Diagnose C5 Corvette: GM Tech2 vs VCX Nano

 After receiving GM Tech2 scanner as a 2020 Christmas gift from my brother (look at the following image), some friends are kind jealous (hahaha) because they think it is a great gift and saying I’ll get many uses for this tool. it is a $250-300.

 

I have done a bunch of job with GM Tech2, here I take some for examples:

1. You can do an automatic bleed on the brakes with it, and bleed the abs pump. Without it you aren’t really able to bleed the system completely.

 

2. I know my brother was happy that we could use the tech 2 on his 95 k1500 too.

 

3. Tried to pay my brother back some by using the tech 2 to pull some codes on his 95 k1500. Egr code came up. Also programmed my sisters (his wife) TPMS on her RX350 so she would quit complaining about the light to him.

   I also almost killed the battery in the corvette playing with the tech 2. Next time I gotta remember to hook up the charger before spending 20 minutes playing with it.

 

Next is VXDIAG VCX Nano GM scanner

 

I have the VCX Nano – which emulates the Tech 2 on a laptop. It works flawlessly and is installed on the same laptop as my HPTuners, Alldatadiy, etc. I have turned a laptop into a great all in one diagnostic tool for all my corvette needs – or just to look like a complete fast and furious nerd to my neighbors. One of whom is a old school hot rodder with a 32 Ford coupe – and he LOVES making fun of all the technical growing pains I had building my car.

 

This is the obdii365 link to the VCX Nano:

https://www.obdii365.com/wholesale/vxdiag-vcx-nano-for-gm-opel-gds2-scanner.html

 

Here I’d like to answer several questions after I gave good feedback to VCX Nano:

1. VCX Nano is all inclusive and is a complete functioning Tech 2.. The one thing I don’t think it can do is connect to GM servers and download updates to modules and systems.

 

2. I just verified VCX Nano will do the RPO modifications. I haven’t found anything it won’t do aside from connect to GM servers – you can test every module on the car. It’s a pretty impressive tool to be honest.

 

3. As far as computer requirements – I have it installed on a run of the mill laptop that was basic when it was new two years ago and would probably choke up on a heavy porn hub tasking. No issues at all.
   
   I bought it to cycle the ABS system when I replaced all of my brake fluid. And the few times it helped me after were diagnosing which fuel sending unit was dead (you can see voltage output from each sending unit) and when my passenger door regulator was gone (I could see the door module was still alive and doing what it was supposed to). However, a dude down the street has a C5 full of issues and we diagnosed which cylinder was misfiring, his faulty gauge cluster, and a few other things. Honestly it’s been handy for the $100.

 

So, That is amazing for the VCX Nano price. Definitely added to the wish list by someone.

 

To sum up:

To diagnose C5 Corvette, both GM Tech 2 clone and VXDIAG GM scanner are good. Even Tech 2 can work with old GM models. and VCX Nano can do RPO modifications etc.

http://blog.obdii365.com/2020/12/30/diagnose-c5-corvette-gm-tech2-vs-vxdiag/

GM Tech2 Reset 05 Chevrolet Corvette Brake light

Car model and year:

2005 Chevrolet Corvette M6 base

 

Symptom:

Brake lights are not working. Including the 3rd brake light.

 

GM scanner:

1. I do have an Autel 519.
2. GM Tech II scanner (is a must tool)

 

What I tried to do:

Replaced the brake light switch. Swapped back in the original. Still no brake lights.

 

What should do next? (From experienced user)  

1. When changing the BPS, did you do a relearn with a Tech II to calibrate it with the BCM.

   When you have the tech II on the car to do the BPS relearn, did you go into BCM data after to see if the pedal was signaling the BCM to turn on the brake lights?

   Hence problem could be BPS not calibrated correctly to start with at the BCM, or could be the wiring/rear bumper void connector, or just rear grounding the problem instead.

   And if you don’t own a Tech II ( at least clone) to work on the car, it’s your first mistake, since even basic items like brake pedal sensor replacement have to be calibrated to the BCM via the tool. So on that note, if you list your location, someone local may have a Tech II to put on the car, until you get your own.

 

2. For Autel 519

The brake position sensor is a restate type device, not a on/off switch. So when it replaced in the car and since the each sensor will have a slightly different reading, the BCM has to learn it value when the pedal is not pushed, then when the pedal is pushed.

Double check your Autel 519, but not sure is has a BPS relearn for the GM cars on it, which is required when the brake pedal sensor is replaced.

Once the BPS vavlues have been learned to the BCM, then you can go into BCM data to make sure that the BCM is seeing the changing rates, and activating the brake lights. From here, then we are done to just the fuse and wiring from the BCM to the lights (then ground).

So again, could be the old BPS is worn, and its current resitance values are not the ones first leaned in, the replace values where never learned in, and why the BCM is not seeing the correct values to turn on the brake lights to begin with.

