With 2 GM vehicles, it's time to buy a scanner. My wifes AWD Disable light came on and my truck's light always seem to be off and on.

I looked on eBay, and just want someone to chime in and tell me if this will work........ Item number: 280200835981

Seems cheap, but it may be all I need?

Thanks!

it will or should work. i picked up a geniscan 300 from princess auto and it gave me a code for ect's. swapped out the sensor and all was good. by my calculations i would have paid parts + labour and it'd probably cost about 200.00 to have it fixed. i paid 80.00 for the scanner and 35.00 for the part. i also have the scanner for the next code that pops up. only thing is it will not read tranny codes, just the engine. Ed

Thanks for the reply Ed. Seems a guy should always have one of these things kicking around. Hey, I may be able to help someone else with it too...of course for a beer or two.:D

Are you looking for a scanner or a code clearer?

MMMmmmm Beer!!!

This one (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GM-Tech-2-Vetronix-Automotive-Dealership-Scanner-32mb_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43989QQihZ003QQite mZ130199779738QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW) is better.:D
Then I can borrow it....:D

Bear in mind the cheap code readers for OBDII( I have one) will work on these trucks but you can't use the books they come with for deciphering the DTCs. You need to look in the DTC chart here. The one the scanners come with are for gassers.

Bear in mind the cheap code readers for OBDII( I have one) will work on these trucks but you can't use the books they come with for deciphering the DTCs. You need to look in the DTC chart here. The one the scanners come with are for gassers. my booklet has codes fro my truck and gassers. Ed

This one (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GM-Tech-2-Vetronix-Automotive-Dealership-Scanner-32mb_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43989QQihZ003QQite mZ130199779738QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW) is better.:D
Then I can borrow it....:D

They are really nice to have :D
See Sig.

Are you looking for a scanner or a code clearer?


Don't they read the codes and remove them? Or don't these el cheapos do both?

Got a PA one, works fine for clearing codes on both the truck and 99 Toyota, thought you may have been after scanner like a Tech II or something real expensive.
Beer does sound good!

DD depends on what you wanna do as to which to purchase, for code reading/clearing part store tool is all you need, if wanting to do dignostics with abil;ity to turn stuff on/off in test and capture engine running data you will need a bi-directional tool or laptop software & comm cable that allows your pc to become a scan tool, only negative IMO of GM T2 it is GM only, other scanners/programs can be configured for all US/CAN domestic and some imports,

And what would you recomend if someone wanted to go the Laptop route TD?

If I buy a laptop I can kill 2 birds with one stone... Keep myself and my truck happy :D

I believe Auto Engunuity has worked well for some, IIRC this has been covered before, search for laptop comparisions threads, for OBD-I guys there is a free software tool available you pay for interface cable http://www.enghmotors.com/ is limited vendor here and has free software tool

Great, Thanks!

DD depends on what you wanna do as to which to purchase, for code reading/clearing part store tool is all you need, if wanting to do dignostics with abil;ity to turn stuff on/off in test and capture engine running data you will need a bi-directional tool or laptop software & comm cable that allows your pc to become a scan tool, only negative IMO of GM T2 it is GM only, other scanners/programs can be configured for all US/CAN domestic and some imports,


Thanks for the reply TD. I just need a device that will tell me why the check engine light is on. From there, I'll search here for what the codes may mean.
As for getting all fancy with a laptop and trying to capture running data....hey, if the truck starts and runs good, thats all I need LOL.

I'm bidding to buy this morning!

I need an excuse for my folks to go halves on a laptop for me... They both have one, and I get the obsolete "Out of the trash bin" special... And it's still not a laptop!!!

I need an excuse for my folks to go halves on a laptop for me... They both have one, and I get the obsolete "Out of the trash bin" special... And it's still not a laptop!!!

It's hard to do diagnostics while drivin' with an extension cord runnin' out the back window, not to mention the damn monitor keeps fallin' off the seat...:D

Scope out the Canadian Tire flyer for this week.
Or wait for PA to have there sale (better return policy).

Scope out the Canadian Tire flyer for this week.
Or wait for PA to have there sale (better return policy).


Too late. I bid..bought...and paid for one already on eBay. I hope to be getting it early next week. I'll be sure to post on the quality and my general thought's of this el-cheapo scanner. :)

It's hard to do diagnostics while drivin' with an extension cord runnin' out the back window, not to mention the damn monitor keeps fallin' off the seat...:D

Yea? Think it's funny eh? Well you try explaining to the arresting officer why you have 10,000 feet of extension cord unraveling from the back of your pickup as you drift across lanes! :D

Yea? Think it's funny eh? Well you try explaining to the arresting officer why you have 10,000 feet of extension cord unraveling from the back of your pickup as you drift across lanes! :D

LMAO!!!:D

I was home before my wife one day, sittin' in the driveway with the computer beside me in the truck. She got home, walked by me and rolled her eyes. I said "You not even gonna ask?" All she said was "I've learned that nothin' you do surprises me anymore!" lol

Update:

Good deal I'd say. Took a while to ship, but for 30 bucks, who cares!

I checked the truck, and got code 126 (already fixed) and code 236. I'm going to attack that one when it gets warmer out.

Why did I wait so long to buy one? :confused:

Update:

...
Why did I wait so long to buy one? :confused:

Dunno:D

But on the other hand in you want to use a computer driving down the road, throw a genset in the box.

I'm still kicking between gmtdscan or just buying a tech 1. They go cheap enough.

Dunno:D

But on the other hand in you want to use a computer driving down the road, throw a genset in the box.

Oh sure, you just have all the answers now don't you:D

Just reading the codes isn't particularly helpful, and simply results in replacing parts until the code goes away. I bought AutoEnginuity and the GM expansion. It's worth every penny of $400 to monitor all the sensors real time and see exactly what's happening. OBD2 is probably just as good, and seems to be less money, but I don't regret my purchase one little bit.

You can go to Autozone and get your codes read for free. They won't clear them for you.

Yeah, out here nobody will check codes for free. I know my scanner is cheap, but it's a good start for a home repair job I'm thinking.

I wish I had more $$ to throw at tools sometimes...