The ck engine lt can tell you if there is a code on the tcm. It w/n tell the fault though. I never assume the light is due to a tcm falult though and before I'd recomend him to go to a trany shop to read the tcm (or Dodgr dealer) I'd verify it. As for reading the code with a scaner, the only one I know of costs thousands (DRB tool) and most people do not have one. I agree that 80 is a killer deal if it is good and also agree on your statement about his mechanical ability.

If there is a posibility of a bad valve body (or plugged)or some easy xmission sensor that flagged in the tcm, I'd recomend that route and pay someone to give the fault and or repair it

One last note, it never hurts to teach someone how to get a code, they may need to know how in the future.

 

idk why everyone that putters around with cars never seems to bother getting a real scanner. a good snappy isn't all that much. heck guys pay more for stupid entertainment systems for their cars that do nothing with getting them back and forth to work where a scanner will definitely help with getting to work

 

My scanner will do realtime engine monitoring as well as read and reset codes but as far as I know it w/n read bcm or tcm. Does the snapon do it? If so can you post the model #. I'm just not ready to take the $10k plunge for a DRB tool! I have seen a few used for under $5k, but that's too pricey for an unknown used machine.

 

i got an mt2500's for $500 all the adapters good to '07. they do OBDII, OBDI, trans, engine, body, abs and more. I can even do trans quick learn with them and other functional tests. got it on ebay.

 

That's awesome! I paid 350 for mine and all it does is codes and monitoring. It will do obd1 but I need the adaptor cables. Was yours used or refurbished?

 

it was used when I bought it in 07 and was just updated to 07. I haven't bothered renewing it cuz I have access to a modus and a drb3. The first week I had it I paid for it with the knowledge it gained me on fixing a couple cars. so I wasn't just throwing parts at a problem...it came with all the cables, connectors, does BCM. TCM, ABS etc for all cars/trucks. not only can I do OBD1 and 2 it can to functional tests, quicklearn, I can manipulate and activated outputs like wipers on a minivan, ABS pump motor, etc. I also have an interface for my mt2500 to run through a computer for data storage graphing and charting data

What brand tool are you using?

 

Actron from autozone. Pd around $350 5 years ago. It's been a usefull tool for the engine, but it's limited. I'd rather have your set up! Oh well, I'll just have to wait until I need a trany code read to justify the purchace. I just don't have the cash to spend at the moment.