Tech 2 Purchase

[TJ Baker]

So I could resist no longer and opened my own VCI to inspect. When first I received it the unit passed all tests. It now fails 2 sub-tests, TPU 12 & 15 and MUX 4WAL of the level shifters. These failures don't seem to have affected my use of the Tech 2 at least as far as I am aware.

No jumper wires seen in mine but I did find some rework had been done as 3 surface mount components had clearly be touched up.

 

[TJ Baker]

I guess it’s a mystery until we can see what the tool is doing when booting. I am hopeful my new VCI works differently and that I can send you the goofy one for testing. It would be interesting to see what is going on.

I'd love to have a look at the goofy one!! I don't think we would see any data traffic from it at the time of the fault though, as no Tech 2 traffic is happening at that time. What is happening is the hardware of the serial data bus is initializing. That would be best seen on a scope, a tool I have not yet acquired.

 

[George B]

I'd love to have a look at the goofy one!! I don't think we would see any data traffic from it at the time of the fault though, as no Tech 2 traffic is happening at that time. What is happening is the hardware of the serial data bus is initializing. That would be best seen on a scope, a tool I have not yet acquired.

I think my Dad has a scope… It’s vintage…

So I could resist no longer and opened my own VCI to inspect. When first I received it the unit passed all tests. It now fails 2 sub-tests, TPU 12 & 15 and MUX 4WAL of the level shifters. These failures don't seem to have affected my use of the Tech 2 at least as far as I am aware.

No jumper wires seen in mine but I did find some rework had been done as 3 surface mount components had clearly be touched up.

View attachment 303304

looks like mine. I have touchup in the same area! I am not home now but can get a pick when I get there.

 

[George B]

I wonder if we have this thread too far off track and need help from a Mod. Perhaps moving all the trouble chatter to a thread called “Tech2 Issues”. I dunno, maybe it’s ok. I just wouldn’t want to discourage anyone looking to buy one. I don’t regret my purchase. @07Burb

 

[George B]

@TJ Baker what would we look for with a scope?

 

[Fless]

So I could resist no longer and opened my own VCI to inspect. When first I received it the unit passed all tests. It now fails 2 sub-tests, TPU 12 & 15 and MUX 4WAL of the level shifters. These failures don't seem to have affected my use of the Tech 2 at least as far as I am aware.

No jumper wires seen in mine but I did find some rework had been done as 3 surface mount components had clearly be touched up.

View attachment 303304

That's some rough looking touchup!

 

[TJ Baker]

@TJ Baker what would we look for with a scope?

Well that is out of the realm of my experience!! I suppose I would observe normal traffic for a while to see what that looks like and then connect the Tech 2 and see what happens. Voltage spike maybe??

 

[TJ Baker]

......

 

[George B]

@TJ Baker
I got my new VCI Module today and tried it out. Seems to have corrected the issue with one exception. On the Envoy I still will get the gauge drop and UNKNOWN DRIVER but only when I request info from it for SPS but I don't have any stored communication DTCs after the event. I am unsure if this is normal or not.

Otherwise the tool boots and connects with no issue to the 2002 Envoy and it connects to my Candi in one try as well.

I wrote to Chinacardiags explaining the issue and correction but I am not hopeful they will respond with a refund for my replacement VCI.

 

[George B]

I gotta say I am a little shy to try updating calibrations in the envoy yet. Maybe I will try tomorrow.