Tech 2 - What does it do?

Considering buying a tech 2 knockoff to tinker with my '90 5.7 4WD. I specifically want to activate the ABS and see if it even works/get a more robust pedal, but would also like to have a more in-depth diag tool around so I can learn more about the truck. The cheapo websites state that their knock-off Tech 2's work on '91 and up GM cars, so first question is, will this even work on my '90? Second question: I'm having trouble finding a good resource for what the Tech 2 can do such as a manual specific for GM vehicles that lets you know what data/operations would be available to me. I did find a Tech 2 manual, but it seems to be geared more toward how to connect, update and self test the unit. Any direction on where I can find diag resources using the tech 2 specific for early '90s OBD systems would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

I don't know whether it will work on a '90, and the ads probably state '91-later since that was the first year that a standard was set up...OBD-1.

What it is is a scan and data collection tool specific to GM, Saab, and some others i believe. When you run it with GM software, it is a scan and data collection tool specifically integrated with that model year of GM vehicle selected. The integration is such that it is also deeply integrated with the service manual diagnostics steps, and where the service manual refers to engine data lists these are the exact PID's reported by the scan tool.

Here is a video of how to use the snap shot which is the most useful feature i have found from tech-2 with my '96 C1500.

...or buy an aftermarket scan tool, preferably a professional-grade tool not consumer-grade. I'd rather have a "real" Snap-On scanner than a knockoff Chinese Tech 2.

Snap-On "Red Brick" MT2500, Solus family, etc.
OTC Genisys or Pegisys (be careful. OTC is a four-letter word around here. I got totally screwed on warranty service for a "lifetime warranty" OTC product.
there are others, but those are the two main ones.

The (Professional grade) aftermarket scan tools can do nearly everything that the Tech 2 can do. There's a few things that are Tech 2 only.

There are used genuine Tech 2s on eBay.

joe

Appreciate the inputs and good points. If the new pro-grade tools will handle the '90 (to some extent), then it's probably worth investing. At least then it can read my modern vehicles as well.

studigggs said:

If the new pro-grade tools will handle the '90 (to some extent), then it's probably worth investing.

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i know the solus from snap on will. If i remeber correctly it will go back to 86. you will have to buy the adapter and the plugs to plug it in. It is not a exactly cheap either. When i got mine it was 2700 and about another 100 for the adapters and there respective parts. i haven't looked online to see what they are going for but you might be able to find them for less.

studigggs said:

If the new pro-grade tools will handle the '90 (to some extent), then it's probably worth investing. At least then it can read my modern vehicles as well.

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Depends on the age of the scan tool, AND the capacity of the software.

My MTG2500 will go from 80 1/2--2006, using two software cartridges ('80 1/2--'99, and '96--'06) and a heaping pile of pre-OBD II adapters. Support for the '2500 ended in 2009, so there's no software to scan newer vehicles than that except in generic OBD II mode.

The original Solus, and some of the later members of the Solus family are also beyond their support-date. Modis is essentially a Solus and a Vantage in one box--so similar support or lack thereof.

I don't know what the OTC models have for software support, but if it's like the rest of the OTC line, support WILL be a problem.

Mac Tools sold Mac-branded OTC stuff for years. So did Matco. I'm not that familiar with Cornwell Tools. A search of eBay for Snap, Mac, Matco, Cornwell, OTC and "Scan Tool" would probably yield thousands of results for scan tools and scan accessories--adapters, cartridges, batteries, cables, etc.

studigggs said:

Considering buying a tech 2 knockoff to tinker with my '90 5.7 4WD. I specifically want to activate the ABS and see if it even works/get a more robust pedal, but would also like to have a more in-depth diag tool around so I can learn more about the truck. The cheapo websites state that their knock-off Tech 2's work on '91 and up GM cars, so first question is, will this even work on my '90? Second question: I'm having trouble finding a good resource for what the Tech 2 can do such as a manual specific for GM vehicles that lets you know what data/operations would be available to me. I did find a Tech 2 manual, but it seems to be geared more toward how to connect, update and self test the unit. Any direction on where I can find diag resources using the tech 2 specific for early '90s OBD systems would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

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First of all. There was no European, US, or Canadian standardization of OBD til 1996. OBD I is a 1991-1995 CALIFORNIA standard. The rest of GM production used ALDL... Assembly Line Diagnostic Link or Assembly Line Data Link depending on who you ask. It was not a standard even within one GM brand... More like the Tower of Babel. For Example: There are several flavors ALDL of data from Pontiac vehicles in the same model year and even in the same model depending on when they were manufactured and from what assembly plant. Does your head ache yet? How did they get away with that crap?

