Snap-On Little Red Brick Diagostic tool
 

I have an opportunity to buy a Snap-On Little Red Brick vehicle diagnosis tool.

Whatever the model is it maxes out at 2005 cars.

It has, I believe, every razzle dazzle thing (keys/updates) you can get on it. Razzle-dazzle by turn of the century standards, though. Euro plug in dongles as well.

That said, most "money"cars I work on are 10 or more years old and my two bay shop is somewhere between a big hobby shop and a micro repair business.

I have seen this specific tool used on two vehicles and it identifies the exact problem. For me, who owns a $50 Actron OBD reader, it's magic.

There is no Snap-On support available. Period. My support will be driving to the small independent where it's for sale and asking what is wrong.

Snap-On tool truck guy says it's a dinosaur. Slow as hell. BTW, he has a used Modis (Solis?) Pro box he will sell me, fully updated for $1,700.

The asking price on the brick is $500. I think this will deliver value for several years given my intent to supplement retirement income with wrenching for another 15 years.

I am thinking this is not the worst choice I can make given the modest entry price along with having "comprehensive" coverage up to 2005.

Comments, please.

My father had one in the late 90's. With the advancement in technology why do that to yourself!? It's like buying a brick phone when you can have an iPhone/Android.

The brick still has a place, it is one of the fastest scanners made

There are clearly limitations. I simply need to make phone calls though, using your analogy.

I can buy the $14,000 high-end unit from Snap-On that has an oscilloscope. That will pretty much cover tech improvements.

I need to know which ABS sensor is sucking hind tit. Which Air Bag component is defective. Whether vacuum leak, fuel delivery, O2 sensor or MAF is causing a lean condition

Old and new boxes will do that.

What cars are you working on, primarily?

Sounds like it would pay for itself with one or two jobs. How could you not justify such a purchase ?

Snap-On MT 2500? Yeah, that was a nice scanner. It was fast, and I think it was one of the only ones at the time that would spit out live PIDs from Ford EEC IV.

I'd buy it. What ever you do, stay away from a SLODIS. That thing is as slow, and clunky as a $100 code reader from the FLAPS with a bult-in O scope that's also clunky.

My opinion based on experience. It would certainly do what you need but I would not pay that kind on money for it. $500 is too overpriced. I don't think there is a line of people waiting in line to buy that thing at that price.

Slodis , now that there is funny. Mine locks up daily, and takes 10 minutes to boot up when I take it out of its docker. I have way over 10 k in it. Have had it for about 3 years, and looking to upgrade soon. The joys of modern cars I guess.

My last shop had one. We called it the slooo-d*ck

I'd rather have the vantage I guess. It's an awesome tool but it won't read codes

Sorry so long in responding

Cars I work on are primarily US and Asian and most are under 2005. New Beetles,. some Volvos, everyday cars.

I own two early 2000 VW's that both have airbag lights on. That's a buck and a quarter each to diagnose. $50 each at the indy shop.

Good info on the $500 price. It has been for sale for five years. Was $900 five years ago.

I don't see many for sale, though.

I just picked up an MT2500 at my local Goodwill. Can sell it for way less than what you're about to pay. Has modules for several cars. Down side... needs a new 9v plug and a data cable. Has the case and lots of manuals. Can't verify operation until I put a new connector on it for a battery. Pretty sure I have one on my box of random electrical stuff. Let me know if you're interested.

Haven't really even looked at is since I brought it home. Has a 12v cable, but on quick inspection didn't see where it plugged in to the unit.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396636895.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396636910.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396636926.jpg

It will , or should power up , when you plug it in to the obd port.

Damn lee! You find all the good stuff! All I find at good will is clothing so crappy that leisure suit larry would reject it. ;)

That is cool, Lee.

The 9V connector is for a standard battery that is used to store memory. Maybe for diagnosis away from the car after you have read it?

Data cable is $15 on Ebay. As noted, unit should fire when plugged into car.

The pre-OBD plug-ins need 12V to make them work. I can see the red battery hook up in your box. Plugs into the side of the pre-OBD adapter(s).

The unit I (just) bought has the 2004 communication and troubleshooter interface cartridges as well as 16 keys. These bring the MT2500 up to 2006. Key set and cartridges currently are each $250 - EBay. There are maybe fifty squillon additional adapters included that are a bit frightening.

There are no transmission cartridges and I doubt the keys have transmission info in them. They are obtainable but the primary diagnostics are what I need now.

I offered $400 and he said "I'll keep it for that because I still use it". I caved.

If I got beat up, it was not too bad.

Thanks to all for your input.

Is the data cable anything special or will something like this work?

6ft Joystick MIDI Game Port DB15 Pin Male Female Extension Cable Cord Wire | eBay

No sure but I would not risk it to save a couple of bucks.

Snap on MT2500 Scanner 6' MT2500 5000 Main Data Cable | eBay

Been using the brick for a couple of months now. Still learning. Having the box does not make you a wizard, even if you have been messing with cars forever.

Here's proof. 99 F250. Stalling. In O2 closed loop, system will spit out lean / center / rich / center / lean and so on if all is well. Dithering like in CIS.

I was getting lean / center / lean / center. No rich.

Cleaned out the IAC valve, checked the plugs (rich) and several other things. Pulling my hair out. I then blipped the throttle for no real reason and the accordion thingie on the air snorkle scrunched together. WTF? The tube shrunk in length.

I am not going to tell you the answer but I'll give you a hint below. There is something to taking the time for the basics before you get into it.

Here is new:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1404953275.jpg

Here is old:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1404953330.jpg

Good news Bob.

FWIW "now"... I would buy a "Brick" in a heartbeat if I could find one for $500 locally.