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Need to buy a nice OBD-II code reader

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M

Mojoed

Diamond Member
I searched, the only threads were pretty dated.

A hobby of mine is buying/selling used cars. Not so much to make money, I just like driving something new every few months.

Anyway, I got burned once. Bought a 1996 Subaru Outback. It seemed to drive fine, so I bought it. Long story short, the CEL was removed, and there was a ton wrong with the car, (knock sensor, o2 sensor, misfires and 2 transmission issues) none of which I could detect while driving.

That leads me to this thread.

I want a nice OBD-II code reader. I'm not looking for the cheapest, looking for something nice. It will pay for itself the first time it saves me from buying a lemon, so I don't mind getting something nice. So many choices out there, not sure what to get!

I'd like something updatable. Something with definitions and/or the ability to connect to a laptop. I guess I don't need live freeze frame data. I wouldn't mind buying a used unit on ebay or whatever either. Are there any units that give more information than just a code I'll have to later look up?

Anyway, suggestions welcomed. 🙂
 
define 'something nice.'

as far as widely available consumer-level stuff, you can get a plain code reader for under $100 that will read most all OBD2 P-codes and is CAN capable. for a little more, you can get one with definitions in it. for $2-300, you can get one that will read live and freeze frame data.
 
If you really want to get fancy you can get one that plugs into a laptop. That should provide far more capability than a standard hand-held unit.
 
Originally posted by: brblx
define 'something nice.'

as far as widely available consumer-level stuff, you can get a plain code reader for under $100 that will read most all OBD2 P-codes and is CAN capable. for a little more, you can get one with definitions in it. for $2-300, you can get one that will read live and freeze frame data.
Click to expand...

Originally posted by: NutBucket
If you really want to get fancy you can get one that plugs into a laptop. That should provide far more capability than a standard hand-held unit.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info guys. I'd definately want something with definitions and/or plugs into a laptop. Live and freeze frame data I can live without.
 
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Oh, if you don't want to monitor data just stick with the hand-held. Its far more convenient.
Click to expand...

Got any particular hand-held model in mind? Something with codes & definitions?
 
the innova scanners at sears are pretty decent, from what i've seen. supposed to have free updates, as well, but i wouldn't hold my breath with a cheap scanner. there's also craftsman branded scanners which seem very similar (might be made by the same company).

you can also get a usb-obd2 cable and some basic software for not very much, but i havn't had any experience with that.


 
I have one from Palmer Performance Engineering (ScanXL), and I also have the add-on software for Ford vehicles on it.

It's very solid software. The hardware works, but be aware that almost all consumer grade ODBII-USB interfaces you buy are actually an ODBII-Serial-USB converter and don't support high data throughput (this is only an issue if you're trying to lot a bunch of parameters at once, the more you have the lower the time resolution goes).

but it plugged right in and started working immediately. The support was also very good and replied almost immediately. It seems like they update their software weekly to squeeze in more features (mostly improving/fixing some of the more obscure parameter scans).
 
equus

I have this one it's nice and cheap shows you the error codes and erases them for you. You have to pay for the lookup software, but google hasn't failed me yet once I have the code.
 
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