obd scanner purchase?

[ridenrace6]

i’m in search of an obd2 scanner for personal/family use and was wandering what everyone was using?
not interested in snap on priced scanners but didn’t know about harbor freight or autozone/orielly type handheld scanners, or even the bluetooth type?


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[matt_i]

I have an Actron, does what I need it to do for several vehicles: Read and erase codes.

There are a couple levels, I'm kind of in the middle.

 

[Hubmonkey]

I have a Blue Driver Bluetooth one that works good. Not a full scan tool but works for I have used it for reading codes, deleting codes and determining fixes.

Hub

 

[rayra]

harbor Freight scanners work just fine.
You can even get a blue-tooth dongle that goes in the ODB port for about $15 and $5 gets you a phone app to use with it.

 

[firebirdparts]

I look at data and use an old autoxray scan tool. I don’t really think codes are all that important. I think torque app on the phone is very popular now but I have an iPhone so I don’t use it.

 

[MJK]

Kinda depends on what you are going to do with it. I have a $10 bluetooth wifi thing that for $10 was great for using Forescan and viewing info. I bought an Autel AL539B for the battery test capability and love it for that.

 

[3rdgendslmech]

This topic is kind of a rabbit hole and it all depends coincidentally how deep you want to go. Most older vehicles.....Maybe 2011 and older you maybe could get by with a code reader....Some of the newer stuff you could also get by with a code reader, but your problems start when your code causes you do replace a part that has to be "relearned"

I went against my better judgement years back and got an Autel Maxisys after my old Snap on red brick was stolen. It worked pretty good for home use and the little bit of side work I was doing. My biggest gripe with it was that it wasn't dummy proof. You had to do a lot of cancelling out of options when trying to select which vehicle you were working on. There's also a lot of fear of updating and people's units being "hacked" is what i'm reading. It's about 5 years old and I didnt want to take a chance to buy a 800 dollar card that might cause me to lose my whole scanner.
2 weeks ago I bought a Solus Edge with the newest update. Apparently I got a deal which I feel like anytime you step off a tool truck feels more like a ****** than a deal lol. Anyhow it's more dummy proof in that it pretty much knows what vehicle you're working on and all the options so you dont have to scratch your head and spend time clicking away trying things out.

 

[ridenrace6]

thanks for the input everyone, i use iphone, so if i go bluetooth, it will have to be ios compatible.
also i didn’t think about what the previous post by 3rdgendslmech that mentioned about the relearning of sensors and the possibility of getting hacked thru updates, is this really a big enough problem for the every day do it yourself guy to worry about?


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[gungatim]

careful on the dongle, a lot of the Bluetooth ones don't work with IOS, I had to get a wifi version for the iPhone, but the Bluetooth works on android. that may have changed but just a heads up...

 

[Bretny]

It really depends on what type of vehicles you own and if you want to read ABS, SRS and body control codes. Its not just about a check engine light any more.

I have a launch tech brand one that does srs,abs and CEL along with data stream. Its got vehicle specific inputs. Its cost $200 a few years ago. Alreaty paid for its self on 1 vehicle with an SRS.

I have also found that some codes are one thing from one manufacture and another thing for a dif manufacture. Also some codes dont show up with just a plain code reader.

 

[Innovate1]

If you are an ios guy how hard would it be to pick up an old android phone to use with the dongle? It doesn't even need a sim card. Just use wifi to download the ap and go. I have an old one without a sim that I use. I haven't had enough need for the ap to load it on the current phone as I think I have only used it twice since the new phone. If you don't have one a friend probably does. I just have a cheap china wifi dongle that works with the torque ap. Minimal functionality but reads and resets most codes. I did have one that it wouldn't deal with but I don't recall the details - some body stuff.

 

[3rdgendslmech]

thanks for the input everyone, i use iphone, so if i go bluetooth, it will have to be ios compatible.
also i didn’t think about what the previous post by 3rdgendslmech that mentioned about the relearning of sensors and the possibility of getting hacked thru updates, is this really a big enough problem for the every day do it yourself guy to worry about?


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Not really for a DIYer RIDENRACE. I just had to upgrade because everyone that went out and bought newer cars a few years back are starting to run out of warranty.
If you're looking for under 500 dollar range check out autels hand held code scanners. Do yourself a favor and get one that reads a fair amount of data.
I got a Matco (rebranded autel) for 200 and it does pretty good for quick diagnostics.

 

[Leevon]

I own a shop and have everything from factory scan tools with dedicated laptops to the cheapest harbor freight code reader. There is so much out there but if you're not really doing any advanced diagnostics or don't need to re-calibrate/initialize/test etc then just a basic code reader will do what you need. They're fast and easy to use. You can get through the menu in three clicks and put the thing in your pocket or tool bag. It's what I grab when we're doing a quick parking lot code read or when I'm on a family road trip. Or when my cousin needed to drive cross county but an intermittent check engine light kept turning off his cruise control, he just used it to clear codes and mailed it back. I wouldn't mess with the bluetooth stuff, just adds more time to connect and scan. But if you are going to go further and do a fair bit of at-home stuff the Autel Maxisys has surprised me a time or two for what it can do.

 

[ridenrace6]

it seems the autel name comes up regular so i will check these out, any suggestions on best place to purchase?


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[3rdgendslmech]

Amazon or marketplace through facebook

 

[UserNameAttempt3]

Ive got this one off Amazon.

Works well and will give you live readings, helped me diagnose a bad catalytic converter instead of replacing O2 sensors every 6 months.

 

[ZRX61]

If you are an ios guy how hard would it be to pick up an old android phone to use with the dongle? It doesn't even need a sim card. Just use wifi to download the ap and go.

