Basic SM question

[Heisenberg]

While reading through the Buick Service Manual, it appears the GM techs used a Scan Tool for diagnosing lots of problems.
Many passages refer to being able to see various engine functions, above and beyond what I am used to seeing on the SM.

The basic question is:
Can our SM be used in the same way - or is it limited to displaying those parameters that we see.
Or - is there an additional Scan Tool that makes in depth engine analysis easier.
Of course I have the basic manual for the SM - and it mentions none of this.
Maybe there is a more advanced manual for our SM that I have not read?

One example I could give is where the GM Service Manual directs the technician to be able to view EGR Pintle information using the Scan Tool.
Not that I care too much about an EGR, since I don't have one anymore, but that is an example.

Or is it as simple as I need to buy a typical Scan Tool for those sorts of diagnostics - and if so - which one is recommended?

 

[notacarlo]

I've used a snap on red brick and it showed a lot more data than the scan master..,that being said, the SM shows you what you need to see. All of the other available data is useless unless you are troubleshooting ac commands and what not.

Posted from the TurboBuick.Com mobile app

 

[notacarlo]

IAC counts can be viewed with the brick, but its pretty clear when there is a failure on that part.

Posted from the TurboBuick.Com mobile app

 

[Heisenberg]

I've used a snap on red brick and it showed a lot more data than the scan master..,that being said, the SM shows you what you need to see. All of the other available data is useless unless you are troubleshooting ac commands and what not.

Posted from the TurboBuick.Com mobile app

Hmmm...
For real though?
There seems to be some / alot of other diagnostic data that can be viewed...

Are you saying that say an OTC 2000 or Tech 1 or something of similar ilk doesn't show some other interesting info?

In particular, after reading more of the Service Manual, things like Trans gear switch indications, TCC status, and some other things that I know the ECM has.
Or does the PowerLogger show this and more. - and I'm just so 1980's with this question.
Obviously, no Powerlogger here yet - and the notion of a small handheld diag tool appeals to me.

Just like some of those super specialized Kent-Moore tools I pick up from time to time on the cheap.

What sort of has me on this quest is I also started putting together a pigtail set so that I can measure voltages and such when troubleshooting, without probing with paperclips and other gnarly means.
Trying to be less shade tree, and more disciplined in my approach to troubleshooting!

 

[TurboDave]

Yes, the other scan tools OTC 2000/4000 and others do show a good bit of other data the scanmaster does not show (nor does it need to).
However, the Powerlogger fills the data void if you really need to see everything there is to see, and it will show it at a data speed of near 18 frames per second!

The problem with the other scan tools like the OTC 4000 (which I also have, and no longer use) is that they only plug into the ALDL data port on the car, and as such will only show data at a rate of one scan every 1.5 seconds!! That's a LOT of lost never seen data. I can't believe that's all I had to race with back in the 90's. During a typical 11-12 second run I had a grand total of 7 points of data to look at. Sometimes it caught things, mostly not! Technology wise, they're a boat anchor. Mine's been in the case under the bench for well over a decade now.
I see everything I need to see on Powerlogger, and at blistering speed!