaverick@thedieselpage.com

  12. #12
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    I've got a '95 model that I've owned for 10 years now, and I've never plugged a scanner or reader into it to get the codes. Paper clip works just fine.

    The only time I needed a scanner was to reset the timing when I swapped pumps. I had a GM certified tech buddy bring home his Tech II from work to help me.

    I think the only real scanner that works on our older OBDI GM's with any reliability is the genuine GM Tech I or Tech II.

    Casey
    1995 K1500 Tahoe 2 door, 6.5LTD, 4L80E, NP241, 3.42's, 285/75R16 BFG K02's; 1997 506 block; Kennedy OPS harness, gauges, Quick Heat plugs, and TD-Max chip; Dtech FSD on FSD Cooler; vacuum pump deleted, HX35 turbo, Turbo Master, 3.5" Kennedy exhaust, F code intake; dual t/stats, HO water pump, Champion radiator; Racor fuel filter

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by DmaxMaverick View Post
    The lesser cheap readers will show the code number, but they are slower than the jumper method, and are often incorrect.
    My thought was that a reader would be more accurate than the paper clip method, but I also don’t want to spend an arm and a leg...

    Quote Originally Posted by arveetek View Post
    I've got a '95 model that I've owned for 10 years now, and I've never plugged a scanner or reader into it to get the codes. Paper clip works just fine.

    The only time I needed a scanner was to reset the timing when I swapped pumps. I had a GM certified tech buddy bring home his Tech II from work to help me.

    I think the only real scanner that works on our older OBDI GM's with any reliability is the genuine GM Tech I or Tech II.

    Casey
    Really starting to sound like a paper clip is the way to go.
    '94 GMC 6.5TD K1500 4L80E 2-Door Yukon SLE 221K
    '93 Chevrolet 6.5TD K2500HD NV4500 Std. Cab Longbed 187K
    '85 Toyota 22R RN60 4x4 Std. Cab Shortbed 178K (Currently retired for rebuild)
    Diesel Page Member #2423

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by trbankii View Post
    My thought was that a reader would be more accurate than the paper clip method, but I also don’t want to spend an arm and a leg...
    The jumper/pc method is as accurate as it gets. However, it's no more accurate than your attention span. Anything else just "interprets" the same process. More moving parts = more points of failure (hecho en chinas, btw). Spend as much or little as you want. It won't get you more function or more accuracy, really.

    Really starting to sound like a paper clip is the way to go.
    I have an OBD-I reader around here, somewhere (an older "gooder" one). If I can find it, I'll send it to you, and even pay the postage. IF I can find it. I always know where my paper clips are, and they always work.

    If it sounds like we're trying to talk you out of buying a code reader, you're probably right. Use that money to buy your wife something nice, or something....
    1985 Blazer 6.2
    2001 GMC 2500HD D/A
    dmaxmaverick@thedieselpage.com

  15. #15
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    Thanks for the offer, but it sounds like the paper clip will get me by.

    That half century mark is looming on the horizon for me. Back in high school, college, and early jobs I was typically the “go-to” guy for the computer stuff - always dabbling with things. But I admit that a lot of it has been passing me by in recent years. I take a certain satisfaction in saying I don’t own a vehicle from this century…
    '94 GMC 6.5TD K1500 4L80E 2-Door Yukon SLE 221K
    '93 Chevrolet 6.5TD K2500HD NV4500 Std. Cab Longbed 187K
    '85 Toyota 22R RN60 4x4 Std. Cab Shortbed 178K (Currently retired for rebuild)
    Diesel Page Member #2423

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