Snap On modis eems300 vs tech2 (first impressions)

[MAY03LT]

The other day I spent some time with my new to me modis and went through my trailblazer to see what the modis can do compared to the tech2. So let's begin!

1) Modules - Right out the gate I noticed no onstar or radio selections. Normally with audio problems I get codes from the radio first. Also worth noting is I couldn't find any class 2 data for module pinging or status. Not a deal breaker but the tech2 wins this one.


2) Engine data/special functions - Two important functions are included - case learn and injector balance test. I haven't done an injector balance test using the modis so I can't just give the modis the win but I will call it a tie. For now.


2A) Misfire history - A frequently used function for cars that come in with "ran like crap the other day" complaints and p0300. This is a tie.


2B) Cruise data - Good news is you can test the switch inputs (I'm holding "set" in this pic) bad news is no cutoff data. Cutoff data is critical for diagnostics especially for intermittent faults. Tech2 wins. Fatality.


2C) Passlock data - The juicy bits are here for most passlock diagnostics. Tie.


3A) ABS bleed - I've used this hundreds of times most commonly on gmt800s that blow out brake lines. Tie.


Sidenote - it also shows the wss's at 3mph when stopped LOL.


3B) Wheel speed sensor data plot - a must have for watching speed sensors dropping out during unwanted abs operation. Tie.


4) C/B/U codes - The modis can get them too. Tie.


5) How do I fix car? I thought I knew my way around this generation modis but during our recent quality time I found this gem. Vehicle specific test procedures. Let's say I had a crank sensor code and wanted to scope the crank sensor. This tells me what it does, where it is, and the wire colors. Pretty slick.

The verdict - The modis holds its own for the most common uses that I use the tech2 for. I wouldn't call it a replacement because it is missing some things that do come in the shop. I think with the test procedures and its lab scope it will be a great companion with the tech2.

 

[jsheahawk]

Snazzy!

 

[Alvin955]

Nice work! But the modis is only a code scanner. Tech2 GM programmer is able to program modules with tis2000.

 

[mrrsm]

Back in Post # 2,196 of the “What Came in YOUR Mail Today?” Thread… I mentioned getting a “Snap-On MODIS Collectible Ball Cap…” and wondered "What would it be like to actually get one?" After Lurking all over eBay… I made a “Low Ball” (Pun Intended) Pitch of $425.00 vs. the eBay Vendor’s $500+ Listing 'ask'...and he accepted my Offer.



These are the Un-Boxing Images ...with a few more images of the Snap-On Specific In-Cylinder 500 PSI Compression Test Pressure Transducer... and its 30 PSI Companion, along with the Special Snap-On Harness that fits it up to the AUX Click-On Pin Connector on the Black Oscilloscope Module on top of “The MODIS”.

Oh...and contrary to the last comment made back in 2016 that “The MODIS is Only a Scanner…” … Here is the Truth about this “Thing”:

(1) It IS a Scanner… (Scan Tool).
(2) It IS ALSO a Digital 'Graphing' Multi-Meter as Full-Featured as the Vantage MT-2400.
(3) It IS ALSO a Four Channel, High Definition Oscilloscope (LAB SCOPE).
(4) It DOES Directed Component Testing with Hints, Pin Out Images & Hook Up Locations.
(5) This Package...when BRAND NEW back in 2011… SOLD for $8,880.00 ... Right off the back of a Snap-On Truck:

...and because of it having a "Low Light Color LCD Screen" that is very much in need of replacement, I opted presently to get an Inexpensive External VGA 7” Video Screen…

But... Watch THIS Video FIRST to see more Advantages for doing this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XQJVXHL/?tag=gmtnation-20

And NOW... I Get to Wear That Snap-On MODIS HAT... Completely Guilt Free... :>)

 

[mrrsm]

It’s WEIRD to find PRECISELY The Right Solution to what can be the ONLY Real Impediment to getting an Aging Snap-On MODIS Scan Tool Kit: A Dim or Poorly Viewable Screen. However… in THIS Case… The VOP (Video Original Poster) featured below not only took advantage of adding “ON” a 10.1” TFT Color LCD Screen as per his Two Demo Videos… but he also used the Top MODIS USB Port to add in a Quad USB Splitter and included using a Keyboard, Mouse Feature PLUS a 1 GB USB Thumb Drive to transfer and store his Disk Data. And with these news features, they obviate the need to use the “Press Buttons” on the Right OEM Side Panel to actuate his MODIS with ease:

WOW! Talk about a HARDWARE UPDATE! So… following on with his Video Suggestions and Hands On Proof of THIS Concept… I visited eBay and located the very same 10” TFT LCD Screen On Sale for right around $71.00:




More to Follow...

