What has your Snap-on Vantage been missing since day one? 
The ability to perform secondary ignition tests.

Thanks to the AutoWyze COP Probe (AES# AW-WP25B) it is now possible to perform secondary ignition tests on most any ignition system while using the Snap-on Vantage PGM.  The probe is also compatible with most lab scopes and power/graphing meters.  And it is quite easy to use!

Connect the probe to your test instrument via the 6-ft test lead (included with probe) and touch the probe tip to a spot on the secondary ignition system. Depending on the ignition system this could be a spot on the coil, coil wire, spark plug wire or distributor cap or on top of a COP coil. Of course you still have to set the time/voltage and trigger settings on your test instrument.

Case Study: 1994 GMC Jimmy, 4.3 Vortec engine with an intermittent misfire under a light load.

This waveform shows the situation: Terrible. There is definitely an ignition problem here.  This waveform was captured by a Snap-on Vantage with the AutoWyze COP Probe positioned across the coil wire near the coil. 

The ignition waveform shown below shows a burn time of only .4ms, with weak coil oscillations. Normally, to view this pattern the display is set to 5 volts, however, in this case, the volts setting was adjusted higher to allow for the 14 volt signal: The coil is actually outputting a higher than normal kv. 

The coil wire to distributor cap center terminal was found to be severely corroded

After replacing the coil wire and cleaning the center terminal further testing still showed an intermittent miss even though the burn time was improved.

The vehicle was retested with the probe in the same position as the first test (across the coil wire near the coil) giving us this super-imposed pattern recorded from a Snap-on Vantage.  We can now see the misfire with the burn voltage fluctuating.

By moving the probe to each individual plug wire we were able to identify the bad cylinder.  The truck ended up getting new wires, plugs, and a cap/rotor. Here is the final waveform showing a system with good operation.

The Snap-on Vantage is one of the most popular and most powerful diagnostic tools available. However, its ability to perform secondary ignition tests is very limited. The AutoWyze COP Probe overcomes this limitation and provides a new testing capability for your Snap-on Vantage. And other lab scopes that normally do not do ignition patterns.

The AutoWyze COP Probe does not require any batteries and works on most ignition systems: COP, DIS, Conventional, Coil-in-cap, and Coil Near Plug. A test lead is included with the probe so it will connect to wide variety of lab scopes/meters, including the Snap-on Vantage.

The WyzeProbe for Secondary Ignition and COP is available in two sizes: