Diagnostic Tool

[Brovane]

I was driving my my 2003 Chevy Express Van. I did the normal check the gas cap. Didn't notice any issues so I just kept driving and later in the day it went off on its own. I was checking around and I was considering getting a diagnostic tool because so I could at least grab the code when something like this happens and reset the CEL on my own. I was looking at this tool. Any other recomendations or reasons maybe I should look at something different?

http://www.amazon.com/Autel-MaxiScan-MS300-Diagnostic-Vehicles/dp/B001LHVOVK/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=L6D8O7GDRFJ2&coliid=I3C8DL4IJIJP25

 

[thedarkwolf]

If you have a smart phone get a ELM 327 Bluetooth OBD2 scan tool instead. Torque is a awesome app that works on Andriod and I believe Windows phones now. I"m sure there are ones for the iphone too but Torque is the best known. They can show you a lot more than one of those crappy little scanners.

 

[DaTT]

The app for iPhone costs $50. The app for Android is either free, or you can pay like $2.99 for all the features. I paid $2.99

 

[mvbighead]

What the two above me said. I love having the app, as it has far more features than your everyday code scanner. However, if you don't have a smart phone, the one you linked should suffice for getting the information you need to get started googling.

 

[iamwiz82]

I personally use a Scangauge: http://www.scangauge.com/

 

[vshah]

I personally use a Scangauge: http://www.scangauge.com/

used to have one of these...torque made it obsolete

 

[Brovane]

If you have a smart phone get a ELM 327 Bluetooth OBD2 scan tool instead. Torque is a awesome app that works on Andriod and I believe Windows phones now. I"m sure there are ones for the iphone too but Torque is the best known. They can show you a lot more than one of those crappy little scanners.

Thanks I just ordered one of these off Amazon and I will try it out with the Torque app on my Android phone.

 

[DaTT]

Thanks I just ordered one of these off Amazon and I will try it out with the Torque app on my Android phone.

You'll love it!

 

[mvbighead]

You'll love it!

Yep, an excellent decision indeed. I bought an Innova 3100 earlier, which is about $80. With a $5 app and the $20 dongle, I have immensely more function and ability.

I'd like to sell off the Innova truthfully, but I guess it'll get used every now and again.

 

[vshah]

Thanks I just ordered one of these off Amazon and I will try it out with the Torque app on my Android phone.

I hope you ordered a quality one - i should have mentioned earlier in the thread that torque would drop data/lag a bit with the $40 elm327 i got from amazon at first. the PLX Kiwi bluetooth works great though.

 

[mvbighead]

I hope you ordered a quality one - i should have mentioned earlier in the thread that torque would drop data/lag a bit with the $40 elm327 i got from amazon at first. the PLX Kiwi bluetooth works great though.

While this is true, the lesser quality ones still do 100 times more than a non-BT dongle, or standard hand held scanner.

For me, the extra expense isn't really worth it. I would assume for someone just wanting to scan codes, a cheap elm and torque is they need, and fits in the lowest possible price point.

 

[Brovane]

I hope you ordered a quality one - i should have mentioned earlier in the thread that torque would drop data/lag a bit with the $40 elm327 i got from amazon at first. the PLX Kiwi bluetooth works great though.

Well ordering with Amazon if I don't like it I can send it back.