Here is yet another Dude who reasoned out TWO Solutions:

(1) For a Replacement TFT Color LCD Screen and ...
(2) An External, Re-Chargeable Li-ION Battery Pack.

So Naturally... He has managed to Revitalize an Old MODIS for NEW Purposes:

Ask Yourself THIS Question...

"Why ... In The Name Of God's Holy Trousers... Would ANYONE go to SO MUCH TROUBLE to resurrect (or improve upon) such an "Aging Scanner"...?

The ANSWER is Simple:

Because THIS Kind Of Tool NEVER GOES OUT OF DIAGNOSTIC FASHION because IT delves into the Universal, Immutable Laws of PHYSICS. In Particular... those dealing with Electro-Magnetic Forces and the Modular Devices using IT that will ALWAYS require understanding The Subtleties of VOLTAGE over TIME.

 

[mrrsm]

While I'm waiting for the 10.1" TFT VGA External Screen to arrive... I thought I'd use the smaller 7" version to sort out any Questions concerning whether this Idea of "Resurrecting a Snap-On MODIS LCD Screen..EXTERNALLY..." was even possible. THIS "Lil' TV" worked Right Out of The Box... The Snap-On MODIS makes an instant recognition and ports the Screen Image out to the VGA Monitor Screen with NO SET UP OR ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED.

Check out THESE Images below in Part One of a Two Part Series which clearly display the UNBELIEVABLE Features working flawlessly along, ostensibly described as a Device as being "Merely a Scanner that can Only Read Codes" ...But actually possessing UNIVERSAL DIAGNOSTIC ABILITIES THAT WILL ALWAYS BE USEFUL ... NO MATTER WHAT THE YEAR, MAKE OR MODEL OF VEHICLE COMING UNDER ITS POWERFUL GAZE.

THIS is the Kind of Scan Tool Kit you should be trying to find over on eBay ...and GRAB One if has the OEM Factory Software Updates as recent as possible for LATE MODEL VEHICLES and if the associated Kit Components are present inside of the OEM Snap-On Case ...and ALL for the asking price of around $500.00:

Part One:

Setting Up the Snap-On MODIS Scan Tool Hidden Port to allow for installing a *tiny* External VGA Monitor-Screen:




Part Two will Cover... The "MUST HAVE" Nickel-Metal-Hydride Batteries and Charging Unit...

 

[mrrsm]

Part Two of Two Parts...

Okay...So You've GOT Yourself a Decent Snap-On MODIS Kit and you realize that the Old Nickel Metal Hydride Battery MIGHT Be DOA... So... What To DO? When Snap-On transitioned from the MODIS Platform over to the VERUS... they also moved on to using Li-ION Batteries in a completely different design, shape and size and so that leaves you with having to use (...or GET Used) a 14-16 VOLT Charging Station and find a decent Replacement Battery. Otherwise, you will need to strictly rely upon having to PLUG-IN the Scan Tool to an AC Wall Socket in all instances.

I suppose THAT would be Okay... But since I NEVER DO ANYTHING BY HALVES, I investigated eBay once again in search of some possible Replacement Power Gear. I ran into this one 'Yo-Yo' who insisted that he had a "BRAND NEW MODIS Battery" and wanted $100.00 for it (With No Charging Station included) and so I basically just *shined him on*...

Afterwards, I waited a few days to see if his Pricing *ASK* would come down after I had showed some interest and then backed off. But Nope. NO SOAP... So I KEPT ON LOOKING and about a week later... I saw this ONE Listing for TWO BATTERIES @ $45.00 per item. Did I JUMP on getting ONE? NOPE... I JUMPED on getting them BOTH... with the idea that if I eventually have to do any sort of Battery Pack Re-Building... I can Pick & Choose from among the remaining LIVE Cells within All Three Battery Packs to make just One Good One if necessary. You know... Just trying to Think-A-Little-Ahead.

Next Up... Of course I wanted to get a Snap-On MODIS OEM Charging Station and Kill Two Birds with One Stone:

(A) I'd be able to Cycle Charge the Two Extra Battery Packs one after the other while Charging a Third inside of the MODIS Scan Tool.

(B) The Snap-On OEM Charging Station requires a 14-16 Volts DC @ 36 Watts Power Supply feeding into it ...and it has the Cool Features of letting you know whenever a Battery Pack is either NOT Taking a Charge...or is Over-Heating when Charging. I managed to find one for $80.00 ...but considering everything this device is meant to do and the scarcity of finding MODIS Related Support Gear... I *Pulled The Pin*...and once I plugged it in and started using it ... IT Works GREAT.

