nFORM91

I want to be able to read codes on a device that's easy. Something with maybe an LED that's simple. I'm not into paper clips but I don't want to break the bank either.

There's a brand new AutoZone about to open down the street. I've heard good things about the Auto XRay and that AutoZone carries it.

Someone please give me some advice on what I should buy. I want to be prepared when I get SES codes down the road. Thanks in advance!


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Proud newly acquired '91 Formula WS6 305 TPI 700R4, T-Tops, 34.5K documented miles, fresh Flowmaster catback w/chrome tips, Factory black on black all stock - no current engine mods (runs so good I might keep it that way!). Rims are '91 T/A black Diamond Spoke 16x8s. 20% tint & Black Widow Alarm system. future plans: fresh paint job, new 255ZRs all around.

Corry

Honestly, if you just want the SES codes, than the paperclip is the cheapest, and quite simple. I haven't had much luck with my actron scanner from pep boys...it tells me all sorts of crazy stuff, the most recent annoyance is 0 tps voltage, when I go out and measure it w/ a DMM and it is at .56 at idle.

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Corry Lazarowitz
clazarow@voicenet.com
clazarowitz@hotmail.com
SLP 1 3/4" headers, 3" cat back (stock cat )MSD ignition. MSD Blaster SS coil. More soon when funds are avail...

Vader

91,

You'll need to get the GM Assembly Line Diagnostic Link Diagnostic Trouble Code Access and Retrieval tool. Most of us call that a paper clip, but if you want to waste twenty or thirty bucks, you can get one from a supply store that has a neat plastic case and pretty flashing LEDs. If you lose or break the $30.00 scanner you'll be torqued. If you lose a paper clip, well you see the point.

The information you'll need to access and decode the DTCs is right here, and is probably a lot more than you'll get with one of the $30.00 "code scanners":

GM Error Codes.pdf

But I'd be glad to sell you a "code scanner" for a discount price of, say, ten bucks plus shipping....

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Later,
Vader
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"I'm'a do Things My Way - It's My way or the Highway."
Adobe Acrobat Reader

[This message has been edited by Vader (edited April 06, 2001).]

nFORM91

Thanks guys,

But I would like to get a scanner that shows for instance; "CODE 51: prom error", or the like. Something that I can simply read. What can I buy? AutoXray maybe?

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Proud newly acquired '91 Formula WS6 305 TPI 700R4, T-Tops, 34.5K documented miles, fresh Flowmaster catback w/chrome tips, Factory black on black all stock - no current engine mods (runs so good I might keep it that way!). Rims are '91 T/A black Diamond Spoke 16x8s. 20% tint & Black Widow Alarm system. future plans: fresh paint job, new 255ZRs all around.

Guest

You could always print out the code list from the tech articles area. I've seen too many of those overpriced paper clips state all the different variations of the code because it doesnt know the engine, or even have it be wrong. I guess you could say its faster than watching a blinking bulb... but for the money I'll watch the light.

The autoxray will do a bunch more and as such costs more. I dont know the current cost, but if you wanna spend some cash you should also look into the other stuff out there like computer programs like Ease, Diacom, and others, and the self contained ones like the OTC, Snap$$$$-On, and whatever else I havent looked at.

Corry

Yup! I have the acctron not for the codes, but for the other stuff (the $300 one) and it sucks. On top of that, it will tell me sometimes 2-3 things possibble for the code. Sometimes completly wrong! As for the other parts of it, well, lets see, I constantly run 240 degrees coolant (even when the car hasn't run for a day, but the inside gauge is right) I don't know about this one...It says I am running anywhere from 20-36 degrees BTDC timing, I have 0 TPS voltage, and a whole slew of other things that seem like they may be off...basically I got ripped off


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Corry Lazarowitz
clazarow@voicenet.com
clazarowitz@hotmail.com
SLP 1 3/4" headers, 3" cat back (stock cat )MSD ignition. MSD Blaster SS coil. More soon when funds are avail...