 

Finally, Solved!

I took the car to my friend’s shop. He fixed it in 5 minutes with a BPS relearn. I’m not sure why this was required. I did change out the switch but I put the original back in. Or the previous owner could have changed it and not known a relearn was required. He actually knocked quite a bit of money off the car because of this issue. Either way I have brake lights!

 

Good to know:

I have/used just about every Tech II / MDI device known, and it’s the VX GM Nano’s that I use the most (have one in both usb and wifi versions).
Hence it works at both a Tech II using cracked Tech2win software for the C6 and back cars for free that comes with it, and since it is a MDI clone to being with, works for C7 and newer cars running GSD2/TDS as well.

Hence the problem with the hand held tech II clones, is they only work on C6 or later cars, and not the newer cars that need MDI running GDS2 instead.
Regarding using TIS2000 with a hand held tech II clone, the unit only comes with a rs-232 connector cable, so you end up having to pick up a usb cable to connect it to a machine to run tis2000 instead.

So quick break down of GM software.
Tech2win is the same software that the hand held tech II’s runs internally, but runs it on a laptop instead. It’s used for diagnostics, and a few relearn type features.

Tis2000 is used for SPS firmware flashing of the C6 cars back. Note, there is the standard version that only goes up to 2009 cars, then there is the abroad version for spotty internet areas that will go up to 2013, since TDS may not work correctly if the area internet is not fast enough (think abroad where a service area may only have phone dial up).

GDS2 is the diagnostic and some relearn items for the 2014 and up cars.

TDS is the on-line SPS programming that replaced Tis2000 for the new cars from 2009 up for most firmware and special programming, even on the older cars.

As for the VX GM nano, runs all the above software, and in most cases (short of TDS that you would need to pay for a subscription), does so for free. Hence this is the reason that it’s favored, since it covers me on pretty much any GM car running no service fee software..

 

Credits to @Dano523 (CF Senior Member)

 

For the reliable clone GM TECH2, MDI and VXDIAG NANO GM, you are advised this one:

GM TECH2

GM MDI

VXDIAG NANO GM (USB)

VXDIAG NANO GM (WIFI) 

How to Install TIS2000 on Win10 RCA Cambio Tablet?

 The RCA Cambio (…Only $110.00 on Amazon) has a (6) Hour Battery Life and is Very Lightweight… with a VERY Small Foot Print that will allow it to sit on the Center Console or be rotated into a Tall Rectangle for ease of Touch Screen use inside the Cab.  Also… it is nice because all of the other Windows 10 Apps still function and you can Install HP Tuners (The Latest Blue Tooth Version) on the same Tablet with plenty of room to spare for easy Data-Logging.

The RCA Cambio has both the Touch Screen and Wide Touch Mouse Pad options built into the included Magnetic removable QWERTY Keyboard that sports NICE BIG Keys and is nice and crisp when typing. The Screen quality …even at 1280 X 800 Pixels is Clear and Bright.

This solution for Direct CD Installation should work on ANY Windows 10 Computer that supports the (32) Bit Operating System as a Fresh Installation.

How To Install TIS2000 on an RCA Cambio Tablet 10.1”

Procedure (Windows 10 (32) Bit Operating System ):

(1) This Technique will NOT work on ANY of the 64 Bit Flavor Windows 10 Computers.

(2) Visit the Link Below and Follow the Instructions, On Screen Prompts and Screen Prints to Wake Up the Native (16) Bit Capabilities of Windows 10:

http://techgenix.com/16-bit-applications-windows-10/

(3) Reboot the Tablet and Turn Off the WIFI, Firewall and Anti-Virus Apps.

(4) Use a Rioddas Standard USB External DVD Burner to Install the (3) TIS2000 Disks (NO PS Required). The RCA Cambio comes with One Standard Size 3.0 USB Port on the Side Plane.The Rioddas Unit is SWEET and STABLE.

(5) Use the Latest Flavor of TIS2000 (3) Disk Set of Installation CDs. Note that during the Final Disc Install… the 3rd Mini-Disk has a Properly Working Dongle Crack available as a single .DLL File to Copy/Transfer to the cosids/bin sub-directory. Rename the Old .DLL before doing this.

(6) Reboot the Machine and then, after turning on the WIFI, Firewall and Anti-Virus Programs, Select the TIS2000 Icon from the Desktop and put the App through its Paces to ensure that the SPS Program Functions properly… without any AV or FW interruptions that might harm the Tech 2 Hand Held Scanner. A GOOD USB to Serial Port Adapter WILL be required.

(7) That’s all there is to it… No Complicated VMWARE… No Weird ‘Windows Magic’… and No Entanglements. It is just a Direct CD Installation using the Hidden (16) Bit Drivers Native to the Windows 10 (32) Bit Edition to coax things along.

Done.

Read aslo: How to install TIS2000 for GM Tech2 scanner