After the Charging Station arrived and I had the chance to check out BOTH of the $45.00 Batteries...I discovered to my very great pleasure that they BOTH were FULLY CHARGED! Then after I placed the In-Dwelling Battery Pack from inside the MODIS on Charge... IT immediately displayed a proper "RED" Light indicating that IT was also a Working Battery, TOO! So I could NOT be happier with this situation is I was TWINS! Here are some Images of all this Battery Support Gear:



So... The Moral of The Story is... Don't Overlook the Need to "Sort Out The Power Issues" whenever looking for a Low Buck Snap-On MODIS Scan Tool Kit... :>)

"Doing Your Due Diligence... ALWAYS... Pays Off..." mrrsm

 

[mrrsm]

One Last Thing... If you are going to be Running TWO THINGS that require Decent AC Wall Power conversion to DC such as for the Snap-On Modis AND using an External VGA Monitor (if you cannot locate a Working Battery, etc.) THIS Power Supply offer more Voltage Variability AND Higher Wattage Levels that can also handle the Snap-On Battery Charging Station as well ...for Only $15.00 on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MT5WVCG/?tag=gmtnation-20

 

[mrrsm]

Alternatively... Perhaps THIS One is also a Good Candidate as well:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WP2LBXW/?tag=gmtnation-20

 

[mrrsm]

THIS is an Offer being made over on eBay for only $250.00 on a Used (...theoretically *INOP* at the moment) Snap-On Modis Scan Tool with Support Gear... But might well and truly appeal to anyone who is enterprising enough to investigate its possibilities for repairs mentioned in prior posted information above ...AND.. because it is available for almost half the price of the usual offers for this Gear:

Snap On MODIS EEMS300 v11.2 Scanner Computer Automotive Diagnostic | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Snap On MODIS EEMS300 v11.2 Scanner Computer Automotive Diagnostic at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[mrrsm]

THIS...is a MUCH Better "BUY IT NOW" Offer for a more complete (and Operational Kit)" for only "A Dollar A Day" Price of $365.00:

Snap-on Tools Modis EEMS300 Scanner Tool Cart Inserts for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Snap-on Tools Modis EEMS300 Scanner Tool Cart Inserts at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[mrrsm]

Ordinarily... Only Auto Repair Shop Owners and Professional Mechanics get anywhere NEAR to working around and with the Higher End Snap-On Scan Tool Kits... and THAT also implies having to invest in the extended support gear that is part and parcel to using the Modis, Modis Ultra, Verus and the rest of this equipment.

THAT entails using what Snap-On originally coined as "Personality Keys" (SEE THE SNAP-ON MODIS-ACCESSORY-KEY LIST ITINERARY PDF LINKED BELOW INCLUDES FOR MY ORIGINAL SYSTEM VERSION OF 12.4) to distinguish between what each and every Year-Make-Model of Vehicle and Truck being scanned requires in order to *Emulate The Factory Scan Tools* and thus... a Standard OBD2 VCI Connector and Cable may NOT work when using the Snap-On MODIS Scanner in certain circumstances.

Well... If you peruse the attached images below... you'll see all of this "Snap-On Regalia" in all their Glory and know that to this very day... if you are seeking any Particular "Personality Key" for your Particular Vehicle... be prepared to pay anywhere from $25.00 to $150.00 PER KEY.

That is... Unless you Scour the Back Alleys and Hallways of eBay looking for fairly complete *Sets of P-keys* and anything else the Vendor decides to throw in as a Bargain. Such is the case below...and to a VERY Remarkable extent because the eBay Seller involved here, (for reasons I can only guess at...) quite generously included ...not One...but TWO Snap-On Color Optical Probe Kits... sans the Blow-Molded Cases mind you... for FREE.

I mean, I was like ..."Dude ...WTF Man...?" What the Hell was THAT all about ?...Right? Oh... I soon figured it out...They were BOTH NOT WORKING... At least... HE apparently could not get them to work. But Oh Well... One Man's Pains are another man's Pleasures...Right? :>)

And I should NOT ever Look THIS Gift Horse in the Mouth because in addition to the American AND Foreign Personality Key Sets, he included ALL of the Snap-On OEM MODIS Software and many Duplicates of the Main OBD2 Cabling and Connectors. Take note of the differences between the Personality Key Insert Slots on the two identical Gray NAO OBD2 Adapters vs the Slotted version of the two Black Foreign OBD2 Adapters-Cables.

Now obviously...at this very late stage of still *Bending Wrenches and Busting Knuckles* at my age...it is highly unlikely that I'll dip into these Sets of Keys to use MOST of them...but for my making this Dude an Offer of Only $70.00.... his acceptance and the ultimate arrival of ALL of this otherwise expensive support gear means that all of those *Goodies* will find it quite comfortable inside of the Huge Snap-On MODIS Carry Case...JIK I might need at least a few of them from time to time. :>)

I'll post the rest of the Story and the Images about the Snap-On Color Optical Probe Kits over in "TOOL TALK"... because THAT turned out to be a very interesting experience too. I mean ...Isn't it a fact that as soon as soon as we hear those Magic Words, "I Don't Know WHAT'S Wrong with IT... IT Must be BROKEN..." Doesn't THAT situation always pique our curiosity...?

 

[mrrsm]

The rest of the Snap-On NAO *Personality Keys* and a 3rd Key-Way OBD2 Adapter came in:



"Better to Have Them... and NOT Need Them ... Than to NEED Them... and Not Have Them..."

 

[mrrsm]

From Time to Time... Eric "O" utters his Famous Saying:

"Hey... Don't Get SLID..."

And if You've been following along with any of the Threads I've done about getting arguably "Out-Dated Scanners" and other Used Higher End Diagnostic Gear with a Jaundiced Eye, thinking,

"Bobby... Dude... WHY the HELL Should I Waste My Time and Money with getting Used Scan Tools that will NOT service Vehicles beyond say 2012 to 2015 at the very latest... When I can get a MUCH more Modern Scan Tool for Just a Little More Money than YOU'VE been spending ... and enjoy the Higher End Scan Tool with a MUCH BIGGER TOUCH SCREEN?"

Yada....Yada...Yada. X>(

Well... Honestly, a Good Part of ALL the Due Diligence I have been putting into finding and investing my Hard Earned Money into all of this Higher End Gear is the absolute need for me GETTING UNDER THE SKIN OF ALL THE FACTORY LIMITATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS FIRST Just so I "Don't Get SLID!" . Case In Point... WATCH THIS VIDEO... and ALL will be thoroughly explained:

Lastly... If you are going to purchase THIS Legacy type of Snap-On MODIS Tool Kit... You MUST be serious about the facts that these are NOT TOYS and they all have a Pretty STEEP Learning Curve for using them. This Stuff is Serious Diagnostic Gear meant to be used almost daily by Serious, Capable Professional Mechanics ... OR... If you are Like ME... FOREVER A PERMANENT STUDENT OF ALL KINDS OF AUTOMOTIVE DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIRS... You will NOT STOP Trying Until You Finally Get to Own Some of Them!

And so it also follows on that with the reality of my Advanced Age... I have absolutely NO intention or any interest whatsoever of purchasing any of the "The Latest, Greatest, Newest (...often... Screwiest)" Motor Vehicles around ...EVER again. Especially if the Professional Diagnostic Scan Tools I want to Own would cost me between $5,000 to $15,000 AND require that I get *permission* from the OEM Sellers like MACK and Snap-On to USE them.

So THAT means that all of my Used Diagnostic Gear found on eBay MUST NOT COST ME AN ARM AND A LEG and yet still be able to manage to keep ALL of my Diagnostic & Repair ASPIRATIONS well within the Realm of my Diagnostic & Repair OPERATIONS. Besides that... My Snap-On MODIS Scan Tool ALSO has a Working (4) Channel Oscilloscope AND a Digital Graphing Multi-Meter that can also do Directed Component Diagnostic Testing from 1991 to 2012 from now until Doomsday or for as long as Grass is Green...and Skies are Blue ...because the RULES for Electricity Will NEVER Change. :>)

 

[mrrsm]

This is another alternative approach that SHOULD also work with “How to Convert an Original CCFL LCD Burned-Out Tube Screen over to an LED Lighting Strip inside the Snap-On Modis Scan Tool”:

Note that there ARE a few Factory OEM CCFL 7.2” LCD Screens still available under the Japanese Company Name of Kyocera Part # KHS072VG1AB-G00. However, as you can see from the below linked eBay Listings, they are charging around $700.00 for these Factory Replacement Units, ostensibly because of their “Industrial Grade Manufacturing Quality” which takes a LOT more of “The Elusive Spondulex” than I am willing to part with… even for such a Full Featured Snap-On Scan Tool – 4 Channel Oscilloscope – Directed Component Diagnostic & Repair Function – and – A Dual Graphing Multi-Meter on par with the Snap-On Vantage PRO Graphing Multi-Meter:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...+And+Newer+Model+With+Raised+Window&_osacat=0

