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Recommend an OBD-II scanner
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wacki
User
May 21, 2010, 1:00 AM
Post #1 of 3
(2456 views)
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Recommend an OBD-II scanner
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I just saw an article on OBD meters and now I want one. Any recommendations for an amateur car fixer upper?
Background:
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I have a 2000 Honda Accord and will probably drive it for 5 more years before buying a new car. The gf has a 2001 Infinity. I change my brakes, alternator, struts, transmission fluid and oil. I can only see myself getting more involved with my car over time.
Thanks!
Link removed.............not allowed
(This post was edited by wacki on May 21, 2010, 6:16 PM)
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wacki
User
May 22, 2010, 9:16 PM
Post #2 of 3
(2431 views)
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Re: Recommend an OBD-II scanner
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Nobody has an OBD to recommend?
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
May 22, 2010, 10:08 PM
Post #3 of 3
(2430 views)
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Re: Recommend an OBD-II scanner
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Sorry, been a crazy week.....Glad it's over... Man what a rollercoaster...........
Ok scanner/readers........
I'll offer what little input I can give....... I don't really use the ones you are looking at... I do have an OTC/SPX hand held for the sole purpose of clearing codes an to date haven't had a system I couldn't read..... Another brand I have seen a few of the guys use and have good luck with is Actron (sp)
I'm guessing price works into equation somewhere and like anything, you get what you pay for......What you should look for is lines of PIDs & Freeze frame data.. All will read & clear so that's a non issue. A PID is parameter ID.....basically, a line of data.... the more live data you can get the better.... I was surprised to see one younger guy get one that did OBD I as well....That means he can read old pre 95-96 cars, if you won't be doing older stuff then there is no need for that option....
Freeze frame data is PIDs the comp stores during the failure so the tech can try to duplicate the failure.....Was the car doing 90mph or 15mph? Was it cold or hot? light load or heavy? etc......This can be useful but some people have the mistaken idea it shows the PID that failed.... It doesn't.......sometimes it does by luck but what the comp is doing is showing major inputs of what was happening during the failure.....
The other thing would be bi-directional controls......what that means in a nutshell is with the scanner, you can control a function......turn something on or off with the scanner.......... I honestly don't price shop these type of units but would be very surprised to see one with bi-directional controls.....but hey I've already been surprised once........
Also if they have the ability to communicate with other modules other than the PCM....ABS, Trans, airbag, BCM, etc... Once again I'd be surprised,,,,,but ya never know....
In the end I would stick with a brand I know.......There is a lot of cheap Chinese crap out there and the price reflects it.... Even in the high end stuff...... A Ford IDS VCM (factory scan too) is about 5 to 6k..... There's cheap Chinese clones out there for around 2k..... I've heard horror stories about them and yes there's a few guys that have had good luck with them........It's a crapshot & 2k is too much for me to gamble.......
Compare prices....If it's not too much you decide.......The one thing you will get with a cheap chinese clone is way more options & abilities than it's quality counter part but....there's a reason for that...........
(This post was edited by Sidom on May 22, 2010, 10:11 PM)
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