I've tried the Actron 9145 with the obd1 cable, no workie. I did see someone on the boards that had the same experience, then switched over the the auto-xray, either the 4000 or the 5000 and had posted that it worked out fine. Any info would be helpful. Gary

 

Nobody is actually using a scanner?

 

the computer has a built in scanner, you jump pins "A" and "B" on the diagnostic port, they are the ones on the upper row, closest to the center counsel (paper clip works well for this) put it in run WITHOUT STARTING IT...if you start it the magic smoke will come out of your computer...and the check engine light will flash the code i.e. 1 flash than a pause, then 2 flashes and a pause is code 12....no distributor reference, it will flash each code 3 times and then move on to the next one, also you will always have a code 12, because code 12 is set off whenever the engine is not running and the key is in the run position....it is the only code you SHOULD have

 

Commonly known as the "Red Brick", this is the 75th Anniversary Bel Air Edition, 1997 or 98. They also made a tool box that matches. Got a pretty good deal on it and I've been using it ever since. Even though a paper clip can give you codes, seeing the data stream is a more valuable tool.

 

The picture was a BMP, had to change it to a jpg.

 

Why not just use Moates software and a laptop?

 

Thanks, but I've been using the paper clip for 18 years. I just took back the actron 9145 this morning. Would not comunicate with the car. I have also tried the laptop with the aldl cable when my laptop died. I seen an old post that someone had used the 9145 with the same exact results that I went through, then switch to the auto xray 5000 and it worked. Does anybody have any experience with the auto xray stuff? The paper clip does work good for codes but I'm looking for live data. Thanks. By the way, the snap on looks nice, but not looking to spend that much dough!!
Gary

 

I bought an Auto XRay a couple months back from a baord member...have used it on my car and a friend's car as well. Works great, and much better than the paperclip...gives code numbers and descriptions, and you can capture data from all the sensors while the engine is running to help find/diagnose a problem. Now, I just have to learn how to use it properly, i.e. what all the data means and I'll be good to go.

Oh, don't know the model number off-hand, but I will check and get back to this thread later.

 

If you get a chance with the model of that auto xray, that would be great.
Thanks.

Gary