The Scanmaster is a great tool and I highly recommend it. However, having said that, I think BOTH a Scanmaster and a more advanced tool like TTS Datamaster is beneficial.

The Scanmaster allows you to constantly monitor every day, every mile, the engine and how it is doing. This comes in handy. You don't have to have a laptop constantly hooked up to do this and you don't have to look far out of the way and type on keys while driving (assuming you mount the Scanmaster in a convenient place like the air vent ).

But, the Scanmaster falls short in troubleshooting as compared to a laptop type tool that can record entire runs and graph things and, etc. etc.

I actually have both the Scanmaster and a recording type diagnostic tool and for me, they each have their place and use and I find having both very handy.

 

now im torn between the two, i dont know if i should spend 250 on scanmaster and get some software or just go the laptop route...

 

scanmaster=bad@ss!

 

Read this..... might help you decide:

http://members.aol.com/InjuneerZZ/ScanMast.htm

I no longer use the stock PCM for very much, I run a MoTeC aftermarket ECU, and that has a data monitor/logging system built in. But I still keep the ScanMaster on the dash, and use it to monitor a lot of things that are still connected to the stock PCM.

I'm with Brent - if you can, get both.

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun.../DCP03656a.jpg

 

well i just ordered my cable from akm cables and will be downloading datamaster when it gets here. I am still looking into the Scanmaster also.
Fred I have read youre article and it looks like the scanmaster is a pretty great tool, I also emailed you about it earlier today for your opinion. Maybe I will just go with both items

 

Great stuff and a great article Injuneer. I am looking into a Scanmaster. Some of you mentioned that you installed in the air outlet. Any pics???? I'd like to see what it looks like.

 

I don't have any pics up hosted, but here are two really short videos with the scanmaster in the center AC vent.



http://home.comcast.net/~bhawalka/chevellerace_004.avi

http://home.comcast.net/~bhawalka/chevellerace_003.avi

Hehe, yeah I got owned 600hp chevelles are pretty mean

Brian

 

Man Why cant Firebirds have a cool *** spot to mount them

 

For early 4th Gen Camaros like yours

http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/fbody/scanmaster.htm

 

Cuz Firebirds have a better use for the A/C vents.....

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun.../DCP03460a.jpg

Kelly Drown on Project TransAM has an online procedure for mounting it in the top of the instrument panel hood on a Firebird:

http://www.projecttransam.com/projects4.asp