which diagnostic tool to buy?

family has a couple new nissans plus a few 3 or 4 year old american cars

primarily for the nissans but also for the US models, I wanted to buy a good
diagnostic tool and have come across these

http://www.automotiveservicetools.co...4-nemisys.html

http://www.nemisysotc.com/

it looks like a laptop is needed to save the data but the tool itself can be used with
or without laptop, no problem as I have several laptops which would work for this
purpose

any suggestions welcome

zeke wrote:

> family has a couple new nissans plus a few 3 or 4 year old american cars
>
> primarily for the nissans but also for the US models, I wanted to buy
> a good diagnostic tool and have come across these
>
> http://www.automotiveservicetools.co...4-nemisys.html
>
>
> http://www.nemisysotc.com/
>
> it looks like a laptop is needed to save the data but the tool itself
> can be used with or without laptop, no problem as I have several
> laptops which would work for this purpose
>
> any suggestions welcome
>
>
Sounds like a lot of bucks for a tool that will be seldom used, unless
you are in the automotive repair business. Why not a cheaper OBD II?
There are many brands that will work and are cheaper. Equus sells one
for $170 that can be connected to a PC to generate reports.

--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To Email, remove the double zeroes after 'at'

willshak wrote:
> Sounds like a lot of bucks for a tool that will be seldom used, unless
> you are in the automotive repair business. Why not a cheaper OBD II?

well, the thinking was that while I admittedly am not in the repair business, I am
from time-to-time asked to do simple jobs like replacing faulty sensors, shocks,
breaks and have even replaced an original A/C compressor for a family car

none of this of course qualifies me as a mechanic but perhaps an above average
do-it-yourself and I thought the tool would add credence to the ability to drive to
the dealer shop with a simple printed report in hand:

1. Me: Good morning. I am here because of this diagnostic report
2. Dealer: Ok. What seems to be the trouble?
3. Me: According to this report, the manifold pressure is off.....

so the thinking was that since all the family cars are under warranty, why not have
the best possible diagnostic data available and be able to speak directly to the issue

plus it would be kind of cool to hookup the live monitoring data while driving and
watch the data right there and offload it after a long trip to the laptop for analysis

> There are many brands that will work and are cheaper. Equus sells one
> for $170 that can be connected to a PC to generate reports.

like this one for $149 http://www.levineautoparts.com/eqobdiicodre.html ?
or another model?

Look at this one, useful if your cars are 96 and newer, any brand, any
model:

http://auterraweb.com/scantools.html

It offers ODB_II, CAN, VPW, PWM, ISO, KWP2000 compatibility, free
upgrades, dyno, real time sensor readings, etc. etc. It reads both
generic (common to all vehicles) or brand specific codes.

It can run from a Palm PDA or a windows computer.

If you have a Palm PDA I recommend the serial version but then you need
a serial port in your computer. The serial version is the A-301.

If you only care about the PC version, then the A-302 USB version would
be best.

You can buy the product directly from auterra for $269 or buy it for
$210 by bidding on ebay, $10 prices including shipping.

No, i do not benefit in any way or form by mentioning this product.


zeke wrote:

> family has a couple new nissans plus a few 3 or 4 year old american cars
>
> primarily for the nissans but also for the US models, I wanted to buy a
> good diagnostic tool and have come across these
>
> http://www.automotiveservicetools.co...4-nemisys.html
>
>
> http://www.nemisysotc.com/
>
> it looks like a laptop is needed to save the data but the tool itself
> can be used with or without laptop, no problem as I have several laptops
> which would work for this purpose
>
> any suggestions welcome
>
>

You can buy a better one, the Equus Innova 3110 for $169,
http://stores.ebay.com/Race-Parts-Direct

zeke wrote:

