I'm so sick of this car bucking and coughing that I'm going to bite the bullet and buy something that will tell me what the problem is. It only does it occassionally but lately more often. What should I buy that I can see what is going on while driving and what will it tell me is wrong? Do I need a scientist to ride with me and decifier these codes? I'm baffeled. Tommy
scanmeters/testing&monitoring equipment
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chris j. 87gn
Back In Black
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 32
you are going to be told about the scanmaster... you will also be told to get one first thing, and nothing is more important... believe me i see why, even though i still have not one for myself.. there is also directscan, which after looking into is that scientist you were looking for... however scanmaster is a smaller and mountable instrument that you can perm. mount somewhere inside to reference at all times , where as directscan is run via a laptop and is not permanently mounted anywhere, unless of course you go with the laptop mount option that replaces the ashtray!
...kidding....i have come to understand that the direct refreshes much faster and shows more data than the scan master, but for cost and application scanmaster is the stuff to have. i have swapped emails with the gentlemen that says he is the developer of the directscan(as i'm sure, many others have) and i lean that direction ,but, i have gotten no responce from any thing scanmaster except what you hear here... you had better have one, and i do agree, i was showed why, not long ago, and it makes sence,i , however, am too busy laying money into vibration problems to invest just yet. what kinda codes do you need deciphered?... i made this long so i too could get some feed back that will tell me if i have understood what it is i am saying, and believe me these guys will tell you if your right or you need to be driving a datsun! i myself have been looking for a used scanmaster, to no avail, again, they are gold(!), so good luck, let us know!
...kidding....i have come to understand that the direct refreshes much faster and shows more data than the scan master, but for cost and application scanmaster is the stuff to have. i have swapped emails with the gentlemen that says he is the developer of the directscan(as i'm sure, many others have) and i lean that direction ,but, i have gotten no responce from any thing scanmaster except what you hear here... you had better have one, and i do agree, i was showed why, not long ago, and it makes sence,i , however, am too busy laying money into vibration problems to invest just yet. what kinda codes do you need deciphered?... i made this long so i too could get some feed back that will tell me if i have understood what it is i am saying, and believe me these guys will tell you if your right or you need to be driving a datsun! i myself have been looking for a used scanmaster, to no avail, again, they are gold(!), so good luck, let us know!JadeMonkeyStang
TRs on the Brain
- Joined
- May 25, 2001
- Messages
- 556
A scanmaster II is a necessity with these cars. It will allow you to actually tune your car and get it running right (by giving tps and iac values and other data) and then to keep you from damaging it as you continue to tune for maximum performance (by watching knock). Do a search here for scanmaster or any of those terms and you'll find tons of information.
DirectScan and Turbolink are two more advanced tools that run on a laptop in the car. They'll give you more information as well as being able to log and chart it so you can see what the car is doing during a 1/4 pass or within a specified time. Each has it's own advantages and there are many sources of information and opinion out there.
For what it seems like you've got a scanmaster is the best bet. It will tell you what you need to know and it's always there. Not expensive at all to make your car run right and to keep it safe. Tuning is essential with these cars and if you don't know what's going on it's awfully hard to get them tuned right. There have been a couple used ones on this board and the others in the last week or so. It's not a bad thing to buy a new one though and spend some money with our vendors. I believe someone even has them on special this month, though I could be mistaken.
Oh, and pick up a new chip, technology and knowledge about these cars has come a long way since that chip was made.
-Jade
DirectScan and Turbolink are two more advanced tools that run on a laptop in the car. They'll give you more information as well as being able to log and chart it so you can see what the car is doing during a 1/4 pass or within a specified time. Each has it's own advantages and there are many sources of information and opinion out there.
For what it seems like you've got a scanmaster is the best bet. It will tell you what you need to know and it's always there. Not expensive at all to make your car run right and to keep it safe. Tuning is essential with these cars and if you don't know what's going on it's awfully hard to get them tuned right. There have been a couple used ones on this board and the others in the last week or so. It's not a bad thing to buy a new one though and spend some money with our vendors. I believe someone even has them on special this month, though I could be mistaken.
