Snap-On Scanners - Damaging the EBCM on GM Vehicles?
Good Morning DN, this issue came to me from another repair shop. 2019 Chevy Equinoix, 41,000 miles. Basic rear pad rotor replacement.
Electric park brake. Shop performed caliper retraction function via Snap-On Apollo scanner. Replaced pads and rotors as usual. Attempted to initialize rear park brake via scanner and vehicle triggered 561-- code.
Vehicle comes to us and we play scanner Olympics. Autel, Snap-On, and another Snap-On with no luck almost dusted off the Tech 2. Identifix stated to perform park brake relearn procedure or activate and retract calipers at the caliper with power and ground. No park brake operation/561-- code and red brake light on. Service brakes work, vehicle stops good. At this point original shop has elevated heart rate and has pulled all hair out of his head. Called GM direct, they were very rude and not helpful. Starts networking the problem out to other local shops/dealers. One dealer tech stated they do not use scanners to retract caliper pistons, they retract them via a caliper retraction tool. (Which we all have).
One last ditch effort original tech calls Snap-On in an attempt to get to the bottom of this problem. Snap-On tells him their programming corrupted the EBCM Snap-On has assumed all responsibility and liability and stated they will reimburse the customer for an EBCM replacement.
HAS ANYONE SEEN/HEARD/RAN INTO THIS ISSUE
thx in advance
Wow, almost makes me afraid to do any more basic brake work anymore ! At least Snap On seems to be stepping up to the plate and rectify the situation. Doesn't help the customer's perspective or the technician's anxiety though , I'm sure. Hope everything works out. Louis N.
We see this regularly. We do mobile programming. The ebcm and hydraulic unit needs to be replaced. Ebcm will not fix problem. Snap on should pass out a do not use function via all of their dealers. Glad they say they will reimburse.
Anthony Please let us know which version of Snap-On software was used during this service.
I did run across this once on a '17, iirc. Reflashing the EBCM as a replacement module fixed it, but ACD had a tech bulletin out that said 561 means replacing the entire unit - module and hydraulics - so my customer may just have dodged a bullet. I'm not sure which tool they used to break it, but I used GDS2 and SPS2 to fix it.
Good god, the scanner bricked the module.. brake services are no longer safe. Hope they come through for you. Let us know the outcome.
I think its in a Snap On software. But of course no one will admit that :)
I have run into this, do the reset and go drive the vehicle. Each time the lights reset and everything worked normally.
So basically for any service with electric parking brakes and late model GM, use the brake retractor tool instead of retracting pistons via scan tool function to potentially avoid this outcome?
that is what i have been told, we also have an Autel and MDI via cardaq. so we may use that method.
Hi Anthony, I'm sorry if I'm a little confused. I got you up to the point of rear brake job, used scan tool to retract pistons…We now have a C0561 xx? What symptom byte(s) follow the DTC? If the aftermarket scan tool isn't working I'd do as Jeff suggests and get it to a place that has an MDI2, or a J2534 tool to run GDS2. Have you looked up this DTC in SI and followed the procedure? See…
well, this came to me from another shop. i did not document the symptom byte. the tech got pretty desperate after using a scan tool to retract and then the code tripped after a pad rotor replacement. i state basic because brakes can be basic for most veteran techs. his shop only has a snap on scanner. we have several and my next step would have been to hook up my GM MDI via my cardaq3 but he did…
HI, THE 49.95 still exists cause the general population are lookin for a deal, it gets them in the door, bait/switch, but it gets them in your door? can't fix, stupid, now add CHEAP
Hi Anthony, I have to question why the rear brakes needed to be replaced a 41K. There have been incidents recently with several models that took resetting the system by performing several key cycles and test driving above 25 MPH. This method is similar to the old ABS speed sensor code resetting. There are many times when the ECM/PCM or EBCM has to perform a self-reset that a scanner cannot…
This has been an on going problem with the snap on scanners. I have some screen shots off one of the Facebook groups when everyone first realize it. Several ppl had the same problem.
I have a question…has snapon, knowing they are causing an expensive problem, removed this function from their scanners?
I’m not sure, I don’t use their scan tools. I’m also not 100% sure they know.
I asked because in an earlier reply it was stated that snapon admitted it was their tool and was buying the shop that called them the damaged ebcm.
Man I would like to know more about this also. I have not had a chance to do one but I use a Snap on Zuse and I'm sure I will not remember this down the road when I come across one.
hi Anthony, I just ran into same issue with a 2018 equinox , shop did rear brake pads retracted manually, after pad replacement park brake light flashing I tried reset with autel elite and ultra a few times it look like it went thru successfully and light still flashing I tried several methods from identifix , no luck, finally checked all powers and ground and data network at ebcm , all was…