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995
CHRYS
LER
Section 1: Welcome to the Scan Tool – Basics
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The Actron scan tool has
many features that you
would expect in scan tools
used by the professionals:
• Large 4 line x 20
character LCD display
• High-impact plastic case
• Durable, easy to use
keyboard
• Removable vehicle cable
adapter
• Removable power cable
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Actron Scan Tool Features
UP
DOWN
RIGHT
LEFT
®
by
®
TM
Vehicle Manufacturer Application Cartridges
The manufacturer-specific Application Cartridges offer a universal approach in chang-
ing software as vehicle technology changes. Actron’s separate cartridge and cable
system lets you add vehicle applications to meet your needs.
Cartridge Systems:
GM Cartridge
1984-1995
Ford Cartridge
1984-1995
Chrysler Cartridge
1989-1995
OBD II
1996-up
Professional-Style Adapter Cables:
GM ALDL — 12 Pin
Ford EEC-IV/MCU — 7 Pin
Chrysler SCI — 6 Pin
Scan Tool & Application Cartridge
1984-1995
GM
1984-1995
FORD
Optional Cable Adapters:
Chrysler CCD / LH – 6 Pin
Ford/Mazda MECS – 6 Pin
GM J1962-OBD-II – 16 Pin
Ford J1962-OBD-II – 16 Pin
Chrysler J1962-OBD-II – 16 Pin
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The Scan Tool
Actron’s scan tool was developed by ex-
perts in the automotive service industry to
help you diagnose today’s vehicles and
assist you in trouble-shooting procedures.
Computer-controlled vehicles have a net-
work of sensors that creates a series of
inputs to the engine computer. The com-
puter interprets these inputs and sends
outputs (commands) back to the network
to control air, fuel, vacuum, spark and
other critical functions. When a problem
occurs, the computer will store a record of
the event, and take corrective action to
adjust the circuit at fault. If the circuit does
not respond, or the problem cannot be
corrected, a trouble code is stored in the
computer’s memory. In some cases, the
Check Engine light may also be activated.
The scan tool will allow you to monitor
these vehicle events for trouble-shooting
and diagnosis, and to read codes from
the computer’s memory to pinpoint prob-
lem areas.
The scan tool uses state-of-the-art 16 “bit”
microprocessor technology and has twice
the computing power of some scan tools
costing thousands of dollars! The scan
tool is programmed to interpret the com-
puter signals and provide you with a “real
time” readout of vehicle data. More impor-
tantly, the software programs are written
to provide you with detailed, full-screen
readouts of all data. In addition, the Code
Lookup feature allows you to reference
code descriptions without having to page
through an instruction manual.
When the scan tool is connected to the
data connector, a communication link is
established, allowing the scan tool and
the vehicle’s on-board computer to ex-
change information. The way in which this
information is exchanged is referred to as
a data stream.
As you use the scan tool, you will become
more proficient in trouble-shooting ve-
hicles using the detailed help messages
and code description information. Actron
will also help you become skilled in using
the scan tool for more than just “scanning”
the vehicle data list. We will show you
many other uses that will expand your
diagnostic limits by using the information
contained in the application manuals that
come with your Application Cartridge. No-
start, driveability, and emission problems
will be easier to diagnose than ever be-
fore.
