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Car Forum / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Malibu / February 2005GM Scan tool
I was fortunate enough to pickup the shop service manual for my 2004 Malibu Classic on eBay for next to nothing. Many of the troubleshooting procedures involve attaching a scan tool to diagnose problems or change settings. Does anyone know if this scan tool is generally available or affordable? Or do GM keep this to themselves and their dealers? Is there a general 'GM' scan tool or is there one for each car model? JP  SignatureJP White mailto:jpwhite3@bellsouth.net I have the device from this WEB site: <http://www.obddiagnostics.com/> and it will read codes and reset the check light. I do not know about changing setting with it. I have no connection with this company, just a satisfied customer. Ron > I was fortunate enough to pickup the shop service manual for my 2004 > Malibu Classic on eBay for next to nothing. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > JP Check some code readers on eBay for OBD II-equipped vehicles if you're on a budget. I managed to snag one for $40 and it reads & resets codes. It's pretty nifty & definitely worth the $40. It'll read any car's codes that use OBD-II... which I think they started in 96. I could be wrong. Anyway, good luck. -Mike -- A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT Cold air intake FRPP 3.73 gears Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo) Hi-speed fan switch 255/60R-15 rear tires Subframe connectors Aluminum adjustable clutch quadrant > I was fortunate enough to pickup the shop service manual for my 2004 > Malibu Classic on eBay for next to nothing. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > JP White > mailto:jpwhite3@bellsouth.net > Check some code readers on eBay for OBD II-equipped vehicles if you're on a > budget. I managed to snag one for $40 and it reads & resets codes. It's [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > -Mike Judging by the manual, the scan tool referred to in the shop manual goes further than your average OBDII scanner. (I have one of those). For instance, programming of the keyless entry transmitters (Fobs) can only be done with a scan tool. The manual tells you which menu item to select to do this, it sounds very proprietary. JP SignatureJP White mailto:jpwhite3@bellsouth.net Well, again... I said if you were on a budget. If you have hundreds to thousands of dollars to spend on an OBD-II scan tool then go for it. But buying a big, fancy, expensive one for *one* vehicle is absurd. All you really need to do is read codes for troubleshooting when you get a MIL (malfunction indicator light). -Mike -- A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT Cold air intake FRPP 3.73 gears Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo) Hi-speed fan switch 255/60R-15 rear tires Subframe connectors Aluminum adjustable clutch quadrant > > Check some code readers on eBay for OBD II-equipped vehicles if you're on a > > budget. I managed to snag one for $40 and it reads & resets codes. It's [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > JP White > mailto:jpwhite3@bellsouth.net > Well, again... I said if you were on a budget. If you have hundreds to > thousands of dollars to spend on an OBD-II scan tool then go for it. But > buying a big, fancy, expensive one for *one* vehicle is absurd. All you > really need to do is read codes for troubleshooting when you get a MIL > (malfunction indicator light). Since I already have a general purpose tool that can read and reset codes, I don't need another. However, many diagnostic procedures require their tool. I was simply enquiring if any one knew anything about this tool and availability/cost. Clearly if it costs thousands I won't be interested. I suspect that the scan tool is not made for one particular car, but for a range of GM vehicles. (It would be equally absurd of GM to expect dealers to buy a new tool for every car model/year combination). In addition if I want to program my keyless entry FOB's (I do actually - since I acquired some extra ones at a low cost) then the GM tool is the ONLY way to do so with this particular vehicle. Looks like a trip to the dealer for this task. I suspect that many other tasks will be the same unless I can come up with the correct tool at a reasonable cost in the meantime. Anyone know anything about the GM Scan tool? JP SignatureJP White mailto:jpwhite3@bellsouth.net If you own a laptop/notebook computer, there is a module that scans OBD II and even allows reprogramming of the car's ROM's. Not for the timid, not even sure if they work. Have seen them on eBay though. There are some for 400-500+. Some are specific to GM. Some are not. Honestly, if you think you're going to use it a lot... then go ahead & get one. If you only need it once or twice, it'd really be cheaper just to let the dealership do it. -Mike -- A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT Cold air intake FRPP 3.73 gears Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo) Hi-speed fan switch 255/60R-15 rear tires Subframe connectors Aluminum adjustable clutch quadrant > > Well, again... I said if you were on a budget. If you have hundreds to > > thousands of dollars to spend on an OBD-II scan tool then go for it. But [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > JP White > mailto:jpwhite3@bellsouth.net > Check some code readers on eBay for OBD II-equipped vehicles if you're on > a [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > -Mike '96 is right, some '95s even work. > -- > A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >> JP White >> mailto:jpwhite3@bellsouth.net |
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