I am in the market for a scan tool to monitor my engine in my 91z28 350tpi. i want a scan tool that can be used on more then one gm vechicle. I know there are some exspensive ones out there for professional use but i just need somethingot play with and see what is wrong with my motor. if you are familar with some is the OTC Monitor 4000E Scan Tool a good tool.

 

I bought an auto x-ray gm scanner from summit for about 250 bones. This auto x-ray had me tricked into thinking my car had a serious knock all last summer. Under the monitor mode, which is like a prolonged scan, it would put my ecm into 'field service mode' which screws with the electronic spark control and caused the knock. This caused me a lot of greif and ran me around in circles while looking for the cause of somthing that would only happen when I was scanning and wasn't really a problem. Long story short, know what your buying and what it can do for your specific car and engine combonation. I highly recomend calling the tech dept of any manufacturer your considering and getting the lowdown on the tool straight from them, they will know how your car's computer will react to the various tests the scanner is capable of. Well, I guess I didn't recomend a tool in this post, but hopefully this helps you out anyways, good luck.

 

I also share Dustin's experience. The Autoxray is the WORST $150 I have ever spent.

I am happy with my Diacom.

 

IMHO the best way to go is using a cheap laptop, an AKM or other cable and Mr. Moates's diagnostic software. That is the first bad thing I had ever heard about the AutoXrays. Can it be switched to just monitor scan data?

 

Is this just for trouble codes? What ever happend to the paper clip?

 

I am just looking for a scan tool that will so me the timing, air,fuel ratio and maybe TPS, IAC and other sensors reading ina digital displays.

 

I've had my Auto X Ray for 2 years even decided to upgrade to the OBDII program all said I've got $300.00 tied up in it it works for me. I do want to buy a lap top and get the Diacom system. It will give you many more data points. The Auto X Ray only gives one data point per second, the Diacom displays 30 parameters at a time.

 

The AutoXRay giving only one reading per second is a limitation of the ECM, not the AutoXRay. I hooked it up to a 95 Blazer with the Vortec V6 and it spat out a blazingly fast datastream (something like 4 or 5 updates per second) with 40-ish different data points! It seems like on speed density computers, the AutoXRay will run a capture without going into a diagnostic mode (high idle, etc that messes up some of your readings), but the ealier MAF cars will. I haven't used the xray on anything earlier than 86, so I don't know about those. I will eventually upgrade it to handle OBDII, but as it is (GM OBD I) it's already paid for itself just from helping diagnose problems on mine and others' cars. Total cost: ~$245 (I got the PC-Link software as well) I use it in addition to jobryan's WinALDL program for 168baud ECMs (total cost: $4.15).

 

I'm completely happy with the Auto X Ray I'm just kind of interested in getting deeper into learning this system and believe the Diacom may be of benefit. I eventually want to look into learning to program my own eproms but keep hearing from friends that if I want to approach the 450 hp arena like I'm talking about I will need to look at the aftermarket ECM's what do you think.

 

well, the Actron one Ive got is the best damn thing I coulda spent $150 on. its great, reads all the codes, plus you can view the real time data stream. My dad picked it up somewhere, not sure where though. I'll ask him tomorrow.

 

Check into it there is some that you can connect to your laptop look in the classifieds some one was selling one for cheap:lala: