School me on low cost Scanners.

[chad s]

I would like to have a scanner to work on newer vehicles, but certantly can justify buying a Modis or upper end OTC setup. I mainly work on my old cars as a hobby, but since I have the tools, I'd like to be able to work on new cars as well for myself and close family.

How would a scanner like this one work in my case? :
http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/OTC-3498.html

It seems its intended for ford/gm, and chrysler, but also will do some reading on Toyota and Honda. I dont own a foreign made car, but I would like to be able to read codes off of a Honda or Toyota if the need comes, will the above scanner be too limited on Asian cars?

 

[pl_silverado]

Quite honestly, i think all one needs for that purpose is a generic obd2 scanner to read the codes and erase them. These can be found for under $ 100. Thats all i use. Get the code, look it up online.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Actron-CP9135-A...goryZ617QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

A generic obd2 scanner will work on all cars, 96+ whether american, german or asian.

 

[ranger_dood]

Well... not all cars. I've had a few come in for code reads at AZ and the reader doesn't seem to talk to the vehicle. I don't remember specific vehicles, but I remember that one was a '06 or '07, american-made...

 

[pl_silverado]

^ ok, 99.8 % which probably covers all of chads needs

 

[BadBloodRacing]

Quite honestly, i think all one needs for that purpose is a generic obd2 scanner to read the codes and erase them. These can be found for under $ 100. Thats all i use. Get the code, look it up online.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Actron-CP9135-A...goryZ617QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

A generic obd2 scanner will work on all cars, 96+ whether american, german or asian.

I use one like this that I got from A.Z. and it seems to do a good job for $80. Sure bets spending hundreds of dollars for something that will do the same thing.

 

[ranger_dood]

That's a newer version of the model that we use at AZ to check customer vehicles. Ours doesn't have the larger font on the screen, and the buttons are a little different.

Speaking of, I have to stop there tomorrow morning and see why my CEL came on tonight!

 

[RAYJAY]

I use my laptop and digimoto software (www.digimoto.com) . reading the code is only part of the answer when you have a problem, you also have to be able to data log what the sensors is doing. example getting a code for o2 sensor does not alway mean the o2 sensor is bad . one time I had a 02 sensor that would blip (drop voltage for a split second ) the thing was it was not that sensor that was tripping the ce light, that sensor was letting a different sensor get out of parameter if you just went by the code that was on the reader, you would be change the wrong sensor and wasting money.

another a good site is http://aldlcable.com/

 

[jimmycrackcorn]

That digimoto is cool to have and with the bluetooh make it even better you don't have to be sitting in the car with the laptop go right on the bench with it.

If you do get something make sure it is CAN capable.....

 

[gotmud13613]

I picked up the Actron Pocketscan last winter, so far it has treated me good. It has help me with about 30-40 cel's friends and family, it has more than paid for itself already.