On mine I replaced the hold down with the style that allows infinite variability.




George

 

What you did with the scanner was a crank sensor relearn. What you are measuring now appears to be cam sensor retard. Two completely different things, but abbreviations are often very similar for the two. Check distributor gear wear by trying to move the rotor back and forth. If worn enough to have much play, replace the gear or the entire distributor. In any case, if you elongate the bolt hole in the hold down clamp with a dremel tool, you can usually turn the distributor enough to get it to 0° ± 2°. Or you can replace the entire clamp with one that does not lock in place (like George), but be sure to set the cam sensor retard to zero.

 

Went ahead and ordered the part suggested by George. Thanks!

 

Thanks for letting us know about this scanner. Seems like really good value if you need bi-directional control in a scanner! I'll review it after I get mine.

 

Got mine today. I'm REALLY impressed with it. Downloaded and installed GM software update. Hooked up to my 2006 G6 GTP (CAN protocol), my 2001 Blazer (J1850 VPW), and my 2004 Avalanche (J1850 VPW). The Avalanche it does not automatically recognize the vehicle and forces me to enter some info about the vehicle manually. Apparently does ABS brake bleeding and crank sensor relearn on all 3 GM vehicles (actually tried the brake bleeding procedure on the Avalanche). Did not look for cam sensor retard on the Avalanche and the G6, but does read the all-important Cam Sensor Retard on my Blazer. Saw it does injector balance test on Avalanche. Does misfire counters for all three. Plus was reading BCM and HVAC codes on Avalanche. Red and identified a entertainment (radio) code on the g6. However could not find TCCM module on either Blazer or Avalanche (both 4-button). Too much to list - has TONS of capability. Way, way more than my HP Tuners VCM scanner software. But remember you only get one manufacturer's PIDs - pay $60 each for any more you want to install. The box claims it's compatible with OBD1 and OBD2 but no OBD1 connector included so who knows. A little clunky to get through the menus, but it's a handheld scanner.

I would say anyone with 1998+ Blazer is VERY safe to buy this scan tool and will be EXTREMELY happy with it for the price. It is obviously pretty cheaply made and Chinese, but should be OK. Have no idea how it will work with 1995 (OBD1.5), or 1996-1997 Blazers (we know some bluetooth scanning apps have trouble with GM PIDs on 1996-1997). I'll try to review this scanner more thoroughly sometime this fall and post it. In the meantime, if anyone collects data using this scanner on the 1995-1997 Blazers, please let me know so I can include that info. I have no idea how it will work (GM PIDs and bidirectional controls) with very new vehicles (ie 2013+) but I believe the CAN protocol is consistent through 2012 and it seem to do the most module types for the CANBUS vehicles so they should be good to go.

 

Thanks for the additional info, Les. Looks like one of those is in my near future.

 

I tried bleeding the ABS with it just now and it said "function not supported". Has anyone else encountered this? Or am I doing something wrong again?

 

This looks like a great tool to have. I’m due for a new scanner and will definitely consider this one. I’m wondering though if I should just pick up one of the Chinese replica Tech2? Or another new product,, ThinkCar. Any thoughts on either of those?

 

I just now tried it on my 2001 and it works fine. Did you download and install the latest GM firmware off the web site?

 

I looked at their web site and I'm completely unimpressed with ThinkCar. Seems a typical Bluetooth OBD app - tons of these out there - only a few do enhanced GM PIDs (sensor/data monitoring) and even fewer have all the useful specific PIDs for a Blazer such as cam sensor retard. Specifically these are Car Gauge Pro (98+ blazer only - includes enhanced PIDs), Dash Command w/enhanced GM PID purchase (all years Blazer), Blue Driver (I have not personally reviewed but seems to work for iPhone users). Car Gauge Pro and Dash Command requires a separate Bluetooth OBD2 adapter to be purchased - recommend BAFX one as sold on Amazon. The rest have big promises, little susbstance. However, please be advised that none of the Bluetooth apps do Brake Bleeding or Crank Sensor Relearns, which is what this thread about the Ilink400 is really about.

At $300+ you can buy Windows software that will do the Crank Sensor Relearn, but the brake bleeding is not supported on HP Tuners anyways. Don't know about the others. HP Tuners, Autoenginuity, EFI live.

At $150 you can buy Windows software Scan XL Pro that pretty much equals the functions of Dash Command - same company - different platform - don't have to buy the Enhanced GM PIDs for each vehicle.

Some people love their $350 Chinese Tech 2 and claim is works just like the GM Tech 2. I have zero experience with either one. But I can say that I imagine it would be very easy to get lost in a Tech 2, as they do so many things.

So I was quite excited to find the Ilink400 would do both brake bleeding and things like the crank sensor relearn and HVAC. The handheld scanner I bought and returned before buying mine would only do the brake bleeding + simplest generic OBD2 PIDs.

For casual Blazer diagnostics, for under $50 I recommend Dash Command or Car Gauge Pro (Car Gauge Pro does more on 1998+ Blazers, but not as intuitive to use and is poorly documented). If you feel the need for crank sensor relearn or brake bleeding or more bi-directional control, then for under $150 the the Ilink400 seems made to order. I like them ALL and find uses for each!!! The only one that does it all is the factory Tech 2.