These New LED Strip Kits that are also available on eBay will allow the intrepid Repair Dude to simply Size Down the Cut-2-Length LED Strip(s) short enough to fit within the Side Mounted Light Diffuser Glass Plate Frame and take the place of the Original Tiny Fluorescent Tube hidden inside, This action SHOULD be able to return the Color Screen viewing on the Snap-On Modis right back to being it’s useful condition… for just Under $30.00 along with using a bit of care, some time and some patience when performing this kind of delicate Screen R&R:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3242984150...=0&customid=link&campid=&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

I’ve ordered several variations on this theme… including a Bare – No Frame, No Frills 7” Raspberry PI Controlled Version as well that I might consider installing right in place of the Old Screen and “Hide The PI” completely inside of the Snap-On Modis ...IF... there is enough ROOM inside the Case Halves and ...IF... it comes down to necessity:

THIS is the Identical Unit I just received (sans the Touch Screen Controller):

I LIKE the prior existing solution of using the Hidden VGA Out Port located under the Bottom Left Hand Rubber Grip to attach the Modis to an External LCD Monitor… But ...it would STILL be nice to return the Scan Tool back to its original screen features, without having to handle a separate External Small Screen AND the External Power Supply, Cords AND the Cables and Power Supply Connections required to make it all work... with the EZR2USE OEM Screen for Viewing at all times.

I'd appreciate it if @Blckshdw and @TJBaker57 would advise me on any additional THERMAL issues I might have to worry about ...and how to deal with that problem if it happens to develop after making this conversion.

Oh Well... "Nothing Ventured... Nothing Gained..."

 

[mrrsm]

Back in Post #7, I was stressing the need for ...and the difficulty in obtaining... Durable batteries of the Nickel-Metal-Hydride variety, borne out by the uniquely shaped N-MH Batteries that exclusively power up the Vintage Snap-On Modis Scan Tools. Even after finding three of them in various states of functionality, I was still considering the option of finding a company that has taken these Old batteries and re-built them back to Spec. I was also inclined to find and purchase an additional Charging Station for this Kit as well.

So I decided to keep my eyes peeled for any chances of purchasing Re- Built units... WITHOUT having to send off any of the originals as "Deposit Bottles" first. Due Diligence in playing this game of continuing to use what others might deem as being "Old and Out-Dated Technology" continues to pay off and allow me to obtain Great Diagnostic Value at modest expense. In spite of what others may not appreciate, the glory of having so many all important Scan Tool Features remains useful to this very day.

Lately, I managed to locate an additional, Re-Built N-MH Battery...AND... a second Charging Station along with its OEM Bench Top AC-DC Power Converter on eBay AND Amazon at VERY Decent Prices as illustrated in the following Photo-Play bringing the available power equipment now up to Two Charging Stations AND Four N-MH Batteries:

 

[mrrsm]

It's funny how you can visit eBay and plunk down a *Search String* on one day...and see NOTHING and do the same thing a few days in a row...and then *BANG* the item appears out of nowhere on the spot.

This is what happened when I was making the rounds there and put in the expression, "Modis Manual" and sure enough, one such Hard Copy Spiral Bound Snap-On Modis Display Version finally showed up and of course, since the Blow Molded Snap-On Modis Case still has PLENTY of room inside the upper case cubbies, I jumped at the chance to add IT to all the other related Scan Tool Items.

Besides that... even with the Identical Color 72 Page PDF matching this "B&W Book" linked below ...I still enjoy being able to take my time with learning at a more leisurely, but soon-to-be-lost pace, with the added tactile sensation humans experience when just "Turning The Page".

When it comes to improving One's Mechanical Acumen... You can NEVER have enough OEM Reference Material to study and rely upon for accuracy and completeness of information. :>) By the way... If you browse through the PDF... it will convince you that if you can find a Decent Kit with all this equipment on eBay at a Decent Price... I'm NOT Kidding... You ARE Gonna Want One!

 

[mrrsm]

Just Look at what THIS Dude has figured out about his Snap-On Modis concerning the activation of the European and Heavy Duty Features on his System:

 

[mrrsm]

Getting back to being able to AVOID doing the Clever External SVGA Screen Solution shown in the Video of Post #5 (Ahh... Dammit... Too Late... I already Drank The Kool-Aid... Got the Mini-Color LCD Screen & SVGA Gear and By God!... it Really DOES WORK).... BUT...Perhaps it would be Better to Treat the Illness and NOT Just its Symptoms.