> willshak wrote:
>
>> Sounds like a lot of bucks for a tool that will be seldom used, unless
>> you are in the automotive repair business. Why not a cheaper OBD II?
>
>
> well, the thinking was that while I admittedly am not in the repair
> business, I am from time-to-time asked to do simple jobs like replacing
> faulty sensors, shocks, breaks and have even replaced an original A/C
> compressor for a family car
>
> none of this of course qualifies me as a mechanic but perhaps an above
> average do-it-yourself and I thought the tool would add credence to the
> ability to drive to the dealer shop with a simple printed report in hand:
>
> 1. Me: Good morning. I am here because of this diagnostic report
> 2. Dealer: Ok. What seems to be the trouble?
> 3. Me: According to this report, the manifold pressure is off.....
>
> so the thinking was that since all the family cars are under warranty,
> why not have the best possible diagnostic data available and be able to
> speak directly to the issue
>
> plus it would be kind of cool to hookup the live monitoring data while
> driving and watch the data right there and offload it after a long trip
> to the laptop for analysis
>
>> There are many brands that will work and are cheaper. Equus sells one
>> for $170 that can be connected to a PC to generate reports.
>
>
> like this one for $149 http://www.levineautoparts.com/eqobdiicodre.html ?
> or another model?

zeke wrote:

> willshak wrote:
>
>> Sounds like a lot of bucks for a tool that will be seldom used, unless
>> you are in the automotive repair business. Why not a cheaper OBD II?
>
>
> well, the thinking was that while I admittedly am not in the repair
> business, I am from time-to-time asked to do simple jobs like
> replacing faulty sensors, shocks, breaks and have even replaced an
> original A/C compressor for a family car
>
> none of this of course qualifies me as a mechanic but perhaps an above
> average do-it-yourself and I thought the tool would add credence to
> the ability to drive to the dealer shop with a simple printed report
> in hand:
>
> 1. Me: Good morning. I am here because of this diagnostic report
> 2. Dealer: Ok. What seems to be the trouble?
> 3. Me: According to this report, the manifold pressure is off.....
>
> so the thinking was that since all the family cars are under warranty,
> why not have the best possible diagnostic data available and be able
> to speak directly to the issue
>
> plus it would be kind of cool to hookup the live monitoring data while
> driving and watch the data right there and offload it after a long
> trip to the laptop for analysis
>
>> There are many brands that will work and are cheaper. Equus sells one
>> for $170 that can be connected to a PC to generate reports.
>
>
> like this one for $149 http://www.levineautoparts.com/eqobdiicodre.html ?
> or another model?


No, the 3110 here, for example.
http://www.toolsource.com/ost/produc...MXM30H0F500439

If that link is too long, here's a shorter link http://tinyurl.com/zue6e

--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To Email, remove the double zeroes after 'at'

I've been learning to use a borrowed Nemisys the last couple days.
It's a lot better
than the Actron CP9145 I bought on eBay for $160. For one thing, it
can show the
parameters graphically. You can select which ones you want to watch,
set them for graphical
display, and move them to the top of the list, giving an easy way to
compare, for example,
system voltage relative to engine speed. In addition to real-time
display while driving,
you can hit the record button when a symptom occurs, causing capture
of a period before
and after the event. The most recent 5 such snapshots are saved in the
scanner. You
can then either review them on the scanner after pulling over tot he
curb,
or go home and roll them up to you computer via an rs232 cable.

Although I have yet to learn how to do it, you are supposed to be able
to actually
set engine parameters with the scanner. For example, you can move the
EGR pentil
around, or force the TCC in and out of lockup. Again, I still have not
figured out how to
do all this, but if it really works that puts this device miles ahead
of the cheaper
unit. Very easy to use too.

Not affiliated, etc.