TomP

I don't use a paper clip either; I use a piece of wire! Seriously, that's your best bet if you're a "newbie". Unless, of course, if you're a rich newbie.. in that case, I'd say go buy a really cheap (can be old without a hard drive!) IBM-compatible laptop from ebay.com, and the Diacom Software from http://www.rinda.com .


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

Da91Bird

The look on my wife's face when she saw me diagnose my TPS failure with a paperclip was priceless. If I had done it with a "scanner" I wouldn't have scored nearly as many brilliance points and I would probably have to let her watch the Lifetime channel a lot more often.

That's just one of the 100 or so reasons to use the paperclip method.

Vader

Da91,

There is such a thing as "compromise". While she is watching Lifetime, learning how to pot plants with dirt that doesn't have to be purchased in bags and how to clean fingernails with a broken eggshell ala Martha Stewart, you can be hangin' at TGO. Sounds like a good deal to me...

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Later,
Vader
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"What a Day..."
Adobe Acrobat Reader

nFORM91

Thanks for the insight guys, I guess I need to learn how to count flashing lights via paper clip. Seems to work. Hmmphh, maybe too may video games when I was younger!?!

Corry

I found a really cool site that you can order/get plans for and build an ALDL->RS232 (better know as serial) port converter. It allows you to use a laptop to read *all* the info put out by the compter *correctly* unlike that POS actron! I have already assembled mine...now if the cip for it will ever come....then maybe I can get down to programming my own software Something to thnk about down the line if you ever want to get into the more advanced end of the car's computer (next comes PROM burning, and as soon as I have the $300 or so for the equipment I will be learning this


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Corry Lazarowitz
clazarow@voicenet.com
clazarowitz@hotmail.com
1987 Pontiac Trans AM (GTA?) 350 TPI
SLP 1 3/4" headers, 3" cat back (stock cat MSD ignition.
MSD Blaster SS coil.
3.73 Rear end gears
Accell 8.8 Wires
Bosh +4 Spark Plugs (Don't know if they really help but hell!)
Holley AFPR
Newly Self gutted cat!
More soon when funds are avail...

sdevine

I actually built the ALDL->RS232 Converter, and had it dumping engine info to a computer, quite cool. I do need to try to write my own software because the one that is designed for the adapter is crap.

Anyone wanna help? It needs to be able to measure CTS Changes on a millisecond level to work (ie, no ftime() or System.currentTimeMillis() etc)

Oh and it cost about $20 in parts.

86TpiTransAm

I used a FORK one time....no joke! It was the only thing I had in my car at the time that would work! I still don't know why the fork was in my car....but it came in handy! LOL!

Corry

I might be doing custom software, but have you checked <A href="http://www.mindspring.com/~amattei/dss.htm"> AKM Electronic's </A> for their list of software, one sounds nice, graphs and all, but will only record for like 30 secs I think was the limit until registerred. Right now I have 4 programming projects going on, so I don't have time yet

nFORM91

Guys,

I'm definately NOT up to speed with "burning PROMs" and programming ECMs! At least not yet. You guys are WAY over my head!

Howabout some simple layman's terms please. Or better yet, tell me what scanner I can buy under say $500 that'll give me trouble codes (acurately). THANKS!

Ed Maher

For you newbies who are just looking for a way to read the stored trouble codes the paper clip method is the only way to go. If you buy some fancy scanner to read them you really won't be any further along in diagnosing it. The OBD I computers in our cars are complete retards when it comes to self-diagnosing whats wrong. So whether you see a triuble code flash on the SES light or read it off a screen, the explanation is gonna be the same and you'll still have alot of other stuff to check.

Now if you have the money to invest, getting a nice tool like diacom will help you greatly in troubleshooting. Not becuase it tells you the trouble codes, but becuase you can watch everything happening in the computer and if you can duplicate the trouble you can clearly see what is happening and make your own determination of what is wrong. But tools like this will cost you hundreds, and will take you a lot of learning before you really know what you're doing anyway.
...ed

nFORM91

Thanks Ed,

Searchin for a paper clip right now. Thank God my car only has 34,550 miles (no current troubles - whew...). Not knowing how to read codes myself cost me alot of money when I had my '87 T/A a few years back!