And that brings us around to my conducting a Painstaking (...But VERY Inexpensive) search for the EXACT CAUSE of the Problem with these Snap-On Modis Color Screens going dark. And as Luck would have it, the issue is NOT with the Color Liquid Crystal Displays in these Ancient and Powerful Snap-On Diagnostic Scan Tool-Oscilloscope-Graphing Multi-Meters... NO! Hells Bells... The MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) for Damned Near ALL Liquid Crystal Displays is well over 100,000 Hours of USE!

So... NO!... The LCD Screens are NOT the Problem.. .THE Problem is that over many years of Care-Worn Shop Use... the Thin Fluorescent Bulbs that reside along the Edges of the Screens and serve to transmit their Bright Illumination into the Frosted (Back Lighting) Panel BEHIND the LCD *IS* THE Actual Problem. When they Burn Out... You can STILL See the Vague Color Images and Text and Panels of the Color LCD... but just not good enough to resolve the important information necessary to make Proper Diagnostic Decisions.

Now...from here on, it gets even MORE intriguing once you discover that THERE ARE NO AVAILABLE REPLACEMENT SCREENS TO BE HAD ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ANYMORE FOR THE SNAP-ON MODIS SCANNERS! So unless You get VERY Creative (or just accept defeat and use the Alternative Solution well described in Post #5)...Then You are SOL. Right? Well....NO!... Not Necessarily!

Wait Half-A-Tick Here... You know what? We are Damned Near Out of the Woods with this Problem....*IF*...You can just Very Gently dis-assemble the Snap-On Modis Scan Tool. Then, after removing-disconnecting the Back-Lit Color LCD Screen... Observe WHICH Side the Fluorescent Bulb Resides inside of it by TRACING THE WHITE & PINK POWER WIRES LEADING UP TO IT.

Okay... Now... after Very Gently Peeling Back the Aluminized Reflector that conceals the Bulb... without damaging it... Slip the Old Fluorescent Bulb LOOSE and Bring it over to the Bench. Remember to ALWAYS Take Before-N-After Images as you gradually take things apart!

Okay... Now is the time to use the " Little Blue CCFL High-Voltage Ballast Bulb Tester" & an AC/DC 120 VAC to 12 Volts @ 4Amps Power Supply shown in the images below. In the example photos, I am Testing Out a Brand New OEM Replacement 7.2" Fluorescent Bulb meant for installation into the Snap-On Modis Scan Tool.

YOU can likewise Test Out your Old Bulb in this Identical Fashion to CONFIRM whether or not it has Failed ...BEFORE... Ordering a Pair of Replacement Bulbs like the ones you can see glowing in the dark on my Makeshift Test Bed. The OEM Number is marked on the Plastic Sleeve with the Black Plastic End Caps.

IF YOURS DOES NOT GLOW JUST LIKE THIS ONE... Then consider Searching and Purchasing the Bulbs I managed to find for a mere pittance over on eBay. Then, with the Aluminum Reflector held well back off of the Color LCD Screen Frame (Only AFTER scavenging your White & Pink Wires and Soldering them ONTO the Two Bulb End Wires.) ...Slip the New Bulb back into the EXACT SAME Position where the Old Bulb was located in Parallel with the Edge of that Frosted Clear Plastic Backlighting Screen.

After arranging the Wiring to avoid obscuring ANY Light, very carefully replace that Aluminized Reflector back into its original position. Finally, run some Clear Adhesive Tape over the Original Seam, and Close Up Your Surgical Field... :>). After you Re-Install the Color LCD Screen right back inside of your Snap-On Modis... POWER THAT UNIT UP!

After Adjusting for Contrast and Brightness... If your Back-Lit Color LCD Screen looks Normal ...Then...DUDE!... You will have JUST Resurrected your Snap-On Modis with a Brand New Lease on LIFE! But as I said earlier... BEFORE You go to All of that Trouble...TEST AND VERIFY THE POSSIBLE FAILURE OF THE ORIGINAL OLD BULB INSIDE OF YOUR SNAP-ON MODIS BY USING THIS INEXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT!

 

[mrrsm]

While continuing to delve ever deeper into the "Mysteries of The Snap-On Modis"... I dosed myself with enough of my OWN Medicine so as NOT to assume the the OEM LCD Back-Light Bulb was THE Cause & Origin of the Low Light appearance of the Screen once the Modis is Powered ON.

The results actually surprised me in that instead of either NOT working at all, or being so DIM as to prove that THIS was the Problem.... when the CCFL Tester High Voltage Output Power was applied to the Pink & White Bulb Input Wires... The OEM CCFL Lamp Lit up VERY BRIGHT.

