School me on scanners

[1930]

I know little about scanners, Id like to purchase a unit that will clear lights/help me diagnose practically any make of car if that is possible. For some reason I am under the impression that I need to purchase constant up-dates and Im not thrilled about that idea and I guess that is why Ive shyed away from doing so until now.

At this point I am paying a local shop 20 dollars a pop to clear my airbag lights and before it goes to far Id like to weigh my options.

Evidently there is a leading name right now for scanners ( not snap-on ) that was given to me but I have forgotten what it was.

Any specific suggestions on models would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[1930]

Autel was the brand of scanner I was told was leading industry as far as user friendly and comprehensive data.

Considering a DS 708, maybe a bit outdated? Opinions welcome

 

[WhiffySpark]

It's all subjective. Autel has their issues as well as launch.

We had a maxidas for 2 weeks it's gone. I use the other brand you mentioned and it covers everything I need it to

 

[DoctorDiesel]

Ive never used that brand, but if you want to clear SRS lights, make sure the scanner will read them. Not all will.

For that price, Id look for a used Snap On. The Snap On I use at work hasnt been updated since 2008 LOL, but what I do is a little different.

 

[nehog]

A Bluetooth dongle and the Torque application on a cell phone will probably do all you need. Total cost should be under $30.

 

[DoctorDiesel]

A Bluetooth dongle and the Torque application on a cell phone will probably do all you need. Total cost should be under $30.

Thats what I was going to suggest, but Im pretty sure you cant access the airbag system, which he mentioned.

 

[jcouch1]

never used it, but have looked into autoenginuity before. It looked impressive back then.

 

[Iroc-Z]

I picked up a used solas pro for 500 bucks and updates were good to 2013. Just programmed new tps sensors for a Lexus.

 

[DoyleDee]

My blue tooth dongle (elm327) with torque app won't clear srs or traction control . It would be nice if it could. My car has a wheel sensor that is acting up..

 

[T_R]

The autel maxidas does just about everything but it's $1000. Actually isn't Harbor Freight having 20% off right now? Make that $800.

If all you want to do is clear the airbag light, not diagnose it, unhook the battery cables and either leave them unhooked for a few hours or touch the positive to the negative. While they are disconnected of course.

 

[1930]

I picked up a used solas pro for 500 bucks and updates were good to 2013. Just programmed new tps sensors for a Lexus.

My understanding then is that I should not be looking for a used scanner on E-bay if I intend to work on something 2015 or 16.

I have a 16 Sportage that has some lights on and I generally buy 2012 ( or so ) and up, maybe I need to stay away from a used scanner. I have read on-line that getting the thing updated is close to another thousand dollars.

 

[1930]

The autel maxidas does just about everything but it's $1000. Actually isn't Harbor Freight having 20% off right now? Make that $800.

If all you want to do is clear the airbag light, not diagnose it, unhook the battery cables and either leave them unhooked for a few hours or touch the positive to the negative. While they are disconnected of course.

Generally I do not believe the disconnecting battery trick works any longer. I may need to diagnose sometimes as well anyway.

 

[1930]

I have read about the maxidas but Im having a tough time with it being offered at Harbor freight and having any confidence that it would be a long lasting quality built tool.

I understand that not everything offered there is garbage, I have a few things that I expect to last my lifetime but never dropped a gran there on one single item.

 

[WhiffySpark]

You may look an an ethos tech. It includes updates for 3 years. I use a verus, but that may be over kill for you

I wouldn't wish the maxidas or anyone. Every time I turned it on I got pissed off lol

 

[WhiffySpark]

Generally I do not believe the disconnecting battery trick works any longer. I may need to diagnose sometimes as well anyway.

Disconnecting the battery and touching them together always works.

 

[JonnyMac]

^^^ not if there is a genuine fault.

 

[Showkey]

Disconnecting the battery and touching them together always works.

Not on newer vehicle ........plus it resets the readiness checks so it will cause a emissions check failure because readiness checks have not run. That is checked during an OBD state emissions check.

Almost never on a SRS problem.........


Autel MB802 can be found for about $200-225 on Amazon. Depending on the model will due full OBD, trains, ABS, SRS and some body modules.
Works with almost every manufacture. This becomes important as there is a difference between Genetic OBD and the full factory scan.
Full scan tool factory data list vs the generic OBD which can be limited to 20-40 items.


More info and the battery cable trick.....
http://www.batauto.com/articles/myth-conception.html

 

[WhiffySpark]

^^^ not if there is a genuine fault.

That's true.

