Anyone use a OBD2 Diagnostic scanner?

bitslice

bitslice

bitslice

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18 May 2006
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Just noticed one on tmart for £10 and wondered if these things were worth having in the toolbox?
(I'll post the link if someone gives me the OK)

Would it spot anything not showing up otherwise, or do they basically tell you that the 'Engine Warning light is on'


If it could give me the live MPG then that would be really useful, but I don't know if it can.

(Ford Focus mk2.5 '53)
 
The cheap handheld scanners are fine for showing up universal fault codes, and they're handy to have for the sake of a tenner - I have one. If you want to show live read outs you'll want something like a ScanGauge though.
 
I have used both the cheaper ones - (in-fact I need to return Howard's to him), and the slightly more expensive ones as I have a Scangauge in my 350z. If you just want to read codes when faults occur etc. the cheap ones are ideal - and once you have the code a quick Google will let you know what the problem is. The more expensive ones are nice as they have more features, such as a built in display, live readouts, dash colour coding, and performance stats like 60 times and 1/4 mile calculators - but if all you want is a code reader than the cheapo ones are perfectly fine!
 
I have one that I paid £20 for that works fine. They show the fault code on the screen and you cross reference it with a book that comes with them (if they do) or look it up online.

imho they are well worth having in your tool box if you work on your own car, they can save you £90+ for diagnostics to find out its a £20 sensor that's gone.

Just make sure your car is compatible with it, some for instance don't work with VAG cars.

I use my SCT now (shows the code and what it is) but they are expensive if you aren't using it as a tuner first and a diagnostic tool second :)
 
I've got one that connects to my phone via Bluetooth, it does faults MPG, boost and lots of other techno babble :)
 
For a tenner they are worth it. Although they can only read generic codes, can't get access to the airbag ecu etc.
 
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