Uh Oh... So if the Bulb (Lamp) is NOT the actual problem...then WTF is going on here to make it NOT Work? Hmmm... Time to Tear into the Modis and get into the MOBO and see the Screen Layout inside of this complicated Scan Tool to look things over.

THIS is *STUFF* Worth Knowing ....if you want to repair any "Dead Screens" on your Resurrected Snap-On Scan Tool Tech:

Fortunately... having lived through and learned from the "Post CRT - TV Screen" epoch of having Giant Cathode Ray Tubes Magnetically Guiding an Electron Beam from Top Down and from Left to Right against and across the Phosphorous Coated interior Surface of the Giant Vacuum Tubes of Old..."... when the then NEW (Pre-LED) Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) Tech emerged in the Mid-1980s, that saved us all an eye-watering amount of money on our Home Electricity Bills ...not to mention greatly reducing the amount of added Thermal Emissions from all of those Old Computer Monitors... and I wanted to Know MORE about the subject.

THIS Tech Advancement allowed for the development of the "Portable Notebook-Laptop Computers" that we still enjoy to this day even when so much more computing power is available in our Cell Phones.

It was also around that time frame that the Snap-On Verus, Solus, Modis Family of Professional Scan Tools (costing around $10,000.00 to $15,000.00 per Kit depending upon the "Extras" in the Shop Purchases) were emerging in the After-Market Auto Service Industry.

What made this transition possible came from the brilliantly conceived ideas that emerged from The Texas Instrument Company creating Low Power Consuming LCD Screens "In Shades of Gray", made famous by all of those Casio Liquid Crystal Display Wrist Watches and TI-XX Scientific Pocket Calculators that were Pounding the Wrists of a LOT of "Time Conscious" Consumers and getting stolen off the desks of every Engineer and College Kid across North America.

Anyways... The NEXT Best Idea to emerge was to create the LCD Output in the Three Primary Colors...BUT... that demanded the additional assistance of having BACK-LIT SCREENS feeding Very Bright Light through either Opaque Plastic or Frosted Glass Back Drops to drive enough Photons ...through... the Color LCD Panels in order for those colors to brightly display on High Tech Scan Tool Screens.

So getting back to the "What Went Wrong?" part of this Diatribe... THIS is that very Technology explained in just a few Images and with certain aspects pointed out that went SIDEWAYS on the Modis Mother-Board that I can easily work around as follows:

First...it is important to explain that the THINNER the Fluorescent Tube being used is... the GREATER the Electrical Resistance becomes in between the two ends and thus...those "Tiny White Light Tubes" can place a very high demand for High Voltage Output coming from any Rapidly Switching Oscillation Coil.

THIS is what a FAILED CCFL HV Oscillation Transformer Coil surface mounted upon the Snap-On Modis MOBO looks like after the In-Dwelling CCFL Tube got Carboned Up inside and pushed the HV side of the Coil to produce on demand until it got HOT enough to FAIL:



But...since I have been unable to find an OEM Replacement Oscillation Coil EXACTLY like this one that so obviously could be R&Rd as an SMC, my Next Best Idea is to use EITHER an Original, Stand-Alone LCD CCFL Bulb Driver Circuit...or...Switch over to the LED Option and simply find an "Empty Space...Inside The Case" and park a Complete CCFL Driver Unit therein...or...Switch to the Very Fine Versions of the New LED Strips and mount that line of lights along the edge of the 7.2" Scan Tool Screen and Drive the Light independently from a Switched Power Source from the Snap-On Modis MOBO Chassis.

THIS is a Bird's Eye View of what a Classic CCFL PCB-SMC Kit looks like and how it behaves courtesy... a Nice, Little Hand Drawn Schematic:

In a Nutshell... the 5 Volt DC (2 Amps) Input comes in to the Black Resonator on the Left Side of the Board and is *finagled* via a 120 Henry through a few Capacitors while shuttling back and forth between Two NPN Transistors that serves to Jack the Low Voltage-High Amperage Input up to VERY High Voltage @ Lower Amperage in the Secondary Coil Sides on the Right Side of this Tiny Board as a Single HV Output.




There is a Pico-Farad Capacitor on the Output Side on the RIGHT meant to prevent Sparking even though it has a VERY LOW Capacitance Level due to the presence of the VERY HIGH FREQUENCY of the HV Output feeding thence into the Pink & White CCFL Tube Power Wires.

