budget scan tool

[Marty68]

i am the current owner of a 68 short step c10 4.8 sitting in it. / 91 gmc c1500/ 04 impala/ 05 saturn. i do not own a scan tool and what would your suggestions be? not totally opposed to harbor freight. would like to see sensors and clear codes.

[rickpilgrim]

I've been up close and personal to the Harbor Freight copy of the snap on Modus. It will do all you need and more, it just have the oscilloscope function like the snap on one. I realize it's a bit over 1g but with today's cars unless your ok with paying $100 to someone else(here) you need a decent scanner.

[SierraMtns]

Originally Posted by rickpilgrim

I've been up close and personal to the Harbor Freight copy of the snap on Modus. It will do all you need and more, it just have the oscilloscope function like the snap on one. I realize it's a bit over 1g but with today's cars unless your ok with paying $100 to someone else(here) you need a decent scanner.

I couldn't find the one your talking about on HF. I would think any of these would be good for us garage mechanics.

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...t?q=scan+tools

[e015475]

I have one of these.

http://www.scantool.net/scan-tools/p...5-compact.html

It is simply a cable and a microprocesser that connects your OBD2 port to a laptop. Comes with software disk to load to look at data real time, log data and reset codes.

About 25 dollars and much better than HF crap

[Marty68]

this sounds too cheap to be of much use http://www.ebay.com/itm/QZO-ELM327-U..._Tools&vxp=mtr

[Bigdav160]

I have the bluetooth version of that ELM. I bought it off Amazon for less then $10.

It works. The software isn't the greatest but it works.

[Marty68]

Originally Posted by SierraMtns

I couldn't find the one your talking about on HF. I would think any of these would be good for us garage mechanics.

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...t?q=scan+tools

does anyone here have one of these? junk value nfg? i want a little more than "reading a code" but less than a $1000 scanner
the bluetooth to phone looks ok but it may not be enough.

[truckster]

I also have one that connects the OBDII port to a laptop. It's got a lot of functions that a handheld scanner doesn't, like capturing real-time graphs and on-board diagnostic help. I think I paid about $50 for mine.

[rickpilgrim]

http://m.harborfreight.com/autel-max...tem-62385.html

Here's the copy of our modus that we checked over at the HF store in Minniapolis. It does almost everything our modus does at 1/6 the price. It can tell you the location of the faulty componants and tells you how to repair said componants. Now they were demoing the unit we tried and the store unit may or may not have all the programs but again,1/6 the cost of our Modus

[Marty68]

Originally Posted by rickpilgrim

http://m.harborfreight.com/autel-max...tem-62385.html

Here's the copy of our modus that we checked over at the HF store in Minniapolis. It does almost everything our modus does at 1/6 the price. It can tell you the location of the faulty componants and tells you how to repair said componants. Now they were demoing the unit we tried and the store unit may or may not have all the programs but again,1/6 the cost of our Modus

that would be nice... not in my budget.... i was thinking 150 max... maybe the $15 ebay bluetooth to phone would be most bang for the buck.

[FrankenCub]

Have any of you tried either of these ?
OBD Auto Doctor
OBD Fusion
Both will use the generic Bluetooth or WiFi ELM. I've been looking at these and they seem like they'd be better than the cheap generic scanners that don't show much.

[rickpilgrim]

Originally Posted by Marty68

that would be nice... not in my budget.... i was thinking 150 max... maybe the $15 ebay bluetooth to phone would be most bang for the buck.

The reason I would suggest such an item like this is if you are a multi vehicles owner and will be for the duration it saves so much cash over a simple code reader or $200 Accutron that lets you view data but that's it.
A code reader would have told me the ABS and 4wd were malfunctioning in my 04 suburban but to narrow it down beyond that it would be useless. The Verus(yes we have 3 different snap on) was able to pull up the wave forms in a 3 layer graphic and even highlighted the odd signal from wheel Sensor 2 (POS Chinese bearing)that was causing all the problem. Without that knowledge how would you know the sensor was putting out more of a clipped wave than a smooth(btw bearing still ok)wave. We were able to drive back in the snow with 4wd and ABS using the data from sensor 1 to act as both sensors with the Verus help.
That's an 04 truck that won't give you 4wd and screams every time the brake pedal is pushed that you need brake service. What's a 2013 or newer going to need in diagnostic scan tools? Any of our monthly payment snap on's will do it, my Accutron from 2004 will be as useless as it is now.

[e015475]

What a simple ELM scanner will do-

Reads engine codes

[Marty68]

so what is being said is....?? spend $1000 get something very usefull, or spend almost nothing <$25 and get a "code reader" ??

[53burb]

I have this one....works great for me...does live data too....
http://www.harborfreight.com/can-obd...0693-9479.html

[rickpilgrim]

IMHO code readers are ok for simpler pre 2000 vehicles and diagnostic scanners are almost neccessary for newer than that. Code reader will get you in the neighborhood where Diagnotic scanner gets you to the exact thing you need to repair and if you don't know how has illistraighted instructions for you.
We love taking the "Alpine Automotive" S10 down to O Reilly's for parts as invariably someone is there getting something scanned by the store Accutron and O Reilly's gives them a printout of all the possibilities it could be, which really confuses them and that person asks for more information and they point at me or Cory and say "ask them"
That's the difference.
If you can't afford diagnostic right now code reader is a sign to put you in the right direction which is better than being blind.
Live Data is ok for timing and fuel trim issues but is not really impressive.

[donut]

I am paying attention to this thread, lot's of good information. (plus the snap-on guy would LOVE to sell me a scanner...) don't need one for the '86 (just $$), but I have run into times on the '03 where a scanner would have really helped.

[motornut]

Almost bought one recently for the

05 Malibu
03 Grand Am
09 Vibe
min quality I'd want started @200$
I'd want the ABS part too


http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/au...l#.VPjf23wlnk0

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/ob...l#.VPjgvHwlnk0

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/ab...l#.VPjhMHwlnk0

[cableguy0]

Check out the brands launch and autel. They should have something that will work for you in your price range. I have used products from both and they work well. We have a modis at work and I hate the slow POS. Its a hassle to use. Will be looking into replacing it with something from launch in the near future. If you have a tablet there are many options to use it. Whether android or Ipad.

[53burb]

"Check out the brands launch and autel"........

The Harbor Freight ones are actually Centech branded Autels.....

[rickpilgrim]

We have a modis at work and I hate the slow POS. Its a hassle to use.


Ours modus is the last yr of production and yes, it boots up a little slow if you don't leave it on standby but my over 50 yr old brain and fingers really don't find it hard to use, other than it isn't touch screen. We have ours rigged to a cart with a 42" monitor and a mouse.
Verus is a whole different matter. Fast loading,touch screen and more capability than I may ever figure out. Of course updates are planed to 2022 or so we are told.
OTC diagnostic is decent also.

[61_FL_Apache]

Who has used a bluetooth scan tool that will work on iphones? I see some of the better ones are on Android based phones.