signcrafter
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 9, 2012
- Messages
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Cliff notes if you don't want to read the whole post. Want a recommendation for the most capable scan tool for my budget of 500-1000, but 1000 is at the VERY high end and want to stick around 500 if possible. Want engine and abs codes and live data and bidirectional controls and abs bleeding. More details below.
I know this has been covered a million times but I need some advice and hoping I can list my needs/wants and someone can help narrow down what is best for me. Currently I have a cheap innova that is pretty much a code reader/clearer. I have a few extra bucks coming in that I wasn't really expecting so I'm thinking about picking up a decent scan tool. I can't afford the 1000 and up ones although I would love to have their ability at times. So far I have been able to use my cheapo to read the codes and then between other testing and research been able to diagnose most issues. But there have been times where live data or the ability to turn things on/off or ABS issues. Another big thing for me would be the ability to bleed ABS.
I'm hoping to find a middle ground here, something that is fairly comprehensive but yet affordable for the home mechanic. My budget would be up to a 1000 but that would be on the VERY high end of things. As in I would like to be around 500 if possible because I have some other tools I would like to pick up. I do all my own work on my cars as well as family and friends. So I have been running into more and more issues where I could have used a more advanced scan tool and the way vehicles are going it looks like you won't be able to do a lot on vehicles without a good scan tool. I work on Chevys and Fords mainly but also have close family with Honda and one with a VW. So I would like one that works on as many different manufacturers as possible. I'm just a home mechanic but with the help of the internet and GJ members I have been able to diagnose some pretty "major" issues and have been running into more and more issues where it would have been nice to do more in depth diagnostics with a good scan tool.
My needs are a scan tool that will work on domestic, asain, and euro if possible. I'd like something that can do more in depth readings, live data, able to turn things on/off if possible(bi directional control I think it's called), Read ABS codes, Bleed the ABS system, etc. In reality I would love a scan tool that is capable of doing it all but I know that isn't in my budget. I try to do all repairs at home so trying to get the scanner with the greatest capability for the budget I have. Another thing is updates, I can't afford hundreds of dollars a year to update it when needed. Also I could probably go a few years without updating since family members only update cars every few years. I'm not against buying used but I'm scared to buy a lemon since if it breaks it's pretty much a paper weight.
I've been trying to search my options and what's out there. So far it looks like autel, launch, or autoenginuity are the best options for my wants, but I'm open to anything. Can anyone help me narrow down what the best options are for what I need/want?
AE is just a basic scan tool for 250 bucks and then you add OE coverage for about 200 bucks a manufacturer. I'm not against using a laptop but a dedicated scan tool would be nice. Also updates are cheap and seems like they have good coverage and are adding stuff all the time.
Autel and Launch I don't know much about. Look like decent scanners for the money. But there are so many different ones and hard to tell what each one does.
I know this has been covered a million times but I need some advice and hoping I can list my needs/wants and someone can help narrow down what is best for me. Currently I have a cheap innova that is pretty much a code reader/clearer. I have a few extra bucks coming in that I wasn't really expecting so I'm thinking about picking up a decent scan tool. I can't afford the 1000 and up ones although I would love to have their ability at times. So far I have been able to use my cheapo to read the codes and then between other testing and research been able to diagnose most issues. But there have been times where live data or the ability to turn things on/off or ABS issues. Another big thing for me would be the ability to bleed ABS.
I'm hoping to find a middle ground here, something that is fairly comprehensive but yet affordable for the home mechanic. My budget would be up to a 1000 but that would be on the VERY high end of things. As in I would like to be around 500 if possible because I have some other tools I would like to pick up. I do all my own work on my cars as well as family and friends. So I have been running into more and more issues where I could have used a more advanced scan tool and the way vehicles are going it looks like you won't be able to do a lot on vehicles without a good scan tool. I work on Chevys and Fords mainly but also have close family with Honda and one with a VW. So I would like one that works on as many different manufacturers as possible. I'm just a home mechanic but with the help of the internet and GJ members I have been able to diagnose some pretty "major" issues and have been running into more and more issues where it would have been nice to do more in depth diagnostics with a good scan tool.
My needs are a scan tool that will work on domestic, asain, and euro if possible. I'd like something that can do more in depth readings, live data, able to turn things on/off if possible(bi directional control I think it's called), Read ABS codes, Bleed the ABS system, etc. In reality I would love a scan tool that is capable of doing it all but I know that isn't in my budget. I try to do all repairs at home so trying to get the scanner with the greatest capability for the budget I have. Another thing is updates, I can't afford hundreds of dollars a year to update it when needed. Also I could probably go a few years without updating since family members only update cars every few years. I'm not against buying used but I'm scared to buy a lemon since if it breaks it's pretty much a paper weight.
I've been trying to search my options and what's out there. So far it looks like autel, launch, or autoenginuity are the best options for my wants, but I'm open to anything. Can anyone help me narrow down what the best options are for what I need/want?
AE is just a basic scan tool for 250 bucks and then you add OE coverage for about 200 bucks a manufacturer. I'm not against using a laptop but a dedicated scan tool would be nice. Also updates are cheap and seems like they have good coverage and are adding stuff all the time.
Autel and Launch I don't know much about. Look like decent scanners for the money. But there are so many different ones and hard to tell what each one does.
