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Anyone here have, or used a code reader/scanner?

runzwithsizorz

runzwithsizorz

Diamond Member
A couple of months back I had some warning lights come on. Shop charged me $120 just to tell me what they meant, and wanted another $300 to fix it. Turns out #2, and 4 cylinders had a bad coil. $100 at Autopartswarehouse, and 10 minutes of my time, and I was good to go. So yesterday my check engine light comes on, and I have no idea why. This means I'd have to spend another $120 to find out. Seems like one of these scanners would pay for itself rather quickly. https://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3100-...4&refinements=p_72:1248861011,p_36:1253495011
 
Yea if you have a smartphone, BT dongle is the way to go.

Know you used to be able to go to places like Autozone and they'd let you borrow a scanner for free. Think it was banned, at least in CA though cause the shops sued or something. Not sure if that was nationwide or what.

Don't ever pay a shop just to read it.
 
Have a Garmin Mechanic Bluetooth code reader and a cheapy corded $10 amazon special. I bought the Amazon special after I got tired for driving to the parts store to give them my driver's license so I can barrow the code reader outside. Worth the $10 alone to avoid going. The Garmin Mechanic is nice to play around with. You get additional gauges on your phone/table including shift points, but did not have enough value to warrant the $100 price.

It did not read transmission or vehicle manufacturer specific codes. I'm sure these days for the same price you can at least get the vehicle specific codes and maybe even hidden menus to set preferences. I got lucky one day at the dealership and was able to ask them if I can go through the alarm settings to set # of lights it flashes when I hit the alarm and to turn the auto door locks off.

In your case, I'd just buy a cheapie corded one for $5. There are days when Bluetooth connectivity is not guaranteed and you'll be spending 5-10 minutes trying to figure that out when with the corded you get the code and reset it in half the time.
 
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You can still get codes read for free at most auto parts stores, AFAIK.

I use an ELM327 bluetooth dongle, personally.
 
I just bought the Actron CP9690 as it can do all sorts of things, including real time data, mode 6 problems, air bags, antilock brakes troubleshooting and even battery resets on cars (like BMW) that use an AGM type battery. It can also reset Oil Change light on vehicles where a scan tool must be used. Not super expensive at around $230
 
i use one of those bluetooth elm327 knockoffs off ebay. i think it was ~$4.

if you have a toyota, get a mini-vci cable
 
I have a ScanGaugeII that I bought a long time ago, and just got the firmware updated to the latest. I like it a lot.
 
runzwithsizorz said:
A couple of months back I had some warning lights come on. Shop charged me $120 just to tell me what they meant, and wanted another $300 to fix it. Turns out #2, and 4 cylinders had a bad coil. $100 at Autopartswarehouse, and 10 minutes of my time, and I was good to go. So yesterday my check engine light comes on, and I have no idea why. This means I'd have to spend another $120 to find out. Seems like one of these scanners would pay for itself rather quickly. https://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3100-Diagnostic-Battery-Vehicles/dp/B000EVWDAK/ref=sr_1_4?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1466771663&sr=1-4&refinements=p_72%3A1248861011%2Cp_36%3A1253495011
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They charged you $120 to read and interpret the codes, diagnose the issue and recommend a correct repair.

Do you just expect a for profit business to spend time, experience and thousands of dollars of diagnostic tools to tell you whats wrong for free so you can not spend money with them and do the repair yourself?

You gonna let those techs go to where you work and demand a bunch of free stuff?

Parts stores like Autozone and Advance read generic OBD2 codes for free. If you want to throw parts at it off a trouble code, they would be more than happy to sell them to you.
 
I use Carista. It's a BT ODB2 dongle compatible with mainly VAG/german cars and some Japanese (toyota, lexus). It's $40 on Amazon then another $10 for the carista app (android/ios). You can leave it permanently in your odb2 port to get live diagnostic even when you're driving (but for security reason blah blah blah best not to leave it connected at all times). Great app that I use on my RS5 regularly.

http://www.caristaapp.com/supported-vehicles/
 
leper84 said:
They charged you $120 to read and interpret the codes, diagnose the issue and recommend a correct repair.

Do you just expect a for profit business to spend time, experience and thousands of dollars of diagnostic tools to tell you whats wrong for free so you can not spend money with them and do the repair yourself?

