Cheap OBD2 scanner?

[speeder]

Guys, help me out here. I want to buy a cheap scanner for obd2 cars, doesn't any of these work on any obd2 vehicle? I thought that was the idea of v.2 over obd1. That you don't need a separate scanner for each make of car/truck.

I have a little friend with a '99 Miata that is throwing a code, (CEL), I want to help her out and figured that a scanner would be good to have anyways. I looked on eBay and most of them seem to reference one brand or another of car...WTF?

I'm green as can be on this, guidance please.

Here is a page of them, any of these look ok?

obd2 scanner items - Get great deals on Parts Accessories, obd2 items on eBay Motors!

[aigel]

They should work for all models. I have an innova scanner I bought at WalMart for around $100 and it works on everything I have tested to date (a dozen different cars myself and lent out many times to friends and coworkers). I would go by walmart or the local autoparts store and get a new reader there.

George

[speeder]

Thanks, George. I don't actually have a Walmart close by, (that I know of), was hoping that someone could look at the one on the eBay page and tell me if any are brands they've heard of.

[aigel]

Here. This is the exact make and model I have.

INNOVA 3100 CAN OBD2 AUTOMOTIVE CODE READER: eBay Motors (item 250662182373 end time Jul-11-10 15:11:57 PDT)

Good Luck!

George

[aigel]

Ok, maybe I am wrong - or not exactly right. I have the 3100 from 2001. There appears a lot of 3100 models that are newer. These all should do fine. Make sure you get the booklet with it, while you can look up codes online, it is nice to have the booklet for immediate look up.

George

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by aigel

Here. This is the exact make and model I have.

INNOVA 3100 CAN OBD2 AUTOMOTIVE CODE READER: eBay Motors (item 250662182373 end time Jul-11-10 15:11:57 PDT)

Good Luck!

George

I think that's the one I have. I paid around $70 on eBay about four yrs. ago. It has paid for itself several times. Love it.

[speeder]

Thanks! You guys rock...

[kaisen]

Denis-

They all do the same thing, so no biggie. The codes are government mandated.
Some just give you the code and you have to look up the description of the code.
Others have a display that gives the description.

I have a couple Actrons (one OBD I, one OBD II) that display everything and do live data logs.
I bought them used on eBay with case and OBD I harnesses for $95 a couple years ago.
You can spend $2000 on a fancy scanner but unless you know how to view the data streams, etc. the codes are all you need.

E

[mattdavis11]

That's cheating, Denis. Save the money and figure it out. I used to play with one that could shut down injectors and log all sorts of stuff. It was a waste of time.

[red-beard]

I bought one a while ago, and it was something like $189, but it reads, resets, and other stuff. It even will read out the electronic speed of the car, and those numbers match the GPS unit, where the speedometer guage does not. It also had extra cables for some older vehicles and OBD1 units.

I think just about any FLAPS will carry them.

[speeder]

Wallmart has this one on sale, think I'm going to grab it:

Walmart.com: Equus 3100 Innova CanOBD2 Diagnostic Tool: Auto Electronics

It's the latest/greatest version of the 3100 series, MSRP is ~$190.00

[speeder]

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

That's cheating, Denis. Save the money and figure it out. I used to play with one that could shut down injectors and log all sorts of stuff. It was a waste of time.

If you can instantly diagnose a modern car that is running and driving perfectly but has a CEL on, (and therefore will not pass an emissions test), without using a scanner, you are better at this than me.

[kaisen]

For $75 why wouldn't you. That one does everything a backyard mechanic needs, and some things even a hardcore tech would like. You're set with that one. No brainer.

[speeder]

I don't own anything at the moment that is new enough to need this tool. But like I said, I have this little friend with a Miata.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by speeder

If you can instantly diagnose a modern car that is running and driving perfectly but has a CEL on, (and therefore will not pass an emissions test), without using a scanner, you are better at this than me.

Worse yet, you can have no CEL on and still fail emissions because you have unreset readiness monitors and not know it. Gawd, this was a pain in the ass with my 993. And the reset procedure can almost not be done on a public road. Luckily, the reset procedure for 993's can be done with the same procedure as for BMW's, which is well documented online. But you need a stopwatch and a good 30-40 min. of empty roads and no cops around. With the scanner, you can at least see if you got it all done before going back for another smog check. I broke a lot of laws doing this for emissions in VA and AZ, but it does work.

[Joeaksa]

Denis, get a Sunday newspaper and find the adverts for the car parts places. They are there locally for $35 on up.

Or if you want to do it right, buy a "Scantool" that plugs into your OBDII port and will give you codes, but also real time info on the car and engine all while you drive. Its a bit more, about $150 but I love mine.

[tchanson]

Denis,

I use the OBDCOM system for all our OBDII cars.

You need to load the software on a laptop, then connect the laptop to the OBD port.

Besides translating all codes into English, it also provides a menu of other very useful real time diagnostic tools. You can also clear and reset codes.

Worth every penny of $87, and I would highly recommend it.







Tim

[Aurel]

You can use a laptop (if you already have one) and a USB-OBDII cable connector such as the ELM327. The original costs $64:

ScanTool.net LLC - ElmScan 5 Compact Scan Tool - PC Based Scan Tools - Scan Tools - ScanTool.net

If you want to go the real cheap ba$tard route, you can even find chinese copies off e-bay for $20, but they may not work with the standard software and you will have to find a software version that works with them (the route I took)...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ELM327-Diagnostic-interface-Latest-v1-3a-OBD2-CAN-v1-3-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3a5c9b114aQQitemZ25066 1769546QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

So in short, you can get a full working OBDII setup with data logging, read codes, reset codes, dyno test, etc...for 24 bucks shipped.

[speeder]

Those are *PC only* deals, right? I'd have to buy a PC laptop, all I have are Macs these days.

EDIT: I have an Intel-based Macbook. Wondering if it will then work?

[aigel]

Originally Posted by speeder

Those are *PC only* deals, right? I'd have to buy a PC laptop, all I have are Macs these days.

EDIT: I have an Intel-based Macbook. Wondering if it will then work?

Of course you will look a lot more desirable to the Miata owner if you hook up you MAC to the car and type around on it for a while. Othwerise, I'd keep it simple with a handheld.

George