First Take - My $17 OBD2 Code Tool

[HoosierBuddy]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016NNSIUG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Like many of you, I have access to borrow a decent code reader from work. But, that's a hassle and means it's never in the garage when I need one.

So...on my last amazon order I splurged and bought the above listed box.

About the time it arrived, low and behold my new project car (2004 Subie Rex) threw a code and turned on the check engine light.

"Hmm", I wondered, "is that something I should be concerned about?"

Wambo Bambo, I was back in the garage had the cheapie orange box plugged in and pulled up a 0302 code. Now, the reader at work would give me a description of that right on the readout. The $17 one made me look it up in the manual. Cylinder 2 misfire detected.

"Hmmm", I wondered, "can I just reset the CEL so I can swap the coilpacks between #2 and #3 and see if I can make the code move?"

tab tab enter tab. Done deal.

So...is it great? Uh...NO. Does it work? Yeah. Yeah it does. It also lets you review pending codes and tells you which of the diagnostic checks are complete and what if any are not ready. Useful information for you people that have to SMOG test (ya poor bastards!). If this thing was $100, I'd say "no way"...but at $17 and free shipping with Amazon Prime...it's a steal.

Phil

 

[gungatim]

pretty limited in what it can do (no CAN, No PID's, nothing newer than '03), compared to an ELM-327, it is better than nothing, but the ELM is actually cheaper, assuming you have a smart phone to pair it to...

not knocking you, it's always good to have a spare, but for a backup/spare/in vehicle tool, the ELM's are pretty hard to beat. I've traded 2 away so far and keep having to replace them...

 

[franzdom]

pretty limited in what it can do (no CAN, No PID's, nothing newer than '03), compared to an ELM-327, it is better than nothing, but the ELM is actually cheaper, assuming you have a smart phone to pair it to...

not knocking you, it's always good to have a spare, but for a backup/spare/in vehicle tool, the ELM's are pretty hard to beat. I've traded 2 away so far and keep having to replace them...

ELM327 adapter & OBD Fusion app /

 

[Greg85mcss]

I picked up the same one for the same reason. Besides limited function it's great for a quick check. I ended up buying a full hf cart for $20 from a buddy that replaced everything with snap on. It had an autel 319 in it & that little thing is awesome. Granted it's a 2-3 times the price but for under $50 it's pretty awesome & I'd recommend it to diyers that don't have access to a better one at work. I keep the autel at work so I don't have to spend 10 minutes setting up the solus for a free code read & the $17 one at home jic.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[G_P]

I use the Torque Pro app on my phone or tablet and a bluetooth OBD2 adapter from amazon that cost around $30.
Works great for reading codes and resetting the CEL and can provide real time data from the sensors.