Oh, and pick up a new chip, technology and knowledge about these cars has come a long way since that chip was made.
-Jade
Scan tool
All the tools mentioned so far are great and I use Turbo link, because I can sit down later and analyze the test drive. The tool I use when I have a problem and need to fix it fast is the Autoxray EZ-Scan 6000. It will work on any car not just Buicks. It will work on OBDII, GM OBDI, Chrysler, Ford, and most foreign cars. It will capture data to down load into my computer. It will give me direct readout for ignition retard, O2 readings, TPS, IAC, MAF, What gear the trans is in, Coolant temp, Engine load, RPM, Loop status, Ign timing advance, short term fuel trim, vehicle speed, just to give you an idea. It will capture trouble codes and explain what the numbers mean. They make several models, but the 6000 is the one to get. The only thing better is snapon and the cost is to high for me.
I think the link is Autoxray.com
All the tools mentioned so far are great and I use Turbo link, because I can sit down later and analyze the test drive. The tool I use when I have a problem and need to fix it fast is the Autoxray EZ-Scan 6000. It will work on any car not just Buicks. It will work on OBDII, GM OBDI, Chrysler, Ford, and most foreign cars. It will capture data to down load into my computer. It will give me direct readout for ignition retard, O2 readings, TPS, IAC, MAF, What gear the trans is in, Coolant temp, Engine load, RPM, Loop status, Ign timing advance, short term fuel trim, vehicle speed, just to give you an idea. It will capture trouble codes and explain what the numbers mean. They make several models, but the 6000 is the one to get. The only thing better is snapon and the cost is to high for me.
I think the link is Autoxray.com
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2003
- Messages
- 9,818
im currently run with none of the considered std monitors like scanmaster , turbolink or direct scan
i have 30lbboost /vac gauge , autometer sport comp air/ fuel meter , mech oil press and mech temp , i started out checking things with my otc 2000 ( they are nice because they are cheap and fit nice in console box ), i also have an auto x-ray 6000 (550 on ebayfrom a registered auto xray vendor )the auto xray does all the otc and has 30 event record mode that will allow playback to its screen or file to PC , my question is should I be running a monitor like the scan master , turbolink or direct scan ? they cost about the same and laptaps are cheap , so i leaning toward direct scan .
I havent pushed the car to its limits yet (no track run) right now car is basically stock running 12lbs boost (stock non adjustable wastegate)with hotwire 340 pump, accel adj reg ,30# green stripe (with 125K felt had to replace OEs ) , 16 gnx style rims and dual flowmasters ,
i have picked up a few different chips to run but not sure which one so I still run the stock one the chips i have are (Hypertech street 41371 , KB 9000U, two ATR 30lbs one stripHP138A and one street ??(no sticker) and one custom burn reads master intel 2732a c616(no clue )
I have an old Kbell ram air intake on the way, my next is replace the pass rear controll arm bushing thats driving my KRs up ,a heated O2 and new cat .
i have 30lbboost /vac gauge , autometer sport comp air/ fuel meter , mech oil press and mech temp , i started out checking things with my otc 2000 ( they are nice because they are cheap and fit nice in console box ), i also have an auto x-ray 6000 (550 on ebayfrom a registered auto xray vendor )the auto xray does all the otc and has 30 event record mode that will allow playback to its screen or file to PC , my question is should I be running a monitor like the scan master , turbolink or direct scan ? they cost about the same and laptaps are cheap , so i leaning toward direct scan .
I havent pushed the car to its limits yet (no track run) right now car is basically stock running 12lbs boost (stock non adjustable wastegate)with hotwire 340 pump, accel adj reg ,30# green stripe (with 125K felt had to replace OEs ) , 16 gnx style rims and dual flowmasters ,
i have picked up a few different chips to run but not sure which one so I still run the stock one the chips i have are (Hypertech street 41371 , KB 9000U, two ATR 30lbs one stripHP138A and one street ??(no sticker) and one custom burn reads master intel 2732a c616(no clue )
I have an old Kbell ram air intake on the way, my next is replace the pass rear controll arm bushing thats driving my KRs up ,a heated O2 and new cat .
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