To get decent functionality you're going to end up spending some money.

Your best least expensive bet for 1980-92 GM is a red brick Snap-On MT2500 with the proper cartridges, cables, connectors, and personality keys. Getting the manuals would be darn handy too.
It won't have all of the bi-directional capabilities of the Tech 1 variety tools but it'll come close enough for most stuff.
It can become a small treasure hunt but it's not as bad as the Tech 1 variety tools and generally less expensive.
As with most vintage electronics I would get it re-capped by a competent electronics tech. Electrolytic and Tantalum capacitors don't age well and 30ish years is definitely past their replace-by date. Electrolytic capacitors turn into resistors and damage components as they age. Tantalum caps just fry everything around them. I doubt GM went to the expense of using Tantalums in anything but they liberally sprinkled electrolytics through everything. The electrolytic caps in Your wiper delay board and various other small electronic bits of your truck, including the ECM, have no doubt gotten to this stage in their lifecycle.
Since our workshops aren't well heated... Storing in a pelican case with a re-chargeable desiccant pak or even just jumbo Ziploc freezer bags inside the original box will keep moisture from aging it as fast as leaving it loose in the original box where temp and humidity extremes can cause condensation.

If you're looking for the kind of functionality that GM dealers had 30 years ago you'll need to assemble a Vetronix Tech 1, Tech1A, or a Bosch Mastertech 3100. All three use the same program cartridges. You'll likely end up spending in the $1,000-$1,500 range by the time you complete your treasure hunt. I found a complete GM equipped MTS3100 several years ago for $600 but prices are really out of hand now.
If you actually find a working Tech1 or 1A... Again... I would get it re-capped by a competent electronics tech.
Make sure the membrane keypad is in working order as they are made of unobtainium.
The Mastertech 3100 is more likely to be close enough to complete to be useful as purchased and it will do everything the Tech1/1A will do with a larger LCD screen.
The Tech 1 tools tend to become a serious treasure hunt as sellers seem to think they can make more money breaking up the tool sets into the constituent parts and selling them one piece at a time... maybe yes maybe no but really quite obnoxious for someone that's trying to find a mostly usable tool.
The IEEE or D-Sub to ALDL data cables are made of unobtainium. The truly frustrating thing is that, even tho there are known good cables out there and the IEEE, D-Sub, and ALDL plugs and connector bits are available, there doesn't seem to be a reference with the cable pinouts and there's a complete lack of interest in making them available.
For any one of the three you'll need the Body, ECM, and Brake (ABS) cartridges that cover your model year or an earlier revision of the Mass storage cartridge that hasn't had the 1990 functions neutered.

My $399 Chinese Tech 2 works just fine on 1992-2010 GM, SAAB, Isuzu, etc. There are a few things to be aware of.
They're all coming from Mainland China. Likely from the same outfits that Bosch used to build the originals.
The power supply on some of the really cheap clones is less than stellar. Easy enough for a competent tech with the right tools to replace if need be. I swapped in a Mornsun in about 20 minutes but I have the tools and the experience. None of the clones have the ultra low voltage input DC-DC converter that Vetronix/HP used on the real deal so the unit will re-boot when you start the vehicle. We can't buy one either... However the Datel and Mornsun bricks work just fine down to 7VDC or so. I never had a situation where I needed it to stay up during a re-start. I'll probably just use a battery pak on the external power jack if I do.
The VCI on the super duper cheap units doesn't work properly if at all. Again if you get the $300 ish and up units from known sources that's not an issue.
The surface mount MAX232 RS232-TTL level shift chip in the serial port has been noted to be an incorrect part on some older clones. If your board has a MAX202 and you want to use the serial port you get to do float that chip off and float a MAX232 on.
IMHO the Tech 2 is dangerous to use as a J2534 passthrough tool. It depends on truly stable RS232 communication and that requires a real RS232 serial port with a Rockwell compliant UART that most computers just do not have anymore. Since the Tech 2 doesn't support 2010 and later rigs I bought a WiFi MDI clone for programming from AC Delco TIS. Your 1990 ECM likely uses EPROMs, not flash memory, and I doubt TIS still supports these rigs anyway... so this is a non-issue for you.

