What is the difference between The Fiero Stores ECM Scan Tool and Winaldl?

p.s. "I know......$99.95"

------------------
88GT/Auto/Beechwood Leather/SunRoof/Wing/JVC-CD-Sub-Woofer/225/45/17 Michelin Pilots/All Opts Ex.T-Tops

<<< <<< <<< <<< < Pix of my GT /- -/ Pix of my Vettes> >>> >>> >>> >>>
*** *** *** *** *** * "If you appreciate my contribution, please rate me. Thanks"* *** *** *** *** ***

quote Originally posted by 2000RagTop: What is the difference between The Fiero Stores ECM Scan Tool and Winaldl? p.s. "I know......$99.95"

Both allow you full access to the ALDL data stream, so in that sense there is no difference. The only difference really is that the scan tool plugs into a USB port, that's nice if your laptop doesn't have a serial port. AFAIK, the scantool software doesn't have logging. Logging is important to study the BLM fuel trims.

JazzMan

Winaldl doesn't comes with a cable. Yeah it is free. If the Fiero Store one doesn't log data I wouldn't buy it. Loggin and analyzing is VERY useful specialy if you are tunning for your mods.

The Fiero Store model works on USB, which requires an adapter. The WinALDL and cables you can buy in The Mall only works with a serial connection. Also, I think the Fiero Store software has more features, but I'm not sure.

WinALDL will work with USB. You just buy a USB/Serial cable at any computer store and plug the serial ALDL cable into that. This is how people using WinALDL with WinXP/2K work around how windows controls the serial ports on many computers. (As I understand it... WinALDL needs some recoding to work properly with normal com ports under XP/2K. Using USB/Serial gets around it in the meantime.)

USB/Serial adaptors aren't very expensive.

Logging is a feature you definitely want. Even my old AutoXray has some logging so you can snapshot about 30 seconds of data when a drivability problem occures.

Also... If you have one of the later P4 ECMs... neither of the products works. (like 87-88 DIS L4) You need AutoXray or somthing like that for those.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurasic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top of every forum page...)

I like using a laptop with ALDL and Cliff Pennocks program ALDLView to decifher the data in graph form. I use the data cable connected to a serial port although the Laptop has USB also.
About 6 months ago I went a step further and had a friend build me an infra-red interface to eliminate the cable altogether.
Laptop has infra-red too. I have'nt tried it out yet but this could be interesting!!!

Gadgets, gadgets....

------------------