Is buying a Tech 2 worth it?

[CountryBoy19]

I've had DHL packages come from China that took forever, weeks. It depends on how fast they get through US Customs, not necessarily the shipper. I've seen shit sit at NY customs for 2 weeks, some that went through the same place in a couple days. It seems to be a crap shoot although both times they went through San Francisco they came through in a few days.

It's really hit or miss with customs. I had a 3 package shipment coming back from the sand-box, I put copies of all customs forms on the outside of every pkg and 2nd copies on the inside. 1 of 3 & 3 of 3 were delivered in just over a week. 2 of 3 got split off at one point and then tracking showed up as "customs hold". I called fedex several times over the next 2 weeks and was given the run-around about how they can't do anything and blah blah blah. In the meantime it gets moved to a "FedEx Storage facility in ???, Missouri". I keep calling once in a while and keep getting the same runaround. Then, one day I get a call from FedEx, very obviously a different department that has no idea I've been calling for weeks trying to straighten things out. This guy is very eager to get it straigtened out. He said the facility that is holding it is a customs facility that FedEx has to pay exorbitant storage fees for. I told him I've been calling them for weeks to straighten it out and kept getting the run-around. He was not very happy. I explained the situation to him (the other 2 pkgs with the same shipment were already delivered and that if the customs forms were ripped off the outside all they have to do it open it up for a 2nd copy). He said he'll call back if he needed anything else. Within hrs tracking showed it leaving the storage facility.

The Tech 2 is a godsend, especially at the pricepoint its selling at. This is a 3500 dollar tool that previous generations have bought. Its also one of the only bi-directional scantools that will read and interact with OBD 1 vehicles. Most if not all only do the reading. In conjuction with the Tech2 you would also need to have a proper shop manual or a AllData subscription as its the shop manual in Electronic form. Its one thing to have a great scanner but you still need the proper info to work with it. Both the GM manuals and the Alldata are designed to work with the Tech 2 and there info is baked in.

So you have to have the digital manuals from either of those sources to get full functionality of the Tech2? I have a benefit provided through my employer that gets me digital subscription to Chilton (IIRC) service manuals but it has to be through their digital library. I'm assuming that wouldn't work.

So I can still use the tech2 to scan and control modules etc, I just don't get on-screen trouble-shooting trees etc right?

 

[swathdiver]

So you have to have the digital manuals from either of those sources to get full functionality of the Tech2? I have a benefit provided through my employer that gets me digital subscription to Chilton (IIRC) service manuals but it has to be through their digital library. I'm assuming that wouldn't work.

So I can still use the tech2 to scan and control modules etc, I just don't get on-screen trouble-shooting trees etc right?

No, what is meant is that the Tech2 shows you the data and then use your Chilton's shop manual fix it. Let's say someone's AC starts blowing hot on one side. The Tech2 can discover the code identifying the offending actuator and test it. If it's broken, the Chilton's guide shows you how to get in there and replace the actuator.

 

[CountryBoy19]

No, what is meant is that the Tech2 shows you the data and then use your Chilton's shop manual fix it. Let's say someone's AC starts blowing hot on one side. The Tech2 can discover the code identifying the offending actuator and test it. If it's broken, the Chilton's guide shows you how to get in there and replace the actuator.

Ok, I was thrown off by the "Both the GM manuals and the Alldata are designed to work with the Tech 2 and there info is baked in." comment. I thought maybe the digital manual actually works ON the Tech2 showing diagnostic trees etc.

I really am a Tech2 newb and I'm not a big technology buff so it's easy for me to misunderstand.

 

[okfoz]

2007 Tahoe LTZ, I have the "Service Suspension" on my DIC shows up on occasion... Can I turn that off with a Tech II?

 

[Doubeleive]

2007 Tahoe LTZ, I have the "Service Suspension" on my DIC shows up on occasion... Can I turn that off with a Tech II?

I don't think so, you can pull the fuse and make it stay on all the time though , does your air pump run everytime you turn the key to start?

 

[okfoz]

No, it does not run every time... I have replaced the stupid pump twice now, neither time I got the message...

