I paid $400 for my Tech II, but I don't use it too often anymore. I use WinTech2 90% of the time. The Kwp2000 cars need a real Tech II yet

I am under the impression that if you purchase a 1 months TIS subscription you will be able to update the Tech II

 

I think you only get calibrations with the short term subscriptions (TIS-SPS 3month or 2 day), but I may be wrong. I just do a yearly TIS-ALL. It is cheaper to do a yearly subscription if you use it very much.

 

WinTech2 is very nice

 

thats incorrect , some clones are offered with 2 years warranty, longer than the original tech 2, and there is a uk dealer that will fix up the clone tech 2`s

 

It needs TIS2000 software to program PCM.

 

have a real tech 2 for sale 1200obo

 

There are a few known issues with the clone Tech 2's... They can be repaired to work just fine.

You'll need a decent temperature controlled soldering station, quality electronics dikes, 60:40 Pb-Sn solder, and a 5 diopter or better magnifying lamp.

The DC-DC convertor is a cheezy knockoff rather than a decent equivalent part. Don't use the clone without replacing this part with a good one. Mere mortals can't buy the MeanWell converter used on the Vertronix and Bosch units. There are decent replacement units that actually work properly unlike the part the clones ship with. R&R with a 6 terminal Mornsun VRB1205LD-15W DC-DC converter. You can get that part on evilbay and aliexpress for $20-$36.

Most clones use a cheaper multichannel RS232 Interface chip. If your unit has the SO-16 MAX202 rather than the proper robust SO-16 MAX232ESE+ chip replace it. The serial port is not reliable at any baud rates with the wrong part. The MAX232ESE+ is around $5 from the usual suspects Mouser, Newark, DigiKey, ... R&R the MAX202 with the MAX232. With the new chip it will work just fine at 115200 baud with a decent RS-232 serial adapter.
My first choice is a real RS232 to PCMCIA or Expresscard adapter from Quatech if they are still available.
Automation Direct sells their Gold-X $35 USB-RS232 adapter that's recommended by several folks for the Tech 2. I use both the Gold X and Quatech Expresscard interfaces at work for programming PLC units and configuring and interrogating dataloggers.

The VCI sometimes has cold solder joints or badly soldered joints on the interconnect and D-Sub connector that show up after a few months of use. From what I've read used Bosch, HP, and Vertronix units can have the same problem. The "real" VCI will not have incompletely soldered through hole and SMD connections but this is a $250 Tech 2 Clone. I didn't pay multiple thousands of dollars so I expect this kind of easily fixed QC issues.

The Mainboards occasionally have some solder joints that would not meet normal QC standards. Touch them up with a little more solder.

The 33.004 GM NAO card will work just fine with everything I've worked on back to the early 1990's and late 1980's. I would get a copy of Compuapps OnBelay 2.0 or something similar and make a binary backup image of the 32 meg card using the PCMCIA port on your laptop when your unit arrives.

You can buy new 32 meg SanDisk 5v 68pin Linear flash cards on Amazon for under $30. DO NOT get 3.3v cards for use in a Tech II they will let out the magic smoke. Ancient 12v cards will work but can't be written on any laptop made after the mid 1990's and I'm unsure if a newer Tech II will write to them.

 

 

Just get a vcx nano from eBay and be done with it. I run a hacked version of tech 2 win and i can program new modules(door switches and bcm) and stuff like that with out using an internet connection. It's available in the usual places. I've had it for over two years and no problems yet. Goes great with my other hacked programs I've acquired over the years like hptuners and bmw and Nissan stuff

 

Tech 2's aren't that special compared to your typical high end scanner. They will allow a little more functionality, but not the type that gear heads typically use. The only real thing a tech 2 can do that your typical good bi directional scanner can't do is program some modules.

But a good bi directional can command learning for other basic stuff like idle learns, hvac motor position learning, crank/cam learn etc..

So why get stuck on a tech 2 when the things it does most, will be what you use least?