That's IT... and THUS... the Snap-On MOBO Circuit can be completely side-stepped by using one of THESE Stand-Alone CCFL or LED Driver Circuit Boards! I have ordered a few more Variations on this Theme because they are very inexpensive to obtain... and one may work better than another when placed inside of the Snap-On Modis Chassis:




And for the LED Conversion avenue... there are many, ubiquitous LED Driver-Light Bar Kits available like THIS One that can be sized down and still function in the 7.2" Length:




It is NICE to have some flexibility of the Input Voltages as well:



The TOP Board of the two shown below is for the LED Flavor that Drives the Two Tiny LED Light Bars (Dual Outputs). The Bottom Board is the Classic CCFL Driver Board... Notice the Thermal Sensor leaning up against the Left side of the Oscillation Transformer?

THAT Thermocouple (Thermistor) is meant to sense any impending OVER-HEATING FAILURE as the Brightness of the Color LCD Screen Gradually Diminishes when the Thin CCFL Bulb-Tube begins to FAIL and THAT is what stresses the HV Transformer!

 

[mrrsm]

Hey... Guys... --==CHECK OUT THIS DEAL ON A SNAP-ON MODIS SCAN TOOL WITH ALL THE GEAR... AND A WORKING BRIGHT COLOR SCREEN ...WITH... THE SOFTWARE UPDATED TO 2015.2 (15.2 Version) ...!!! ==--

The Offer includes the Basic Snap-On Cables and Adapters, Alligator 4mm Probe Clamps, The Snap-On Cords ...AND... The Product Keys!!! for only $450.00 --Or-- Best --Offer! Plus $39.50 S&H:

CAVEAT EMPTOR! (Buyer Beware)

Do your -=OWN=- Due Diligence and confirm the following:

(1) That the Screen stays on at all times during Operation.
(2) That the Four Channel Oscilloscope Module WORKS.
(3) That the Keys R-4 the Common GMs, Fords and Chryslers.

As per prior Posts and Images confirm, the N-MH Battery and Power Supply and Chargers are available elsewhere on eBay if not included... but THIS unit WILL operate from varied Power Sources.

Then... Make the Seller an Offer He can't Refuse!!! Because this Unit will work in ANY Automotive Diagnostic via its Graphing Multi-Meter and as a Four Channel Oscilloscope Features!!!

 

[mrrsm]

Please... If you don't take the time to ether Read the Information Posted here on this extensive Thread...or Watch ANY Other Snap-On Modis Videos... PLEASE... Watch THIS Contemporary 2024 Video:

About Three Months Ago... Eric ...in... The Back Alley Diagnostics picked up a very comprehensive and complete "Old Snap-On Modis Kit" and set it up with an External Monitor on a "Diagnostic Shop *Crash* Cart"... and he gives us such a REALLY Great Tour of this Scan Tool and Lab-Scope -= IN ACTION =- in his Garage in this Video:

As mentioned in the Video...to convert your OEM BNC Plugs for use on the Snap-On Modis 4mm Banana Plug Leads, the Quality Pomona Part #3073 Adapters are The BEST:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HKJONF2/?tag=gmtnation-20

It might seem counter-intuitive to "Tout These Filthy Things"... but when it comes to getting a "Good Deal" on an "Old Modis"... if you can see that it works well at the outset...AND...that it is literally "Covered In MUNG"... It means that the Prior Owner as an Automotive Shop was REALLY Using "The Thing" for all of its worth and Intended Diagnostic Purposes.

And that leads into the "Best Practices" of using a Warm Water and Mild Soap-N-Sponge Clean Up of the Exterior Plastic and Rubber Gripping surfaces to remove the "GOK" (God Only Knows) WHAT is making everything so *Sticky and Disgusting*.

It follows on that besides almost NEVER using the Modis Oscilloscope Features... The Shop Workers using this Gear (Ergo...They Don't Own It... So they Might Mistreat it...) and often completely ignore the need to Replace the Tiny Air Filter located in the Upper, Under-Side of the Right Rubber Grip. Wiping down the lengths of all the Snap-On Leads and Sender Probes-Alligator Connectors as well helps, too.

This is such a Trivial Maintenance Procedure that even the meanest among us could take care of it in just a matter of seconds... so if you get an Old Modis, consider purchasing these on eBay as additional support equipment whenever you can.

The only time anyone would notice this feature is when the User -=deliberately=- selects "Battery Charging" from the Tools Menu as a Feature that the Base Unit is capable of doing. Since the Logic Board winds up moving so much Amperage into the In-Dwelling Battery... The Guts can Over-Heat if that FAN does NOT Turn On. Having a Filter to Keep Out The Dirties always present around Dirty Shop Environment makes this idea as a "Consumable" ...PDC (Pretty Damned Clever)....as a "Cabin Filter" for a Scan Tool... :>)