Can OBD Readers Cause Problems?

[AussieXer]

Drive my newly acquired E53 4.8is yesterday and noticed the Engine warning light was on. Checked my owner manual and noted that it said "Deterioration of exhaust emission values". I immediately suspected oxygen sensors which was odd as the previous owner had recently replaced them, so I decided to plug in the OBD reader (Tech2) that I had used on my previous car to see if I could get more information on which one/s were causing the problem. I now wished I had not done it because all hell broke loose. The screen on the reader remained blank but immediately the following occurred:
*Alarm (high pitched monotone) went off
*Message "Self leveling suspension inactive appeared on screen"
*A great many warning lights lit up on screen (including engine light)
*Lights went on on the left hand rim of the tacho
*None of the remote buttons on key would operate
*Lights indicating which gear you are in next to gear shifter no longer visible
*Cannot open tail gate either with key, button on remote or buttton on tailgate.
*Interior lights no longer come on when you open the door.
etc, etc
Despite all this car will run and drive and suspension height looks about right.
The introduction of the OBD reader may have been a coincidence but I doubt it. My preliminary research has should that some OBD readers have caused problems in the past but surely not this sort of chaos.
Hope there is someone out there who can make head or tail of all this and at least offer some suggestions.

AussieXer

[upallnight]

Check the condition of your battery.

[AussieXer]

Thanks for that.
Checked the voltage: 12.52
but have put it on the charger anyway. Will see how it goes in the morning.

[AussieXer]

Charged up to 13.4 volts. Still no good. Today will disconnect the battery and see how that goes.

[AussieXer]

Well that didn't work either. All I succeeded in doing was setting off the alarm. Back to the drawing board. I might try taking it for a drive. Have heard a number of people succeeded in clearing the SLSI message this way.

[Black-Forest]

Not familiar with the Tech 2 but does it happen to have an internal battery in the scanner? Reason I ask is a customer of mine used a scanner with an internal 9V internal battery and did scramble the ECU and not in a D.O.A manner but did set off a lot more codes/monitors then were initially affected. We cleared everything with our Snapon scanner. INPA coming soon..

[AussieXer]

Thanks Black-Forest I will check on the battery situation. My short drive did not improve the situation much. The lights around the tacho reduced which I recall is part of the dynamic red line so it is probably working alright. I did discover that the windscreen wipers are not working though and the green light on the level indicator is not showing. For the first ten minutes of the drive the alarm was sounding (30 seconds on, 15 seconds off) but that finally stopped. I suppose that was because I disconnected and then reconnected the battery.
I checked the warning light situation and can confirm the following are showing:
Engine(it was showing before the melt down)
Run flat indicator
DSC
Brake (x2)

[RToth]

Tech 2 is a GM only scanner and won't work on anything but GM vehicles as far as I know, that's probably why it messed up and didn't read anything.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by RToth

Tech 2 is a GM only scanner and won't work on anything but GM vehicles as far as I know, that's probably why it messed up and didn't read anything.

In the infamous words of Scooby Doo..."Ruh-Roh"

If Tech 2 is a car manufacturer specific tool...I hope the OP didn't brick or damage some of their modules.

EDIT: just did a quick google search to see what a TECH 2 OBD scanner is...if this is what you have & used...everything points to it being a GM specific tool & NOT a generic OBD II scanner that can be used on any vehicle.

Tech 2 gives you unprecedented access to EVERY GM module and controller, provides the best and highest volume of vehicle data, and possesses the most bi-directional functionality of any diagnostic tool for GM family cars.

Tech 2 is not only a diagnostic tool, it is also is capable of programing new and used programmable GM controllers, configuring functionality within modules and updating GM family cars with the most current programing. You can gain access to programing on GM TIS on WEB website. With very little effort, and cables that accommodate your type of PC, you can update or install programing in any GM family OBD II or CAN compatible vehicle. Tech 2 can also be used on SAAB, Holden, Isuzu, even some Toyota vehicles with optional programing available through GM and accessible by anyone for weekly, monthly, or yearly subscription.

Tech2 for GM Software Version:
GM English 32.007
SAAB English 148 (1998-2014)
OPEL English 180 (Support Cars from 1997-2014)
Holden English 149 (Support Cars from 1999-2013)
SUZUKI English 01.210.020
ISUZU-English CAN-BUS 107.021 2010- (CAN-BUS support car models after 2010)
ISUZU-English K-Line 11.62 1996-2013 (K-line support car models from 1996 to 2011)

[RToth]

I have a Tech 2 also, it is actually the dealership diagnostic tool used by all GM dealerships until recent years, nothing better out there though for older GM vehicles ~2013 and older.

Hopefully this can be as simple as a battery disconnect to reset everything.