Solder and Wiring and Scan Tools oh my....

[VTEC_Inside]

I'll spare the details, but I volunteered (at my leisure) to repair an engine wiring harness for a friend of my cousins because I get a kick out of solving puzzles.

The engine that harness belonged to fired up tonight and ran fine. Only threw codes for the O2 sensors that weren't hooked up. It was a lot of work piecing that harness back together so it was a great feeling to see the sob run.

NEXT,

My other buddy (Saturn mechanic) also stopped by with a customer car tonight, an '05 ION with an intermittent problem. Screw the car and the problem, more importantly he brought home the GM Tech 2 scanner with it. That thing was like a big ass gameboy for me. I could spend hours screwing around with it. If it has a wire going to it, you can manipulate it with that scan tool.

I probably need to get out more because I thought it was cool that I could engage and disengage the AC compressor clutch without the engine even running. Also being able to see the difference in speed between the crank and transmission input shaft was cool too.

[AutobahnSHO]

Geek. 

I'd love to get something like that for my cars..

[r0tor]

I could spend hours screwing around with it. If it has a wire going to it, you can manipulate it with that scan tool.

you should work in a new power plant... lolz

[S204STi]

My other buddy (Saturn mechanic) also stopped by with a customer car tonight, an '05 ION with an intermittent problem. Screw the car and the problem, more importantly he brought home the GM Tech 2 scanner with it. That thing was like a big ass gameboy for me. I could spend hours screwing around with it. If it has a wire going to it, you can manipulate it with that scan tool.

I probably need to get out more because I thought it was cool that I could engage and disengage the AC compressor clutch without the engine even running. Also being able to see the difference in speed between the crank and transmission input shaft was cool too.

Yeah, it's a pretty powerful tool.  After working with one for a few years you start to see its limitations, but it's still an effective machine.  Right now GM is working on combining their wireless MDI (Multiple Diagnostic Interface) which we can currently only use for programming with a PC based scantool software which will allow us to wirelessly interface with and diagnose a car, using a laptop and the MDI which is roughly the size of the CANDi module that was attached to the Tech II you were using.  Kinda neat.

[SVT_Power]

we've got a GM tech 2 thingy or whatever in the garage for the team.

How much are those things worth? 

[VTEC_Inside]

we've got a GM tech 2 thingy or whatever in the garage for the team.

How much are those things worth? 

You can get them for anywhere between $3000-$5000 depending on what you get with it.

[S204STi]

Bosch makes a replica, fwiw.  Not sure what it sells for though.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Determinator!

[SVT_Power]

I remember the team captain mentioning that big thing is pretty valuable but I didn't think it was worth that much 

[Morris Minor]

Do you have a recommendation for an inexpensive scan tool? I'd like something comprehensible to an amateur where I could easily look up a trouble code & have a clue what's going on before deciding whether I could fix it myself or submit to rape at the hands of a dealer.

[r0tor]

do you own a laptop?

[Morris Minor]

do you own a laptop?

Yes - a Mac

[r0tor]

mac 

[VTEC_Inside]

mac 

I must be getting soft, because I was just about to post the same thing yesterday but figured I'd be nice.

[AutobahnSHO]

Yes - a Mac

I know I'm late, but that's not a laptop.

It's a fashion accessory that does some computer stuff. 
(I'm guessing the makers of scan tools don't make software for mac- have you ever seen a Mac in the garage? )

[giant_mtb]

There's some yuppy hybrid-only mechanic shop in California called "Luscious Garage".  They have Macs.

[S204STi]

There's some yuppy hybrid-only mechanic shop in California called "Luscious Garage".  They have Macs.

Seems like it would be hard to turn wrenches with a limp wrist.

[hotrodalex]

Seems like it would be hard to turn wrenches with a limp wrist.

Power tools