good scantool needed

[smothers33]

In light of multiple car issues I've been having lately I'm in the market for a good quality scan tool. I've been having multiple problems lately where i cannot get the car to aa to have them scan it and also i want to be able to do more than read codes. I know my way around a car well enough to interpret all the readings and such a scantool offers and what i don't know i can definitely learn. I would prefer one for the laptop and price isn't the main concern i would rather pay a little extra for a nice one but i would like to stay around 500 or so. Again if the difference between a 500 and 600-700 one is substantial I'll take the hit. Anyone know or have experience with a good one? Any help wo0uld be appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

[smothers33]

Anyone?

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

Blue point scanner/code reader?

 

[TheTurk]

Great little tool for a diy er;
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003IOITRG/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?ref_=pd_sim_auto_14

 

[Tarheelgarage]

autoenginuity.com

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

I have an innova scan tool that's pretty good. I haven't run into a car i couldn't scan. It does abs codes as well. But occassionally there's cars that don't cooperate with that. It wasn't too cheap, around the 300 dollar range when i bought it. If i were to do it again. Auto enginuity is the way i'd probably go. Still might. Read codes, abs, it has active commands... Pricey, but it seems worth it.

 

[bm5bullit]

Hard to go wrong with any of the OTC readers, scanners.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Hard to go wrong with any of the OTC readers, scanners.

OTC tends to drop support of their scanners in just a few years after releasing a new model. This has pissed many a tech off over the years and they have lost out because of it. In contrast, the snappy red brick, which was launched in late 1980's was supported until a few years ago, even though the modis and solus had been released around 2003.

Our shop has an OTC Genisys in addition to a couple of others. It seems to do OK for pulling codes but has not been updated since 2007. Some peckerhead tech in the shop dropped it a while back and cracked the screen but it still works OK.

 

[bigcountry]

autoenginuity.com X2

A very good laptop based scan tool. With the manufacturer specific modules you can see and control (bi-directional) almost all of the car systems. I have the GM setup and is close to the level of the GM tech II scanner.

 

[smothers33]

Just looked at the autoenginuity site. That is pretty much exactly what I'm lookinfor. The generic setup really isn't that expensive 250 I think I'll have to buy a couple of the dealer specific addons but I mostly will be gm and Ford so it shouldn't get all that expensive. Especially considering the money you can save with this. I'm sure there will be a learning curve using it but I enjoy learning especially about this kind of stuff

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Just looked at the autoenginuity site. That is pretty much exactly what I'm lookinfor. The generic setup really isn't that expensive 250 I think I'll have to buy a couple of the dealer specific addons but I mostly will be gm and Ford so it shouldn't get all that expensive. Especially considering the money you can save with this. I'm sure there will be a learning curve using it but I enjoy learning especially about this kind of stuff

AE is the primary scanner I use in the shop. While it is not without some holes in some of the coverage, it is still the best overall scanner for the buck for a shop that sees many makes and models.

The learning curve is kind of steep; it is not as user friendly as a stand alone aftermarket scanner is. Once you get used to it, I believe you will be satisfied.

I have the AE pro bundle.

 

[smothers33]

autoenginuity.com X2

A very good laptop based scan tool. With the manufacturer specific modules you can see and control (bi-directional) almost all of the car systems. I have the GM setup and is close to the level of the GM tech II scanner.

that's exactly what I'm looking for. I work on forklifts by day and we've had to call in some dealer techs lately because for forklifts the scantools are dealer only and there laptop looks almost identical to the pics on the autoenginuity site. After seeing everything you can do/check/test/diagnose etc... I've wanted one for my cars at home. The tech that came in showed me a little bit on their program and he did a powerbalance test all on his computer. Clicked a button,killed spark to a choosen cylinder for 10 secs, showed rpm drop and found the underperforming cyl in less than 2 mins. I know that might not be all that amazing to you techs out there but I thought it was pretty damn cool. Wanted one ever since

 

[smothers33]

AE is the primary scanner I use in the shop. While it is not without some holes in some of the coverage, it is still the best overall scanner for the buck for a shop that sees many makes and models.

The learning curve is kind of steep; it is not as user friendly as a stand alone aftermarket scanner is. Once you get used to it, I believe you will be satisfied.

I have the AE pro bundle.

I'm debating on whether to save up to get the pro bundle. I will mostly use it for GM and Ford cars but I have family with some Chrysler and Nissan. So for a couple 100 more i can get a bunch more popular makes. But i have a few questions. Do yo have to update each make individual or is it the system as a whole? Also is it something that alot of techs have trouble learning to use? I know enough about cars to get by and am just starting to really get into the more advanced diagnosing but haven't been to school and am basically selftought. So i don't have the technical training some have. Buti consider myself pretty smart and have the willingness to put in the effort to learn.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

autoenginuity.com X2

A very good laptop based scan tool. With the manufacturer specific modules you can see and control (bi-directional) almost all of the car systems. I have the GM setup and is close to the level of the GM tech II scanner.

x3, Ive got the domestic enhanced package. I also have a later model red brick (S/O mt2500) with trouble shooter for quickies.

 

[michaelwoodcock]

I personally have a Bluetooth OBD adapter going to Torq lite on my phone or a multitude of programs on my computer.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005NLCGF8/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Works on most cars. The best thing is it saves a ton of money. I use torq lite on my phone to read gas mileage while driving. A co worker/friend of mine were able to cut our work gas cost in half using it! We did the obvious drive slower in top gear w/ cruise control and have seen as high as 42 mpg manually calculated gas mileage by the time we refuel at the pump, which matches the average stated by torq lite spot on! We regularly get 45 mpg on the highway according to torq. Once we get in town it shoots down pretty fast. It's pretty cool to experiment with everything and see how it effects your gas mileage, at one time torq stated we were getting 55 mpg, but we had no AC on, which was unbearable in our GA heat.

 

[chris142]

Great little tool for a diy er;
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003IOITRG/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?ref_=pd_sim_auto_14

junk! I have the matco version and it locks up about every 5 minutes. gotta unplug it, turn it off and wait for it to reboot

 

[trboxman]

junk! I have the matco version and it locks up about every 5 minutes. gotta unplug it, turn it off and wait for it to reboot

Blue point scanner/code reader?

Well...so much for the tool truck fanboi's....

 

[Brownsfan]

I have an innova scan tool that's pretty good. I haven't run into a car i couldn't scan. It does abs codes as well. But occassionally there's cars that don't cooperate with that. It wasn't too cheap, around the 300 dollar range when i bought it. If i were to do it again. Auto enginuity is the way i'd probably go. Still might. Read codes, abs, it has active commands... Pricey, but it seems worth it.

X2 here. I have a Innova 3160 and it has not let me down yet. It is a great tool for the money

 

[Brownsfan]

Well...so much for the tool truck fanboi's....

The Blue Points are rebadged Innova. The model #s are even similar.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I love my innova 3160b. 199 free shipping on amazon. Does abs/srs, live data and koeo on and off tests. I use a similar one at work.

 

[richfinn]

I still use my Snappy MT2500 on stuff up to 2001 and its particularly good on VW/Audi.

I also have an OMI-Tech PC based tool for newer stuff

and a Can enabled Auto X Ray from America which works on EOBD vehicles fine and is very quick and easy to use for emissions related stuff