MT2500 and OBD I questions

[dennis93coupe]

Hi everybody, new here and this looks like a fantastic forum. No adds on the top and side to clutter up things. Ok I'll cut to the chase.
Bought a MT2500 brick recently to do some diagnostics on a couple cars. I know you guys must be sick and tired of the endless brick posts, but it's all I can afford right now. Don't have the money for a Solus Modus Ethos Vantage etc, so thought I'd try a MT2500 for now. I am sure it will be adequate for now as I am only using it for myself on a couple of cars, OBD I 1993 Cadillac and a 2004 Toy Highlander (wifes car). The old Caddy has the capability to pull codes and delete to the BCM PCM, but not the ABS and Inflatable restraint. My main concern now is to have the capability of bidirectional to the ABS. I need to be able to erase codes if possible. I'm trying to keep this short, but just so you know where I'm coming from. I have a background working on Heavy Equipment, most of the diagnostics is onboard, some requires OEM software and connections only available to dealers. I haven't really ever needed a scanner so just never payed much attention to them, however I am realizing Snap-on has some great tools for Ford Diesels which I have seen quite a bit of in the last 10 years. Didn't have a need to scan much on them yet, but most likely will upgrade when I get back to work full force. Sorry for the long post.

Here's what I am getting tomorrow off the UPS truck.
MT2500 2.2 no backlight.
A good handful of adapters, GM-1, GM-2, GM-3, OBD II with the key slot, Ford, Chrysler, Jeep, 11 connectors in all.
It looks like it will have the cable to adapters,
Cigar adapter,
The cable that has the aligator clip, (don't know what it's for)
A few keys, I was told the K2A will work for my wifes Toyota
There are cartridges,
Primary domestic GM Ford Chrysler thru 1999
Primary domestic GM Ford Chrysler thru 1997
Fast Track Troubleshooter thru 1997 domestic
Fast Track ABS Troubleshooter Asian-1997 domestic- 1998
Global OBD-II / EOBD vehicle communication software the number on the cart is MT25005500
I'm not sure if it has a basic introduction operation manual. There are a couple one is Generic OBD-II and the other is Asian reference.

Is this going to help me at all with the ABS on the Caddy? That car also has electronic steering and suspension, will the brick read those codes?

What about the Toyota, will just the Global cartridge do much for me? What else would I need that isn't here?

Is there really an advantage to having a MTG2500 Graphing Scanner, what about a backlit model?

Anybody that can help will be appreciated very much. I'm a Diehard Snap-on guy since I was able to hold a wrench, and I just couldn't pass up the price these things are selling for if it will work for me.

[dennis93coupe]

No reply's ? Oh well, anyway I got the scanner and tried it on both cars. Doesn't work that great on the Caddy but seems to be OK on the Toyota.

It does work fine on the Caddy ABS and doesn't make any difference if the regular FastTrack Trouble Shooter is in the MT2500 or the ABS Fast Track, I get the same results. Only problem with the Caddy is it will not read codes or communicate with the PCM or BCM, anybody know why that is? Do I need older cartridges?

Getting back to the Toyota, the Global II doesn't have a Highlander in the list, all of the other models show up it appears. Other than that it seems to work OK running through the tests so I guess it will work. I did notice the Global II software is 4.1 which appeared to have a 8/10/2003 date so I am surprised it works with the Highlander. Should I look for a more recent cart for this application? Funds are limited, otherwise I would have gotten one of the other scanners that is still upgradeable.

Last question, the data cable looks kinda crappy all twisted. No cuts but appearance wise i'd give it a 1 out of 10. Is the cable for one of the Solus scanners the same or different then a MT2500-5000? I see that cable is still available new from Snap-on.

[Joe Rappa]

Any cable for a Solus, Solus Pro or Modis will work for the MT2500.

Many Pre-OBDII Cadillacs didn't communicate with a scan tool for the PCM. You access them through the heater control head.

The OBDII software doesn't list vehicles by year/make and model, so the cartridge you have may be a black market one.

I wouldn't bother looking for more recent cartridges for that. Your money is usually better spent elsewhere.

You had a couple of coverage questions, and they're hard to answer when you don't have the car or scanner. I don't know anyone that holds on to the old Vehicle Application Guides.

If you need Bi-Directional controls on ABS Systems, you're not going to get a whole lot from a brick. The majority of that coverage has been added in the last few years. You may find some stuff, but not much.

Joe

[dennis93coupe]

Ok, thanks for that info. I always have been able to get what I wanted from heater controls on the Caddy, just couldn't do the ABS. Now that you said the ABS is not bidirectional except until recent years might also explain why I wasn't able to clear the ABS codes. Funny thing is after having checked all connections on ABS system, antilock light is out and has been since hooking up the scanner and attempting to clear codes. So it might have cleared them, I'll have to check later.