And show key is does work on modern cars regardless of what your link says. Just disconnecting the battery won't do anything but if you touch them together for 15-30 it will drain the kam. I do it all the time on Toyota to reset the ecm.

But doing that won't fix any part problems that set a check engine light. It's better to properly diagnose and fix the issue, obviously.

 

[1930]

Not on newer vehicle ........plus it resets the readiness checks so it will cause a emissions check failure because readiness checks have not run. That is checked during an OBD state emissions check.

Almost never on a SRS problem.........


Autel MB802 can be found for about $200-225 on Amazon. Depending on the model will due full OBD, trains, ABS, SRS and some body modules.
Works with almost every manufacture. This becomes important as there is a difference between Genetic OBD and the full factory scan.
Full scan tool factory data list vs the generic OBD which can be limited to 20-40 items.


More info and the battery cable trick.....
http://www.batauto.com/articles/myth-conception.html

Will it clear ABS/Air Bag and check engine lights all models, you say some body, I am assuming the 3 general examples I gave are considered body.

Typically these are what I am up against for clearing, some times I need to diagnose something though and I would like to have the tool to do it.....all makes.

Most often though when I get in a car its pretty evident why the air bag light is on or whathaveyou

Seems like the best thing to do would be to call manufacturer and ask questions but salesman are going to sell no matter what, I was hoping to get feedback from people that use these things.

Long story short I go to auctions and buy cars that are blasted, repair them and resell, I could work on a Kia one week and a Merceded the next, often times these cars have been sitting some where a long while waiting for paperwork to catch up and lawyers to be paid.

Parts end up missing, sometimes switched and often times there is damage that cant be seen due to the accident. Id like to be able to do more of these repairs myself and I know a scanner would be a help.

Most often I know why the light is on or why the cars not running the way they should but I still need to also be able to turn off the light.

 

[b7labelle]

^^^ not if there is a genuine fault.

Why would there be a genuine fault!? You mean there is an ECM constantly running diagnostics and something may have FAILED?? Blasphemy.

And an Autel ds708... Holy cow. Are you just looking to check codes and troubleshoot from there, or monitor injectors/sensor feedback/run diagnostic routines? My reader I got from AdvanceAuto works great for the basic stuff...but I'm not trying to deep dive/run a shop.

 

[T_R]

I have read about the maxidas but Im having a tough time with it being offered at Harbor freight and having any confidence that it would be a long lasting quality built tool.

I understand that not everything offered there is garbage, I have a few things that I expect to last my lifetime but never dropped a gran there on one single item.

It's good. I work at a dealer. We use the maxidas for everything that is not a brand we sell. It works fine.

Autel basically pirates all the manufacturers propietary software and puts it on their scan tool. So it for the most part does everything a new car dealers scan tools can do. Autel even got sued for it by Ford. So they changed the logos on the latest update.

 

[Showkey]

Will it clear ABS/Air Bag and check engine lights all models, you say some body, I am assuming the 3 general examples I gave are considered body.

Typically these are what I am up against for clearing, some times I need to diagnose something though and I would like to have the tool to do it.....all makes.

Most often though when I get in a car its pretty evident why the air bag light is on or whathaveyou

Seems like the best thing to do would be to call manufacturer and ask questions but salesman are going to sell no matter what, I was hoping to get feedback from people that use these things.

Long story short I go to auctions and buy cars that are blasted, repair them and resell, I could work on a Kia one week and a Merceded the next, often times these cars have been sitting some where a long while waiting for paperwork to catch up and lawyers to be paid.

Parts end up missing, sometimes switched and often times there is damage that cant be seen due to the accident. Id like to be able to do more of these repairs myself and I know a scanner would be a help.

Most often I know why the light is on or why the cars not running the way they should but I still need to also be able to turn off the light.

The are two or more Autel MD802 scanners and difference is the number of body modules they work with. The Autel 708 is way more expensive but it has true bi-directional communication. A full service shop would want a 708.

Many of us use the MD802 because it does talked to the MB Sprinter. Many scanners give only the generic OBD codes on MB Sprinter. Example generic give an EGR code but the next level gives the EGR valve, EGR temp sensor, EGR pressure sensor, EGR cooler, with out detail codes your lost.
Another example the 802 gives the full factory Honda Live data stream on Engine, transmission, ABS, SRS . No connection to Autel other than a user.

TR is correct .........there are several scanners the look and function like the Autel. Some manufactures are not happy there are factory like tools on the market. Support for the scanner can and will vary.

 

[DoctorDiesel]

Will it clear ABS/Air Bag and check engine lights all models, you say some body, I am assuming the 3 general examples I gave are considered body.