You can buy brand new Androids at WalMart for about $40, I use one as my regular phone.

 

[chicken89]

You can buy brand new Androids at WalMart for about $40, I use one as my regular phone.

when my dash went out on my silverado, i bought a cheap Bluetooth odb dongle from amazon (the small one that can stay plugged in and not be in way whiel driving) and the cheapest android phone from Walmart (i have straight talk thru Walmart, so i got one of those phones). plugged in dongle to truck, got free version of torque, and it became my dash. also read codes and could delete them. unfortunately, i think i left the dongle in the truck when i sold it.
tried an old Bluetooth dongle (the larger one that needs to be removed due to its size) on my new car with my iphone. phone doesn't see the dongle. i read that some Bluetooth dongles work with iphones, but most do not.
i will be purchasing a wifi dongle for my phone later.

i purchased a straight talk android phone because if my iphone ever stops working or breaks, i can throw in the sim from that into the android phone.

 

[man-a-fre]

Actron cp9690 or Bosch 1300 same scanner will also data log which is an important feature to tell thing like lazy o2 sensors which cost gas mileage.These scanners will also read obd 1 vehicles and datalog in real time.

 

[346ci]

Autel would be my choice.

For those buying scanners that can be updated online, be sure it is from an authorized retailer.

 

[BrandoJames]

i use iphone, so if i go bluetooth, it will have to be ios compatible.

I use Blue Driver ($99) on my iPhone, no problems. It should also work on your iPad if you have one.

 

[ridenrace6]

i read on another page in on about something called alpha obd, has anyone on here tried those, it’s a dongle type thing


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[rayra]

thanks for the input everyone, i use iphone, so if i go bluetooth, it will have to be ios compatible.
also i didn’t think about what the previous post by 3rdgendslmech that mentioned about the relearning of sensors and the possibility of getting hacked thru updates, is this really a big enough problem for the every day do it yourself guy to worry about?


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No, not a real concern. Unlike the Google / Android store where anyone can put stuff up, the Apple App store has to have apple review and approve anything that gets posted there. And their backup / restore options are better too.

And the Torque App is available for Apple, same $5 as the Android versions. You'll need to get a bluetooth OBDII dongle that is iOS compatible, cost the same ~$15 as the android version, just matters that you buy the correct one.

 

[rayra]

This dongle is supposed to work wtih both.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XRVYDMG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I've been using the Panlong Android variant in the same translucent blue case for over 2yrs, works great.

That's a 7" Samsung Tab3Lite Android tablet in a home made dash mount, with the Torque app running a few gauges. Was able to get the trans temp data off the bus.

 

[maxpat82]

I have a cheapo autel...
but recently got a wifi obd dongle and connect to it with a phone. Free app..or Torque App on android (it **** on iphone) and it's really a great product.

get the obd dongle in bluetooth though as the wifi doesn't allow you to look up the web at the same times as been connected to the car.

 

[charlesparker]

Blue driver (you can take a look at its review here https://garatos.com/bluedriver-obd2-scanner-review/) may be suitable for you, it works fast, compatible with both android and ios, simple to use mobile app. However, it seems to be available in English only, so kinda difficult for non-english speaker to use.

 

[Buckaroo5]

I have a BlueDriver as well - it has great diagnostic capabilities with ability to read codes from all the modules - engine, transmission, HVAC, ABS, SRS but it only reads emissions related (OBDII) live data. Can't get transmission fluid temps and I am currently looking for a solution for my 2017 Tundra. Considering ScanGauge II or OBD Fusion w/ this dongle for use with my iphone....

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077F8F6TB/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Buckaroo

 

[maxpat82]

I have a BlueDriver as well - it has great diagnostic capabilities with ability to read codes from all the modules - engine, transmission, HVAC, ABS, SRS but it only reads emissions related (OBDII) live data. Can't get transmission fluid temps and I am currently looking for a solution for my 2017 Tundra. Considering ScanGauge II or OBD Fusion w/ this dongle for use with my iphone....

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077F8F6TB/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Buckaroo

I have this dongle..or one the same.. and use it with TorqueApp. (it's suppose to be better on Iphone now)

It is great....but get the bluetooth one!

The wifi don't allow you to connect to the web at the same times, and you need to close your connection to the car and redo it every times you want to go read a new page or do another quick search.

 

[MattT]

It is great....but get the bluetooth one!

When I looked ~6 months back Bluedriver & Obdlink MX+ were the only iOS compatible bluetooth dongles I could find.

Bluedriver was a little more expensive but appeared to come with a better app. But it sounds like getting 3rd party apps to work with it is challenging at best.

MX+ a little cheaper but the OEM coverage in their app is patchy. The MX+ is ELM327 compatible though so you stand a much better chance of getting a 3rd party app to work with it if the one that comes with the dongle won't do what you need.

I ended up going with the MX+ because amazon dropped it to $50 for prime day.

 

[maxpat82]

I paid like 22$ for a generic dongle and worked with 5 free app that I got on the App Store and google store

 

[mustangmike6996]

I bought a Bluepoint Microscan a while ago for $100 (enhanced version with more than just engine DTCs). It can data log and more. I would like to upgrade eventually to something that can get more in depth like cyl load balance/cam phaser on/off to aide in diag.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

I have this dongle..or one the same.. and use it with TorqueApp. (it's suppose to be better on Iphone now)

It is great....but get the bluetooth one!

The wifi don't allow you to connect to the web at the same times, and you need to close your connection to the car and redo it every times you want to go read a new page or do another quick search.

With OBD Fusion, you have the option of using WiFi to connect to the dongle and cellular data for web access, at least on iOS.