Solid, Basic Scanner

[liliysdad]

I’ve slowly advanced into the 21st century, kicking and screaming. I need to upgrade my basic Innova OBD code reader to something a little more advanced. I’d like to have something wired that will give me live data. I’m not super worried about bidirectionality.

The vehicles this will be used for are a 1996 Ford Ranger, a 2002 Silverado, a 2004 Explorer, and occasionally a 2022 Pacifica.

I’d like to stay in the $200 or less world if possible. Anyone have a favorite?

 

[bob from indiana]

BlueDriver offers a lot for the money.

 

[Rusted Nut]

I don’t have a recommendation for you, but here’s a link to a recent article that may help you decide.

We Tested OBD-II Scanners at Every Price—These Are the Ones We’d Actually Buy

Did your vehicle’s check-engine light just pop on? An OBD-II scanner can point you in the right direction—and potentially save you a bundle.

www.caranddriver.com

 

[zendriver]

The vehicles this will be used for are a 1996 Ford Ranger, a 2002 Silverado, a 2004 Explorer, and occasionally a 2022 Pacifica.

FWIW pretty sure the information/functions available in most any ODBII scanner, is limited to what a particular vehicle's system is designed to produce.

Ran into this with '14 Highlander. All hyped up to do an "oil reminder reset" with the Inova 5610 clone (HF) scanner I had plugged in for battery test after oil change. after maneuvering through several prompt screens about this or that, a text screen popped up. listing the manual steps on the vehicle for resetting the oil reminder.

Like "cycle ABS module" won't work on a vehicle not designed to have that remotely done.

On '02 Silverado, only a very tiny amount of transmission functions are available.

 

[liliysdad]

Im aware of the functionality limitations on the vehicle side, and is the reason I just want a basic unit. Live data is the most important feature for me for this one..

 

[L.Cheapo]

Im aware of the functionality limitations on the vehicle side, and is the reason I just want a basic unit. Live data is the most important feature for me for this one..

In that case, the 2022 Pacifica is going to give you an issue due to its secure gateway. You'll be able to read codes, but not much more, unless you have an AutoAuth account ($50/year) and a current update on your scan tool of choice, assuming that tool is AutoAuth capable.

Sorry, no experience with a scan tool at that price range.

 

[liliysdad]

The Pacifica is the one I’m least concerned with.

 

[Rusted Nut]

The Pacifica is the one I’m least concerned with.

For the Pacifica you could jscan. jscan license is about $30, a blue tooth dongle will set you back close to $90, a 12+8 cable costs about $50. jscan is what I use on my 2018 jeep.

 

[mikey03]

Is it right to say there’s a difference between a code reader and a scan tool? I always heard of a code reader being a kind of weak $30 tool and a scan tool being $500+ and can have calipers retract on command but maybe the words are cinnamons and just got different levels of sophostocation