Harbor Freight - OBD II Reader $39.99

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DrakeTechno

Senior member
Jun 2, 2001
274
0
0
My Check Engine Light has finally ticked me off enough to do something about it (it came on a few months back as a result of a bad plug wire... new wires are on, but haven't had any way to reset the light). I've scanned fleabay off and on, and always see the same types - high end - $200+ (computer interface), mid grade - $120-180 (fancy simple readers), and bare bones - $60 (just reads and resets codes).
Well, it turns out you can buy the same bare bones OBD II reader that most fleabay sellers offer for $60 at Harbor Freight on sale right now for $39.99. Shipping is normally free at $50, and there's a $5.95 handling. Searches of chubby wallet yield a coupon to give free shipping at $39.99 with $5 off (and a free duffle bag).
I'm sure there are folks out there like me looking for a simple way to read and clear codes without having to take it in somewhere (there aren't any places that do it free by me anymore).

$39.99
+ 5.95
- 5.00 coupon
free shipping
=$40.94

-drake
 
C

camlopey

Junior Member
Apr 8, 2003
23
0
0
WOW! Awesome find! I was this close to ordering one of the $160 ones yesterday. You saved me a bundle, Thanks!
 
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DanFungus

Diamond Member
Jul 27, 2001
5,857
0
0
cool :D

I've been looking at these, and the best way that I found if you needed/wanted to be able to hook it up to a computer to read a bunch of other information, or just the error codes, whatever, you could go with this for ~$100 for the OBD-II port scanner, and all the cables you need to hook it up to an RS232 (serial) port.
Just incase anyone was wondering :D
 
S

Slippage

Member
Oct 10, 1999
37
0
0
If you click on "Order from the printed catalog" button on the left side of harborfreight.com you can get it for even cheaper.
Here's a couple codes that work. If you change the single number before the letters, you get different prices for the exact same item. So if you see something you want, play around with the numbers and see if you can get a better price.
For this item,
46030-0vga $49.99
46030-1vga $39.99
46030-3vga $36.99
46030-4vga $35.97

 
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bambam

Senior member
Oct 28, 1999
652
0
0
Will this work on imports ( Honda ) and domestic ? I have seen something that there are slighly different standards . The higher priced scanners have differ modules . Could someone explain this further . -thanks
 
R

Richardito

Golden Member
Feb 24, 2001
1,411
0
0
Originally posted by: bambam
Will this work on imports ( Honda ) and domestic ? I have seen something that there are slighly different standards . The higher priced scanners have differ modules . Could someone explain this further . -thanks
Click to expand...

It says it is 'universal', so it should work on every car with OBDII.
 
F

FrankSchwab

Senior member
Nov 8, 2002
218
0
0
Richard sez:
<<Chemical Engineer & Marine>>
Athlon XP 1600+@1.8Hz

Boy, that's the most underclocked processor I've ever seen! How long does it take XP to boot up on that puppy?

/frank
 
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StevenT

Senior member
Nov 12, 2000
282
0
0
Vehicles from mid 1995 on are (or are supposed to be) OBD II compliant. I use a computer based diagnostic utility called Vag Com for my Volkswagen, it's alot more versatile than this scanner, but it also costs alot more too. Helps get rid of the good ol CEL :)
 
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TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
2
0
96 is the first year where everything made in the US should be OBD2.

This is triple nine-alarm county fair chili hot! Just ordered one, and a copy of my Vette's service manual. :) DIY mechanic here I come!
 
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TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
2
0
Originally posted by: yellowfiero
A better deal is to go to the local Autozone. They will do it for FREE!
Click to expand...

Hmmm, that is a good deal. Except that most OBD2 errors would cause the car to either run badly or not at all. Making taking said car to AutoZone problematic.
 
Analog

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
12,755
3
0
Originally posted by: TerryMathews
Originally posted by: yellowfiero
A better deal is to go to the local Autozone. They will do it for FREE!
Click to expand...

