Scanning tools?

[capriceowns]

I really need a scanning tool, and the one that can hook up to my carb as well.

What are the names of them? Ive never used them before so idk what there called.

What it cost me to buy the two I need?

[Blue Bowtie]

What year(s) vehicle are you asking about?

[capriceowns]

Originally Posted by Blue Bowtie

What year(s) vehicle are you asking about?

for my 87 caprice.

I just need a cheap o one that shows the code errors, and can maybe plug into my carb.

[HLandin]

Your 1987 car will use OBD I which means you can find a wide variety of cheap scanners. The one I use will cause the service engine soon light to flash to display the code when plugged in. As a alternative, you can use the jumper method to flash the codes (just get your terminals right).

[capriceowns]

Originally Posted by HLandin

Your 1987 car will use OBD I which means you can find a wide variety of cheap scanners. The one I use will cause the service engine soon light to flash to display the code when plugged in. As a alternative, you can use the jumper method to flash the codes (just get your terminals right).

Ive never heard of a jumper method, what is it?

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by capriceowns

Ive never heard of a jumper method, what is it?

Use a paper clip, a wire or whatever to jumper the A & B terminals of the ALDL (under the dash to the left of the steering column, plastic plug that says "DIAGNOSTIC") and turn the key to Run but DO NOT START the engine. It will flash a series of flashes - i.e. flash-pause-flash-flash indicates a 12, flash-flash-flash-flash-pause-flash-flash-flash-flash-flash indicates 45 etc. The trouble codes flash 3 times each before moving onto the next.

[capriceowns]

Originally Posted by silicon212

Use a paper clip, a wire or whatever to jumper the A & B terminals of the ALDL (under the dash to the left of the steering column, plastic plug that says "DIAGNOSTIC") and turn the key to Run but DO NOT START the engine. It will flash a series of flashes - i.e. flash-pause-flash-flash indicates a 12, flash-flash-flash-flash-pause-flash-flash-flash-flash-flash indicates 45 etc. The trouble codes flash 3 times each before moving onto the next.

sounds easy enough thanks. Will it display any codes my carb is throwing out, or just the engine?

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by capriceowns

sounds easy enough thanks. Will it display any codes my carb is throwing out, or just the engine?

The carb does not throw out codes - that's dealt with by the ECM. The ECM will display carb related codes however, such as lean, rich, M/C solenoid, etc.

[WMX267]

i'm sorry to butt in... but a scan tool only serves the purpose of being able to tell you if all our sensors work well right? But to be able to do make changes on the way your engine performs (that's called tuning?), you would need a different tool or program? is that what they call flash reprogramming? what products are available in the market... I drive a honda 2000 civic, but i'd also want one that would be compatible with other vehicles as well. any additional information about scan tools, OBD's and tuning would be appreciated. Thanks a lot!

[capriceowns]

Originally Posted by WMX267

i'm sorry to butt in... but a scan tool only serves the purpose of being able to tell you if all our sensors work well right? But to be able to do make changes on the way your engine performs (that's called tuning?), you would need a different tool or program? is that what they call flash reprogramming? what products are available in the market... I drive a honda 2000 civic, but i'd also want one that would be compatible with other vehicles as well. any additional information about scan tools, OBD's and tuning would be appreciated. Thanks a lot!

You got too much Honda on your brain confusing you.

A scanner just doesnt display Sensor codes. it does, but with todays engines, a sensor can tell you everything about you car. the sensor will tell you if its broken or if what it was designed to read isnt right.

as for "tuning" i dont know if you mean ricing but you cant really tune your car, its all handled by the computer.you can change like idle and stuff. but thats it. you can reprogram it, but thats too much work.

all scanners for your car which is OBDII are the same theyll all display the codes, just some are more fancy that tell you what the codes mean/have other tests.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by capriceowns

You got too much Honda on your brain confusing you.

A scanner just doesnt display Sensor codes. it does, but with todays engines, a sensor can tell you everything about you car. the sensor will tell you if its broken or if what it was designed to read isnt right.

as for "tuning" i dont know if you mean ricing but you cant really tune your car, its all handled by the computer.you can change like idle and stuff. but thats it. you can reprogram it, but thats too much work.

all scanners for your car which is OBDII are the same theyll all display the codes, just some are more fancy that tell you what the codes mean/have other tests.

To expand on this, OBDII has certain codes that are the same across manufacturers, but there are manufacturer-specific codes also that vary from car to car. The OBDII system pretty much tells you exactly what's wrong with the car.

[WMX267]

[quote=capriceowns]You got too much Honda on your brain confusing you.

as for "tuning" i dont know if you mean ricing but you cant really tune your car, its all handled by the computer.you can change like idle and stuff. but thats it. you can reprogram it, but thats too much work.

I believe reprogramming is what i am referring to when i wrote "tuning". and yes... i do mean the one's that are used for racing (ricing?). won't you able to adjust the amount of fuel delivery, ignition timing, airflow (somewhat like airflow controllers), etc. using that reprogramming tool on a computer? what's it called by the way? - and is that still different from a scan tool? isn't that the gadget they had on Fast and the Furious?

oh yeah... OBDII tells us exactly what is wrong with the engine because it has a predetermined set of trouble codes for specific problems right? the need for a scan tool, is really to be able to convert the bleeps of the check engine light into readable material. right?

[capriceowns]

[quote=WMX267]

Originally Posted by capriceowns

You got too much Honda on your brain confusing you.

as for "tuning" i dont know if you mean ricing but you cant really tune your car, its all handled by the computer.you can change like idle and stuff. but thats it. you can reprogram it, but thats too much work.

I believe reprogramming is what i am referring to when i wrote "tuning". and yes... i do mean the one's that are used for racing (ricing?). won't you able to adjust the amount of fuel delivery, ignition timing, airflow (somewhat like airflow controllers), etc. using that reprogramming tool on a computer? what's it called by the way? - and is that still different from a scan tool? isn't that the gadget they had on Fast and the Furious?

oh yeah... OBDII tells us exactly what is wrong with the engine because it has a predetermined set of trouble codes for specific problems right? the need for a scan tool, is really to be able to convert the bleeps of the check engine light into readable material. right?

exactly

[WMX267]

okay.... so what do they do exactly when they "tune" a car? as in racing. what's a dyno?

[capriceowns]

Originally Posted by WMX267

okay.... so what do they do exactly when they "tune" a car? as in racing. what's a dyno?

when they tune a car they usually dyno it, look at spark advancement, and fuel/air mixture and adjust occadridanly to what they need it for what ever there doing.