Typically these are what I am up against for clearing, some times I need to diagnose something though and I would like to have the tool to do it.....all makes.

Most often though when I get in a car its pretty evident why the air bag light is on or whathaveyou

Seems like the best thing to do would be to call manufacturer and ask questions but salesman are going to sell no matter what, I was hoping to get feedback from people that use these things.

Long story short I go to auctions and buy cars that are blasted, repair them and resell, I could work on a Kia one week and a Merceded the next, often times these cars have been sitting some where a long while waiting for paperwork to catch up and lawyers to be paid.

Parts end up missing, sometimes switched and often times there is damage that cant be seen due to the accident. Id like to be able to do more of these repairs myself and I know a scanner would be a help.

Most often I know why the light is on or why the cars not running the way they should but I still need to also be able to turn off the light.

Sweet, I know where you're coming from. This is exactly what I do for a fulltime 60 hours a week. Except I do trucks, pickups up to Kenworths. Like I said, I use a Snap On that hasnt been updated since 2008, I use it to read and clear 2014 trucks all the time, including SRS and TC lights. I would seriously watch Craigslist for a used Snap On. Theres one on the CL here, real nice Snap On Solus fully updated for $1k. The nice part about CL is you can hook it up to your car when you meet them to make sure it works and all. I think in the end you would end up much happier. Plus with a Snap On, its always easy to find someone familiar with it if you ever have questions.

Also, a scanner will be huge for you. Man, its so nice to have a TCM light and be able to hook it up, "oh hey, its the LR wheel speed sensor". Or know right away if its a front impact sensor or you just forgot to plug in a seat belt.

 

[1930]

The are two or more Autel MD802 scanners and difference is the number of body modules they work with. The Autel 708 is way more expensive but it has true bi-directional communication. A full service shop would want a 708.

Many of us use the MD802 because it does talked to the MB Sprinter. Many scanners give only the generic OBD codes on MB Sprinter. Example generic give an EGR code but the next level gives the EGR valve, EGR temp sensor, EGR pressure sensor, EGR cooler, with out detail codes your lost.
Another example the 802 gives the full factory Honda Live data stream on Engine, transmission, ABS, SRS . No connection to Autel other than a user.

TR is correct .........there are several scanners the look and function like the Autel. Some manufactures are not happy there are factory like tools on the market. Support for the scanner can and will vary.

What is biodirectional and also what is sprinter.
You say two more Autel MD802 scanners, how are they labeled, how would I tell them apart, I would think MD802 A and MD802 B as an example.

Thanks

 

[1930]

Sweet, I know where you're coming from. This is exactly what I do for a fulltime 60 hours a week. Except I do trucks, pickups up to Kenworths. Like I said, I use a Snap On that hasnt been updated since 2008, I use it to read and clear 2014 trucks all the time, including SRS and TC lights. I would seriously watch Craigslist for a used Snap On. Theres one on the CL here, real nice Snap On Solus fully updated for $1k. The nice part about CL is you can hook it up to your car when you meet them to make sure it works and all. I think in the end you would end up much happier. Plus with a Snap On, its always easy to find someone familiar with it if you ever have questions.

Also, a scanner will be huge for you. Man, its so nice to have a TCM light and be able to hook it up, "oh hey, its the LR wheel speed sensor". Or know right away if its a front impact sensor or you just forgot to plug in a seat belt.

I am jealous, I hope to get to the point where Im only working 60 soon.

Your post helped in that I thought that an older scanner would not read anything newer than it, I thought that manufacturers would be changing all sorts of things every year so a scanner older than the car would not be able to read the new data.

I am not hooked on any one brand, just getting a specific model number of a good unit would be a big help, so many different units avail.

 

[1930]

It's good. I work at a dealer. We use the maxidas for everything that is not a brand we sell. It works fine.

Autel basically pirates all the manufacturers propietary software and puts it on their scan tool. So it for the most part does everything a new car dealers scan tools can do. Autel even got sued for it by Ford. So they changed the logos on the latest update.

Are there different adapters that have to be purchased after buying the scanner?
To go from a Kia to a Saturn as an example.

 

[T_R]

Are there different adapters that have to be purchased after buying the scanner?
To go from a Kia to a Saturn as an example.

It comes with all sorts of adapters. I've never had a reason to use them, I'd guess they are for older cars. All we ever use is the OBD2 plug, it works on everything after 95. We don't really work on anything older than that.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Are there different adapters that have to be purchased after buying the scanner?
To go from a Kia to a Saturn as an example.

Obd1 yes. Obd2 now

You can buy the master set with all the adapters