Hmmm, that is a good deal. Except that most OBD2 errors would cause the car to either run badly or not at all. Making taking said car to AutoZone problematic.
Click to expand...

not necessarily true, most errors just cause the "check engine" light to come on. At least that's been my experience.
 
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huesmann

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 1999
8,618
0
76
Originally posted by: yellowfiero
Originally posted by: TerryMathews
Originally posted by: yellowfiero
A better deal is to go to the local Autozone. They will do it for FREE!
Click to expand...

Hmmm, that is a good deal. Except that most OBD2 errors would cause the car to either run badly or not at all. Making taking said car to AutoZone problematic.
Click to expand...

not necessarily true, most errors just cause the "check engine" light to come on. At least that's been my experience.
Click to expand...
Right, most things that will cause your car to be undrivable will light your CEL up way before it becomes undrivable. Most CEL errors are caused by sensors operating out of range, which is usually a minor issue.
 
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Overzeetop

Member
Feb 23, 2001
88
0
0
Hmmm...I have one of these. My '96 Subaru (mfr 10/95) is either not-compliant or wired incorrectly, even though the hood label indicates that it is OBD-II certified. It has doesn't match any of the given pinouts on the OBD-II web page (it's close, but not quite: 4/5/7/11/12/13/16 are populated). It appears to be an ISO-9141-2 type, (has pin 7, signal high) but is missing pin 15 (signal low). The reader does it's thing...flashes...then gives me an E readout (error, no doubt).

It comes with a very short extension cable, and a very brief manual. On my car, the D-style connector is a very tight fit, and is difficult to put on the car without popping the car's side of the connection out of its socket. Also, don't expect to see any worthwile reference to the company who make the unit...there's no address or phone number anywere in the manual, and there are no troubleshooting tips for the reader should it not appear to be working properly.

As for drivablility, the CEL has been on in my car for about 9 months now, with no noticable detrimental effect. It ahs been "diagnosed" as the oxygen sensor and egr valve, neither of which I've bothered to replace. Of course, this car has 185k miles, either a cracked block or leaking head gasket - depending on the shop I've taken it to, a questionable rear torque converter, and a nasty sound comes from the AT if I apply too much power in a hard turn in 1st or Rev. - especially when towing :) Nonetheless, it runs well, isn't losing any fluids, gets the same decent gas milage (22-25mpg) it has since I bought it, and can climb my 20% slope, 2/3mi gravel driveway with 6" of wet snow and a 1/4" coating of ice without slipping - no chains required.
 
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huesmann

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 1999
8,618
0
76
Right, all the CEL indicates is that one of your sensors went out of its specified range (voltage, prolly) at least once. Could have been only once, due to a fluke and it's all fine.

What I hate about Harbor Freight is that they have that stupid "handling" charge, in addition to shipping. :|
 
A

arcas

Platinum Member
Apr 10, 2001
2,155
2
0
Overzeetop: You can get by without replacing a bad oxygen sensor for a while. In fact, one will often notice their gas mileage increases significantly when an O2 sensor goes bad because the onboard computer chooses a leaner mixture. I noticed a 25% increase when one of my O2 sensors went tits up. The problem here is that running lean on an untuned engine can cause pre-ignition and it might eventually lead to a burnt valve.

 
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shekondar

Golden Member
Apr 10, 2003
1,119
0
0
Originally posted by: Overzeetop
Hmmm...I have one of these. My '96 Subaru (mfr 10/95) is either not-compliant or wired incorrectly, even though the hood label indicates that it is OBD-II certified. It has doesn't match any of the given pinouts on the OBD-II web page (it's close, but not quite: 4/5/7/11/12/13/16 are populated). It appears to be an ISO-9141-2 type, (has pin 7, signal high) but is missing pin 15 (signal low). The reader does it's thing...flashes...then gives me an E readout (error, no doubt).
Click to expand...

I was looking at these at the local H.F.T. today. The clerk said that they don't work with all cars - specifically, he told me that he had problems getting it to work on his Chevy Lumina. He said it worked fine on Ford trucks (which is what I have).
 
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