Repair-It

Watching PHAD do an 84 GN having a rough running issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jpg-415QyI

This 84 had: MAF, sequential EFI, distributorless ignition, and a knock sensor. Most things had none of that.

A few comments of interest. He connected his modern SnapOn Verus to it and was looking at the data stream.

GM used their own data system that actually worked extremely well. OTC used to make a scan tool back in 'the day' (OTC 2000 Scan tool if memory serves) that did the same thing as the Snap On tool. It had a blue LED type display that didn't show much at once. I remember using one years and years ago. Ford could have taken a lesson, as their EEC engine systems had a decent "report the problem" set of codes, but you needed a 'break out' box to read any of the data. That's one thing GM did quite well for the computer data pids and such.

Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics
1 year ago
Yeah Ford was waaaay behind on live data streaming, like most imports as well. GM definitely led the way here; not sure about Chrysler?

So you combine GM's lead on computer stuff, which paved the way for there being GM tuning before other vehicles, and combine that with small block stuff and especially the LS and you have the magic we know today. The 90s may have been an import "tuner" scene on the west coast, but people were burning EPROM chips for GM computers in the 90s, which I am pretty sure no one was doing with Hondas.