OBD Scanner Information and Help required ;)

[slayer208]

Hey Fellas,

I'm reasonably new to this site. And don't know a great deal about these newer commodores, as i've always stuck with old school gear "until now".

I've got a OBD II Diagnostic scan tool with software and a laptop, and was wondering if anyone knows how to or what it would require to set it up and would I be able to use it with my new old commodore. I've got a Series II VS commodore Esteem. It's a late 97' Model automatic Sedan.

I have a good late-model laptop, with the OBD Scanner, basic software and the OBD 2 cable. Is there anything else that I would require to use this diagnostic scanner and also does anyone have any links and/or names to more software, as I understand that some people/places/companies have better software than others with more functionallity.

Any positive help would be greatly appreciated, as this will help me get a better understanding with my newer vehicle.

Cheers!

[accentstencil]

This is supposed to be alright:EFILive Web Site I think you can trial the software.

[delcowizzid]

obdII scanners wont work on the vs commodore they wernt OBDII compliant just need a simple ALDL cable to connect the pc to the car and use efilive V4 or scannerpro to check errors and display digital dash

[slayer208]

I thought it might not work. Could you put me onto where i could buy one of these cables by chance?

Cheers!

[slayer208]

Thanks for throwing me in the right direction, fellas!. Found an aldl cable and software package reasonably cheap. Seems like something i've really gotta have. If I had this sort of gear a couple of years back when i had my much love VR Berlina, i reckon i'd still have the car now. Had a major electrical fault, and was quoted $1k just to look at it and that wasn't to guarantee finding the problem and fixing it. Some of the electricians that I called said that'd replace the main ECU and re-program keys and that'd cost anything upto $2K with still no guarantee of repair.

Thinking if I can get some knowledge on these and diagnose things myself, it may save me a lot of hassles and maybe even my car sometime in the future!

Cheers fellas!

[slayer208]

scantools is no longer available from its official site, but is integrated into tuner pro:

TunerPro and TunerPro RT - Professional Automobile Tuning Software

Would this software be okay to use?. I've also got a a copy of efilive 4. I'm guessing that's what most people are using?

Cheers!

[Brett_jjj]

Some later model VS's used OBD11 .Ive got a Tech 1 scantool (OBD1), and it cant connect to some of the later model VS's.Holden use a Tech 2 scantool to scan these later OBD11 systems.The Tech 2 has a VS menu for the later VS models,usually 1996 and later model statesmans and utilities.If yours is a 97 model it should be OBD11 compliant.Ive tried the Tech 1 on a couple of these later models, and it definitely doesnt work on them.

[slayer208]

Hey Brett_jjj,

I've also heard of something like that. Most of the data i've come across seems to referencing the use of the ALDL setup. They're supposed to use the OBDII connector plug, but use the ALDL or ODB I language. I'll connect up the OBDII scanner upto it and see what happens, but i reckon the ALDL setup may be the go.

Cheers!

[Brett_jjj]

I know a few people who have bought different scanners from ebay etc,and some dont work ,others do.I made one of my own that connects to a computer and it works fine.The VR and VS had an OBD11 16 pin ALDL connector,but used OBD1 diagnostic protocol,which wasnt set to a specific pinout on these 16 pin ALDL connectors,it was up to the vehicle manufacturers to how they wired them,OBD11 on the other hand is a globally standard pinout on the 16 pin connector,and the pins have to be in certain places on the ALDL connector to be OBD11 compliant.Of course theres some pins that are still vehicle specific,but certain pins like the ECU serial data pins,have to be in the right places.There is an OBD11 interface that allows the Tech 1 to talk to OBD11 systems,theres a global OBD11 cartridge available as well ,I havent had a chance to have a proper look at it yet on an OBD11 vehicle.I have connected it quickly to a VX and it seemed to work but is completely different from the Tech 1 system data,the codes are different etc,so I need a couple of hours to explore the thing properly.

[RX25SE]

The OBDII codes