I want to use my laptop to scan my Z (OBD1) and not sure what options do I have. I have heard about freescan but not sure if thats the best or not. Is there any other scans I can use? Whats there website? I want to program my car also so what cable do I need to get and were to get it? Anybody got a used one f/s let me know. If I buy a used cable is there anything I need to know or its just plug and play? Thanks Alan

 

Cable: www.akmcables.com

Freescan: www.andywhittaker.com/ecu/ecu_software.htm

Other scans: http://www.carputing.com

You'll also find some links to different scanning/programming software at AKM Electronics.

 

get your cable from andrew i did and love he is a great guy. make sure you laptop has a serial port.

at the site above go to the software page and click on the link for the datamaster download, you get 20 free runs. after that its 95 from andrew for the unlimited scans. and in my opinion is the best obd1 scantool.

 

does anybody know how to hard wire it so you don't have to buy the special cable?

it's got to be a peice of cake, just need to know the right wires.

 

I'm fairly sure you can find the info you want about hard wiring it at www.akmcables.com. Go to the Technical Info section, I think it has the information you would need to do what you're wanting.

 

dude thanks for the info, knew someone had it somewhere!!

thanks a ton!

 

You can't just wire it to certain pins. You have to have a converter.

 

i am interested in this also but i don't know where to start. i am not sure what you mean by free runs and then 95 for unlimited runs. also, will this cable enable me to pull codes and program with a laptop? also, whats this serial port look like? thanks

 

The program he is referring to lets you monitor 20 times free of charge, after that, if you want to buy the program you may do so for $95.00 and monitor to your heart's content.

The cable will allow you to pull codes and program assuming the software your using allows you to pull codes and program.

The serial port is a 9 pin port on your computer. (Many newer computers do not have these.)

 

so pretty much i will have to buy the cable, the program to moniter, and the software for tuning. or is the software for tuning and pulling codes? sorry, as you can tell i don't know much on this topic. any other crap i need to buy before i am set? thanks

 

It really depends on what program you get--I know the LT1Edit at www.carputing.com allows you to program and you can upgrade to the monitoring/scan tool. I personally downloaded a few of the free programs, (mentioned in one of my previous post) but all I was interested in was monitoring.

 

shoebox, thanks for the tip, i'm gonna have a friend of mine look into it for me, he's slightly more advanced than myself, been burning his own electrical circuits since jr high. if all the info is on that site he'll figure it out. i get alittle confused on it, he's been pushing me to get the info so we can program ourselves. i'd like to see whats involved myself.