OBD-II on a laptop

[Sneaks]

http://www.obddiagnostics.com/index.html
Anybody here ever used this software? It seems pretty comprehensive, then again you get what you pay for most days.

[dmaxalliTech]

:rolleyes:

BETTER CHOICE (http://mactools.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemNum=ET5002-TR)

[Sneaks]

Thank you for sharing. Now can I get some recommendations between $88 and $2200 that's good enough to poke around and maybe reset the simpler error codes? Something for the casual curious geezer not an all out GM Road Warrior?

[mdrag]

Sneaks,

Check out AUTOTAP (http://www.autotap.com) for another option. AutoTap also has a version that works on Palm PDAs.

Of course the Tech2 will do a lot more but also it is quite a bit more $$$. Interesting that AutoTap (laptop and PDA versions) works on my wife's foriegn car, but the Tech2 with the 3-in-1 software does not...

Good luck.

[dmaxalliTech]

Originally posted by Sneaks:
Thank you for sharing. Now can I get some recommendations between $88 and $2200 that's good enough to poke around and maybe reset the simpler error codes? Something for the casual curious geezer not an all out GM Road Warrior? sorry couldnt resist, I wouldnt buy one of the MAC ones myself. I like the tech-2.

As far as something in between, I have seen something that works with a PDA, I thought about getting one to try out, IIRC it was about 400.00. I am not sure what all it will do. I think something that works good and also will add horsepower(if your lookin for it) is the Predator. Its will read/erase codes and give you live engine data. It wont do nothing for the trans though. Can be had for about 450-500 depending on vendor.

[Idle_Chatter]

Sneaks, for just reading codes and resetting them, you can't beat the Universal Code Reader, Harbor Freight Tools item #46030-0BEA - $49.99 (sometimes on sale for $39.99). Mine seems to work fine, but as yet I have never had a code set, so I can't guarantee the reset function.

[Idle_Chatter]

Try looking here:
CODE READER (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=46030)

[ 07-24-2003, 01:41 PM: Message edited by: Idle_Chatter ]

[Sneaks]

No problem. (g) Actually, $88 ain't gonna break me so I think I'll try it out. The software does have a GM vehicle patch and, more importantly, the source code is available.

I may not be a MechTech, but I started out with the IBM 360 series 'puters (which definitely shows my age) programmed assembly with switches and real bit buckets, and progressed through various OS's back when hard drives were 14" in diameter. (The equivalent of a GM mech who worked on '56 Chevys when they were new, not when they were being restored....)

If it's worthachit I'll report back.

Tech-2 is nice, but for me it's like getting a new Peterbilt to tow a 14 ft. boat.

Don

[dmaxalliTech]

Originally posted by Sneaks:
Tech-2 is nice, but for me it's like getting a new Peterbilt to tow a 14 ft. boat.

Don Hmmm, not thats an idea, do they make Western plow brackets for those? I have always been a Volvo man when it came to trucks.....