MT2500 Red Brick
I managed to find a fairly complete MT2500 with most US Domestic and Asian OBDI data adapters GM, Chrysler, & Ford OBDI primary cartridges through 1993, Asian cartridge through 1993, a battery pak, and the manuals.
I did some research and picked up a full set of 1990's MT2500 personality keys, the 1999 Domestic cartridge that supports RENIX JEEP as well as the big three, the OBDI Jeep data adapter, and the OBDII personality key adapter.
IMPORTANT NOTE!!! The MT2500 data cable, OBDI / OBDII adapters, and personality keys will work with the Solus, Solus Pro, and MODIS models
For 1992-2001 GM T400 and all the GMT800 trucks I'd recommend a clone Tech2.
The MT2500 will do in a pinch but it will not ever do things like ABS bleed. Supposedly you need 10ish bundle on the Solus & Modis to support that but don't quote me on the exact bundle number.
The MT2500 "needs" list for OBDI GM stuff is fairly small
You need;
- The handheld red brick MT2500. Mine is a wee bit cleaner than any you're likely to find for sale, but you can fix that.
- MT2500-1099, 1980-1999 Domestic Primary Cartridge.
NOTE:The 2000 & later red primary cartridges only support 1996 and up.
- MT2500-1193, 1980 1/2-1993 GM Primary Cartridge ( The 1999 cartridge neutered some 1990 and prior support )
NOTE: You don't need fast track troubleshooting cartridges. Nice to have but unnecessary.
DO NOT put more than one primary cartridge in the tool and DO NOT insert a programmable VCI & Primary cartridge at the same time. It'll do unpredictable things or may not work at all.
I used to carry a lot of cables with my laptop for maintaining mobile data collection equipment. I got in the habit of corralling them with Velcro straps and various small nylon bags.
Well worth the work to do this. A buddy who does DJ gigs and a couple friends of my uncle that are gig musicians swear by Velcro one-wrap thin cable management straps for keeping their amp & mic & ... cords from turning into a nightmare tangle.
https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-...4VTLF6SQW&th=1
- Data cable ( I would buy a new 6' or 10' data cable rather than use a janky beat to hell 30 year old cable that looks like rats chewed it ). You can get decent NEW 6' & 10' data cables with very nice flexible jacket and red molded ends on eBay for around $30-$35. NEW MT2500 data cable eBay search
Note how This one is tied with the Velcro wrap. It didn't come this way.
- MT2500-10, GM-1, 12 terminal ALDL adapter
- MT2500-90, MULTI-1, data adapter.
NOTE: I have the Snap On instruction sheet that came with the MULTI-1 data adapter. SnapOn_Multi-1_MT2500-90.pdf Instruction sheet
This adapter will talk to various vehicles besides GM.
**Don't worry about the GM-3 ABS & GM-2 1980-82 five terminal ALDL adapters. They cost way more than a Multi-1.
**My tool came with the GM-2 five terminal adapter for 1980-1983ish rigs. I'll likely never ever use it.
- Power cables for GM & some Ford EEC III & IV; ( You can make both of these )
- MT2500-100, Cigarette lighter plug to 5.5x2.5mm DC barrel plug centre positive
- MT2500-200, Battery +terminal clip to 5.5x2.5mm DC barrel plug centre positive
**NOTE You don't need to run the ground to the outer contact for the mt-2500 but you will to power a Solus, Solus Pro, or MODIS tablet.
- Optionally A 10' cigarette lighter plug to DC barrel 5.5mm x 2.5mm centre positive and a fused female lighter socket to battery clips will take care of all your power needs.
Lighter plug to 2.5mm DC barrel plug eBay search
Battery clips to Lighter socket eBay search
NOTE on power cables:
Ford & Chrysler need the MT2500-41 ground cable to talk to some controllers but GM always has ground in the ALDL port. You can make a ground cable with 10' of black wire, an alligator clip, clear heat-shrink, and a 12129493 Female Metripak 280 terminal.
This is a four foot MT2500-41 ground wire I assembled.
- OBDII adapter & Personality keys for 1995 - 1999 GM vehicles
- MT2500-46B, sixteen terminal OBDII adapter with personality key slot
NOTE: I use a 3' OBDII extension cable with this adapter.
- 5 personality keys for the 1999 US Domestic cartridge;
K-2A, K-7, K-9, K-12, K13- GM uses K-2A, K-9, K-12
- Ford uses K-2A
- Chrysler/Jeep uses K-7 & K-13
NOTE: Adding K-5A will take care of the 1994-1997 Asian cartridge.
Personality key charts for MT2500 Solus and MODIS charts are in this thread as well.
The MT2500 keys I listed are based on 1995-1999 domestic primary cartridges
Snap-On personality key charts forum thread
NOTES:
If you have the MT2500VCI black programmable VCI primary and MT2500TSI Troubleshooting (you only need the Primary) cartridge(s) those cover from 1980-200x. The MT2500 can take up to a minute and a half booting these depending but these are the only cartridges you'll need.
eBay sellers seem to be pretty proud of the MT2500TSI & MT2500VCI cartridges. I paid $60 for mine in 2018 and I wouldn't pay more than $100 for a pair now.
