IROCmenace

iTrader: (1)

I have an 88 5.7 IROC.

I received my scanner today. I didn't think to research here if it would work or not. So when I got it I was pretty ticked off that it would not read my car. It would set it in field service mode but no live data and no code reading. I did alot of searching and found a thread where someone else with an 88 tried using the 2.8 and 5.0 TBI settings on their scanner and it worked. I did this as well. It wouldn't give me the codes I knew I had stored though.
After several attempts I tried it as a 1986 5.0 TPI (PFI on the scanner) and I rec'd live data and the correct trouble codes. PHEW! I had already emailed tech service at Actron. I will wait for their reply anyway because I (we) shouldn't have to find a workaround. Maybe there is an update or something but if not and someone else buys this do what I did and it should work. I got mine for $200 and don't want to pay twice as much for something else. I do not have nor can I really use a laptop so this was the best choice.

89IROC5.7

I know this thread is old, but I'm going to add to it for the benefit of someone who may be searching for an answer, as I was. This is still an issue on current Actron scanners and I thought my recent, and pricey, purchase of the Actron 9185 / 9190 was a complete waste. Then I found this thread and tried setting the vehicle as a 1986 5.0 TPI and it now reads live data and gets proper codes. Just an update that newer, more "advanced" Actron scanners still need to have this done to work on 88 and 89 TPI cars (and probably others).

IROCmenace

iTrader: (1)

glad it helped someone!

IROCU2

What about 87 5.7 TPI cars?

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

Good to know... I have one of these and had no clue it would work on my car. I had the same issue and just borrowed a buddies scanner... This is good to hear!

IROCmenace

iTrader: (1)

Don't know man. Never had an 87. I would guess it would work with the 86. The response I got from Actron at the time was that they wrote the program with the GM programming they had. Their reasoning it didn't work when you select another year was that GM must have changed something in the programming. Guess they didn't care to fix it later.

89IROC5.7

I actually called Actron and pointed this out to them. When they said they would look into it, I mentioned that you already requested they fix it back in 2009- to which they had no real response.They don't seem to care too much.

I have another question for you though. How does you car run when you have it reading live data? It seems to put mine into ALDL mode and it idles at about 1000rpm and runs noticeably worse. When the scan tool is unplugged it runs fine/normally. Maybe I'm missing the point of ALDL mode, but I don't get how I'm supposed to get useful data if the car is not running as it normally would without the scan tool connected. I have no specific problem with the car after I replaced the MAF burnoff relay for a Code 34, but I'm just thinking for the future. I checked with a multi-meter, and sure enough the scan tool puts exactly 10ohms across those pins when you connect. Anyone know how you would read data with the car running normally?

IROCmenace

iTrader: (1)

Sorry I cannot be of more help. Mine runs normal when I look at live data.

89IROC5.7

Oh well, thanks for at least getting me going in the right direction.