The Tech 2 linear flash card images, that are available in the wild, start with the 91 model year coverage. I'm not sure how good the Tech 2 1991 Model year coverage is. I generally use my Mastertech 3100 on the earlier stuff. You might or might not get away with lying to the Tech 2 about the model year.
The SAAB guys put together a pretty decent Tech 2 WiKi with binary images of the linear flash cards for the Tech 2 and even a locator to find someone local that has one. There's a "request membership" Tech 2 facebook page where you can get technical help as well.
http://tech2wiki.com/doku.php

Well, it looks like "hatzie" answered most of your questions. The main thing is since your working on a 1990, your TECH2 only gets back to 1992. Your vehicle has very little bi-directional communications but also has very few on-board modules to get info from. The TECH2 was required equipment at the Buick / Isuzu dealer as the diagnostic flow chart to repair any GM vehicle was written to require the use of the TECH2. It runs off the vehicle interface module that takes UART, Class2, Keyword 2000 and 2001 found on Cadillacs and translates these serial data operational signal into a form the the tool can read. This explains why the CANdi module was required in 2004 for the Vette as it was the first to use HI Speed serial data on a two wire network, using terminals 6 & 14.
The cheap Chinese knock-offs have many problems, but my Hewlett-Packard U.S. built TECH2 (Still working great thank you) was the original manufacture of the tool while GM farmed out the writing of the software to Midtronics, who later bought the rights to the TECH2 before Bosch bought that company. MAC tools sold it as the "Flash" for about 2 or 3 years, but Kent-Moore carried the tool for GM, but a contract with OTC found wording that allowed them to get some action.
The TECH2 has two PCMCIA card slots on top. Turn the TECH2 on, arrow left or right, toggles between the cards. So GM in slot #1, Isuzu in slot #2 and never touch them.
These where available OEM for Saab, Isuzu, GM, certain Toyota & Suzuki models. The PCMCIA card holds 32 MB of info, but as of 2006, GM told us at ACDelco, the new cards had "Initiation Info" for the electronic hand-shake to load a new card with the TECH-LINE terminal then basic working vehicle code that totaled up to about 9-12 mg. This extra room was for downloading code to "Flash or update a working module with new info," or "Program" a new module out of the box. Some eBay cards were sold, but if they needed updated, you had to send them it back. These where bogus and may have worked, but stealing intellectual properties got them shut down.
Remember, Snappy, MAC, OTC or whoever, has to pay a royalty and an up-front cost for what they want to make available...so you get what you pay for.
Tech1 would be best, but you still don't have much to look at of than engine PIDs. I don't think you have a BCM, so not anything to look at.
I have a MasterTech from Vetronix with a box of cards that I would let go for $150, but I am not sure, to be honest, what good it will do. It has a dated import card, mass storage card, GM card, GM Program card...but I am not sure what all they cover. I have a 30 foot TECH2 cord custom made for GM only 1 of 900 made, but it works with the J2634 program tool and the TECH2 of course...but that won't help.

I your brakes of but just low at the pedal. Pin to pedal wear. If done carefully, adjust the pin between the booster and master, but too much, it will cover the inlet hole inside the rear of the master. Make sure the ABS front sensor air gap is correct and not too large due to rust. That's the reason for un-desired ABS events when slowing on dry pavement.

I have absolutely no experience with a SnapOn scan-tool but had many service techs in the mid-west tell me it have no access to body, limited other functions, expensive yearly updates...but I am sure they are better now and more expensive.

The TECH2 can capture data, show 5 fail records, trigger to capture engine data on a cranks-but-no-start tow in vehicle. Many don't know that. Plotting is a nice feature to watch sensor over a period of time to see if one or more is goofy. MAF, CMP, CKP, MAP... are things worth looking at including block-learn or fuel trim are handy plus o2 sensor activity.

I just don't think you will benefit much unless you find a buddy that can plug & play, show you the goods, then find one cheap. Other than that, I wouldn't worry about it much.
Just remember, the new codes & vehicles include the Code w/fail code. This means that 2 extra digits are shown with the code, 01, 02, 03 ,04 and so on that means open, short, ground, B+, etc. This is on newer vehicles for over a decade or more now.
Best of luck!

Again, Thanks to all for educating me and providing valuable info above. To be honest, a lot of it doesn't make sense to me, but on that note... I've purchased a MT2500 kit off of ebay and am excited to start learning more about it. Came out to $315 shipped, but it looks to be in better physical condition than the units going for $200, has a return window and is a local seller. Still cheaper than the Tech2 clone. I'll probably be back to ask more questions once I can associate the terms above with the hardware soon-to-be in hand.