 

[swathdiver]

2007 Tahoe LTZ, I have the "Service Suspension" on my DIC shows up on occasion... Can I turn that off with a Tech II?

You can clear the code but if there's a problem it will come right back. If you've modified your suspension I've read that there are ways to trick the computer or maybe a custom tune could turn it off.

 

[okfoz]

Nope, stock suspension...

 

[swathdiver]

Nope, stock suspension...

So what code(s) is it throwing? What's the matter with it?

 

[okfoz]

It just says "Service suspension" I do not have a code yet... only a GM dealer could read it (unless I get a tech II) which is why I posted my question of whether or not I could program it out. I know the LT did not have the magnetic ride, nor did the SLT, only the Cadillac, Tahoe/Suburban LTZ, and the Yukon Denali. Since I have 170K on it now, I was going to put regular shocks and struts on it from the LT and just program out the suspension.

 

[Doubeleive]

No, it does not run every time... I have replaced the stupid pump twice now, neither time I got the message...

get the arnott pump from rockauto, it has a lifetime warranty

 

[okfoz]

My pump has a lifetime warranty, it still works...
I feel like I hijacked the thread, I didn't mean to. I just wanted to know if a tech II could override it is all. I just ordered one, will see when it gets here what I can do with it.

 

[CountryBoy19]

My pump has a lifetime warranty, it still works...
I feel like I hijacked the thread, I didn't mean to. I just wanted to know if a tech II could override it is all. I just ordered one, will see when it gets here what I can do with it.

Just don't buy them all before I get wife approval, haha!!! No worries on the hijack. I'm also trying to "feel out" what I can do with it so the question had value to me.

 

[okfoz]

One of the neat things a Tech 2 can do is, say your Oil Pressure gauge goes to Zero. This can be from 3 things,
1) Oil Pressure pump fails, which is bad, bad, but your engine would let you know with a lot of ticking.
2) Bad Sender
3) Bad Gauge
Of course it could be wiring to the gauge, but you can send a signal to the gauge to see if it is operating or not, then you know you are not just chasing a problem around.
It also checks parameters that most off the shelf scanners do not do, I suspect it will do OBD2 stuff on just about any car, but for $20 and a smart phone you can do that with the ELM327,

 

[Mp619]

So which tech 2 version is the reccommended one to get?

 

[Mp619]

So which tech 2 version is the reccommended one to get?

Recommended*

 

[HiHoeSilver]

So which tech 2 version is the reccommended one to get?

Software version 33.004

 

[UrbanSuburban]

Sorry about the wrong direction of that answer countryboy, and thanks swath for setting the record straight. When you use either the GM manual or the Alldata diagnostic tests they specifically mention the tech2 tests and the menu items and what the counts should be on the PIDs. I did not know about the Chilton online so I cannot speak to it. I would assume it is the same as all companies license this info from GM beyond the basic OBD2 data that is mandated by American Law. Those are the ones that start with 0. Ford and FCA also have their own scan tools but they are different in that they make almost all information available without needing their specific scantool. Genisys and Snapon etc have to pay a big royalty to use this software from GM which is why most scantools are not bi directional and can only read certain modules. Ford just released an important procedure, its titled 'How to diagnose and fix a heated Tailgate' lol

 

[CountryBoy19]

I ordered mine today... don't have any shipping notice or tracking yet but I'm eagerly anticipating it... started having some issues with my DD (2000 Buick) that could use the assistance of such a tool... asked my wife right after venting my frustrations about the car issues and I didn't even have to convince her about how useful it would be!

 

[Chubbs]

Ford just released an important procedure, its titled 'How to diagnose and fix a heated Tailgate' lol

LoL where did you come up with that?? You had my att when you mentioned Ford: the ABS module died on the wife's '08 Escape. I'm trying to figure out how to go about R&R on that since a replacement has to be synced with the host. No way I'm paying dealer or authorized tech costs for this repair... It would prob be around $1,000 or more. Thing is, you can't jut pull 1 off a recycler and stick it in your rig plug&play so you need a replacement module, the hardware, software, programming rights, plus the labor which is somewhat advanced procedure. Any scan tool would need both pass-through programming and ABS pulse to purge brake fluid. It's expensive either way.