Just after GM started using in-house scan tools, most other manufacturers followed suit and developed their own scanners and software that resided in the vehicle electronic control module (ECM). A particular fault might be 'no signal from the crankshaft position sensor'.

The fault code was a short series of numbers and letters (P1021) that corresponded to a fault mode within the engine or transmission. The basis of early electronic vehicle powertrain diagnostics strategy was the fault code. The automotive industry continually improved the scan tool every year and then required dealership technicians to use scan tools to diagnose problems within the powertrain. These scan tools generally used a blinking light ofraudible sound to alert the user to a problem. These scan tools were developed to assist the GM technicians and engineers in the factory to diagnose engine related problems with cars just assembled on the assembly line. Windows was able to update the Database with no problem, even though it couldn't do the Boot loader at all.Automotive OBD-I Diagnostic ScanTools were developed in the 1970's by technicians at General Motors Corporation.

The Mac could not update the Database it would take a long time progressing well and then stop with an error about one of the parts of the database. On Windows fixing the firmware didn't work at all, but on the mac after trying several times on two different computers it eventually worked.Īfter that there was another firmware update, this time for the Database. Even though the reader wasn't working the computers (MacOS) would still recognize it and try to install the firmware. Plugging the reader back into the Mac made the firmware updater finish, but it didn't actually succeed, and didn't fix the reader. Unplugging the device while the firmware updater was running but frozen/looping did (temporarily) break the reader.

The one that first tried to run, and wasn't working, was the Boot loader. The 'Firmware,' 'Boot loader,' and 'Database.' There are 3 different types of firmware on the reader.

If Windows isn't working try a Mac, if Mac isn't working try Windows.

But the reader can then be fixed by plugging it into a computer that can successfully update the firmware.

Unplugging the device while the firmware update is happening, even if the update is frozen, may make the reader break.

Innova 3150b firmware update