I forgot to include the Toyota model year, it is a 2004. So can you tell me anything about the Global II cartridge? I've been told you don't need a Fast Track to go along with it? So I would assume it is limited diagnostics?

[Eduardo]

Don't have the money for a Solus Modus Ethos Vantage etc

If you go to ebay and buy MT2500 with latest cartridges, that is asian to 2001 and domestic to 2001 and global OBD2 to 2003 you will spend $300 to $400. And for $400 you can buy Solus just the scanner with old version like v2.4 or similar and it will give you better coverage and be able to read more and you don't have to worry about cartridges. Solus has an option to mimic MT2500 it is called "legacy software" so you will get both in one. And you can use all of the cables and connectors from your MT2500 on Solus.

Is there really an advantage to having a MTG2500 Graphing Scanner, what about a backlit model?

The MTG2500 was a flop, all it has is color screen that goes bad and not reliable. Backlit model is the best because it lights up in the dark and lets you see the screen.

I did notice the Global II software is 4.1 which appeared to have a 8/10/2003 date

That cartridge is not sold in USA, (that was made only for Great Britain, so these Ebay scammers just copied the chips and sticker and sell it on ebay as global obd2 to 2009 I reported this to snap on and they don't care), because it gives you the same options as latest 2001 Asian import with 2003 global OBD2 feature part number MT25001401.

I forgot to include the Toyota model year, it is a 2004. So can you tell me anything about the Global II cartridge? I've been told you don't need a Fast Track to go along with it? So I would assume it is limited diagnostics?

It should read generic codes at least but all MT2500 software stopped around year 2003. Fast track troubleshooter is just like a 'book refrence' it will just explain to you why that code is this and why it does that, thats it, it has no code reading capabilites.

MT2500 is old but if you work a lot with OBD1 cars it is a scanner to have, it is the only scanner that can read 1986 and 1987 BMW cars in the world not even official BMW scanner at dealer can read those years. MT2500 should be able to read everything on your 1993 cadillac, if it does not then it means that PCM or ECM does not support code reading. thats it

[dennis93coupe]

If you go to ebay and buy MT2500 with latest cartridges, that is asian to 2001 and domestic to 2001 and global OBD2 to 2003 you will spend $300 to $400. And for $400 you can buy Solus just the scanner with old version like v2.4 or similar and it will give you better coverage and be able to read more and you don't have to worry about cartridges. Solus has an option to mimic MT2500 it is called "legacy software" so you will get both in one. And you can use all of the cables and connectors from your MT2500 on Solus.

That explains why there are so many MT2500 only body for sale on ebay. Yeah, I'm reading about the Solus Pro and like what I read. Question is when will Snap-on stop supporting it.

That cartridge is not sold in USA, (that was made only for Great Britain, so these Ebay scammers just copied the chips and sticker and sell it on ebay as global obd2 to 2009 I reported this to snap on and they don't care), because it gives you the same options as latest 2001 Asian import with 2003 global OBD2 feature part number MT25001401.

Well if mine is counterfeit, they did a pretty darn good job of it. The label looks like the same material the other carts are made of, kinda has a rough texture not smooth and not paper, more like plastic. Anyway I will probably stash it in the cabinet if I ever get something newer like a Solus Pro.

It should read generic codes at least but all MT2500 software stopped around year 2003. Fast track troubleshooter is just like a 'book refrence' it will just explain to you why that code is this and why it does that, thats it, it has no code reading capabilites.

MT2500 is old but if you work a lot with OBD1 cars it is a scanner to have, it is the only scanner that can read 1986 and 1987 BMW cars in the world not even official BMW scanner at dealer can read those years. MT2500 should be able to read everything on your 1993 cadillac, if it does not then it means that PCM or ECM does not support code reading. thats it

Believe me, where I live they are trying to get every car more than 10 years old off the road. As an example the NOx passing level for my old Cad was 3 times higher 12 years ago than what it is now.

Anyway, thanks for all the answers you guys gave me. It has helped alot and I'll definately be back reading up when I get ready to upgrade.

[dennis93coupe]

Still a Good Deal

Ok I've been getting Anti Lock warning light on the dash recently and decided to check it out today. Come to find out the problem is intermittent in the PMV valve and is borderline on a couple of solenoids in the valve body. So I hooked up the brick and sure enough I wasn't scrolling the wheel up to read everything in the list of codes. Also had to learn how to get the thing to comunicate with the ABS, it's all there in the instructions in the info on the scanner. Tells you what it does if the scanner is communicating. Cuttin to the chase, got into the mode to clear codes, presed yes, codes be gone. And here I wasn't confident it couldn't do it. So the MT2500 turned out to be a good deal after all. Codes cleared, Anti Lock light out, couldn't be happier.