Code readers? Code scanners? What do I need?

[divorced]

I am looking at purchasing THIS . Another link. Of course I have no clue if it will do what I want. What does it tell me? Engine codes? Temperatures? Idle speeds? Does it help with ABS problems? Cruise control problems? I plan to do a couple EFI engine swaps into older vehicles and thought that something like this may be useful. I have one vehicle that just yesterday decided that it doesn't want to start, so maybe this will help me?

Will it work on the following:

1989 C1500 5.7 TBI
1995 C1500 4.3 TBI
1996 K1500 5.7
1995 Ford Aerostar 4.0
1993 Explorer 4.0
1992 Tbird 5.0 and AODE
2000 Escort ZX2

I don't know anything about fuel injection but need to learn.

 

[dyeager535]

The GM scanners will not show you cruise control problems, unless the problem is related to VSS.

If you have a laptop, (or access to one) winALDL will work for you, get you everything autoxray will, at least on OBD1 GM's.

I can't help you on anything other than that, but if you have a laptop, winALDL will cost you building a cable, which is very easy. Probably $10.

 

[divorced]

I do have laptop. What is winALDL? And how do I make a cable? And is OBD1 for TBI?

 

[Thunder]

It will work on all obd 1 and 2 vehicles but it is only a code reader. It wont give you sensor or live engine operating data. It will do basic trouble shooting. But If you want to be able to diagnose FI/Sensor problems you really need a scanner.

This would be better but it costs more:AXY35000 I have a similar scanner. It works great on all my vehicles.

 

[divorced]

Will this work?

http://winaldl.joby.se/

 

[dyeager535]

AFAIK, winALDL will work on every GM vehicle with an ECM up to and including 1995.

To get codes alone out of any of the same GM vehicles (OBD1) you can use a paperclip to jumper pins A and B on the ALDL connector. But as you understand, codes only show very little, worthless for things like TPS voltage, vehicle speed, MAP, O2, temp, etc.

I saw over on moates.net that some Ford EECIV stuff is listed, but I'm not sure if that is just hardware, or if there is software out there like winALDL that will work with it.

 

[divorced]

Thanks for your help. I did a Google search on winALDL and have plenty to read now. I'll read a little and work on the truck a little, eventually I'll catch on.

 

[dyeager535]

The cable I built isn't nearly as complex as the one shown online. I just soldered the diodes etc right to the wires in the cable, and taped it all up with electrical tape.

Ugly, but it works.

I used the first wiring schematic here: ALDL cable Don't use the PICTURE of the DB9 as your guide, actually look at the pin arrangement. I couldn't get mine to work right at first, then realized that the pin numbers/arrangement on that diagram are reversed as you look at an actual cable. I believe the way that was written/created, that should be the "inside" of the DB9, not the side that connects to the computer.