You gonna let those techs go to where you work and demand a bunch of free stuff?

Parts stores like Autozone and Advance read generic OBD2 codes for free. If you want to throw parts at it off a trouble code, they would be more than happy to sell them to you.
Click to expand...
I have no problem with paying a man his do, but seriously, $200 labor to change 2 spark plugs?😱
There is nothing wrong in making a profit, but I draw the line when you are trying to make a killing!
 
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Went to Orielly's auto parts, They used a $300 Bosch scanner for *free*, and not $120. They were able to pinpoint, (narrow it right down to), a faulty vapor canister purge valve solenoid. Part cost $54.
 
There are a few cars out there where the spark plugs can be very hard to get to. And some top quality plugs can run about $10 per plug
 
bruceb said:
There are a few cars out there where the spark plugs can be very hard to get to. And some top quality plugs can run about $10 per plug
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I said labor only, and yes there was a Camaro that you had to remove the wheel well panel, and use a couple of u-joints, and extensions. Not the case with my truck.
 
If you paid $200 for labor on an easy to do plug swap, I would not go back to that mechanic again. Spark plugs on most (not all) vehicles should be doable by a shadetree mechanic.
 
bruceb said:
If you paid $200 for labor on an easy to do plug swap, I would not go back to that mechanic again. Spark plugs on most (not all) vehicles should be doable by a shadetree mechanic.
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It was AAA, that's what they wanted to charge me. I did it myself in a couple of minutes. One shop wanted $270 for new front shocks, Goodyear wanted $170. I bought a nice set of Monroe gas shocks for under $30, and did it myself in a few minutes, one nut on top, and one on the bottom.😎
 
Regular shocks you can easily do. If they are McPherson struts, then it is more difficult. You either need a spring compressor or buy a whole shock and spring as an assembly. And with struts, you should get the wheel alignment checked after they are removed and replaced, as camber and caster will likely be off the specs.
 
leper84 said:
They charged you $120 to read and interpret the codes, diagnose the issue and recommend a correct repair.

Do you just expect a for profit business to spend time, experience and thousands of dollars of diagnostic tools to tell you whats wrong for free so you can not spend money with them and do the repair yourself?

You gonna let those techs go to where you work and demand a bunch of free stuff?

Parts stores like Autozone and Advance read generic OBD2 codes for free. If you want to throw parts at it off a trouble code, they would be more than happy to sell them to you.
Click to expand...
Yep. I watched someone who had a code for the pressure in the gas tank. The person seemed to think it was the sensor that was bad, rather than the fairly common issue: gas cap wasn't sealing.

A code helps you narrow down the problem, experience helps you solve the problem.
 
A code scanner will tell you what the computer thinks is out of whack. It is still up to a knowledgeable technician to interpret what it tells him and then to actually locate the cause or defective part / wire or connection.
 
DrPizza said:
Yep. I watched someone who had a code for the pressure in the gas tank. The person seemed to think it was the sensor that was bad, rather than the fairly common issue: gas cap wasn't sealing.

A code helps you narrow down the problem, experience helps you solve the problem.
Click to expand...
If you do not hear that hiss when you remove the gas cap at the gas station,(bad sign), you can visually examine it FIRST, and then move on. Modern higher end scanners can darn near pinpoint the cause, as in my case.
It wasn't several codes, it was *THE* code po449. As far as experience, sure I agree it gives you an edge, and a hunch, but look at kids manning the service bays at the dealership, some have only been shaving for a couple of years, lol. Also, I have the internets, forums, and utubes.
Be honest here Sir, you got a little outside help when you re-wired, re-plumbed, remodeled your kitchen, and built a patio. Think of all the contractors you denied $500 + per hour because you did it yourself. I bet your the kind of guy that upgrades your own video card, and not hire an A+ certified tech to do it for you. Thanks to your selfishness some contractors will have to work up to 10 years to obtain a mistress, vacation home, and a yacht.
Just kidding sir, 😀
 
I use both a FlashScan V2 for the Corvette and Torque for Android for the other cars. I personally like the dedicated scanner/logger over a BT reader and app. I have also found a lot of enjoyment on working on my own car when it comes to easier repairs.
 
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