Ed

"zeke" > wrote in message
...
> family has a couple new nissans plus a few 3 or 4 year old american
> cars
>
> primarily for the nissans but also for the US models, I wanted to
> buy a good diagnostic tool and have come across these
>
> http://www.automotiveservicetools.co...4-nemisys.html
>
> http://www.nemisysotc.com/
>
> it looks like a laptop is needed to save the data but the tool
> itself can be used with or without laptop, no problem as I have
> several laptops which would work for this purpose
>
> any suggestions welcome
>
>
>

Ed wrote:
> I've been learning to use a borrowed Nemisys the last couple days.
> Although I have yet to learn how to do it, you are supposed to be able
> to actually set engine parameters with the scanner. For example, you can
> move the
> EGR pentil around, or force the TCC in and out of lockup. Again, I still
> have not
> figured out how to do all this

that's interesting to read

did you access this link and read the online manuals?
http://www.nemisysotc.com/ (link at bottom right side)

they have both the quick-start guide as well as the actual 100-pg (or close)
detail user manual

you can of course save the acrobat document to your local drive and print it

have you actually used it for a vehicle diagnosis and been able to get a
specific issue resolved? what was it?

"zeke" > wrote in message
...
> willshak wrote:
>> Sounds like a lot of bucks for a tool that will be seldom used, unless
>> you are in the automotive repair business. Why not a cheaper OBD II?
>
> well, the thinking was that while I admittedly am not in the repair
> business, I am from time-to-time asked to do simple jobs like replacing
> faulty sensors, shocks, breaks and have even replaced an original A/C
> compressor for a family car
>
> none of this of course qualifies me as a mechanic but perhaps an above
> average do-it-yourself and I thought the tool would add credence to the
> ability to drive to the dealer shop with a simple printed report in hand:
>
> 1. Me: Good morning. I am here because of this diagnostic report
> 2. Dealer: Ok. What seems to be the trouble?
> 3. Me: According to this report, the manifold pressure is off.....

Any code reader not only adds credence to your stated problem, but it keeps
honest people honest. Not necessary at my regular shop, but it's nice
should I have to go to the dealer.



>
> so the thinking was that since all the family cars are under warranty, why
> not have the best possible diagnostic data available and be able to speak
> directly to the issue
>
> plus it would be kind of cool to hookup the live monitoring data while
> driving and watch the data right there and offload it after a long trip to
> the laptop for analysis
>
>> There are many brands that will work and are cheaper. Equus sells one
>> for $170 that can be connected to a PC to generate reports.
>
> like this one for $149 http://www.levineautoparts.com/eqobdiicodre.html ?
> or another model?

Zeke,

"zeke" > wrote in message
...
>
> that's interesting to read
>
> did you access this link and read the online manuals?
> http://www.nemisysotc.com/ (link at bottom right side)
>
> they have both the quick-start guide as well as the actual 100-pg
> (or close) detail user manual

The borrowed unit came with a CD that has the manual and the PC-based
software for
uploading and scanning the saved test data.

> have you actually used it for a vehicle diagnosis and been able to
> get a specific issue resolved? what was it?

To your three questions, Yes, no, and don't know!

The problem I have is a very challenging one, having stumped both my
GM dealer and a long
used and trusted independent shop. I call it Herky Jerky, GM calls it
chuggle. Briefly,
while driving along the freeway it will suddenly sort of shudder, as
if you had quickly changed
gears or tapped the brake or something. Apparently, something either
in the engine or the
drive train causes the TCC to engage/disengage.

So, yes, I've used the NemiSys to get some scans and uploaded them to
my PC. But as you might guess
the difficult part is interpreting the data. I look at things like the
TCC mode and slip, RPM, vehicle speed,
system voltage and try to see what is going on at the event. Can't say
that I've done it yet though.
So, I don't yet know what to fix. Before getting my hands on this
really good scanner, other scanners
have been used by me, the dealer, and the independent, and we have
replaced a lot of stuff, all without
fixing the problem.

I will have to say that I really can't advise someone to buy one of
these neat but expensive tools
on the hop it will zoom in on the problem. If error codes are set even
a cheap scanner will
give you some guidance. If no codes are set, as is my case, all the
data may not put you
any closer to solving the problem.

Ed