Spec me a scan tool

jamoor · 24 Jan 2012 at 16:06

Does anyone here have a generic code reader?

There are a million and one listed on ebay, its for a 2008 Mazda 6, but ideally I want it to work with numerous cars.

Anyone able to recommend one for under £70 or so?
Thanks.

Phil W · 24 Jan 2012 at 18:05

Loads of them (OBD2) on eBay for around £25inc p&p.

Frozennova · 24 Jan 2012 at 18:26

If you've got an android phone and want to spend peanuts grab a bluetooth reader off ebay and "buy" a copy of Torque for android.

kPATm · 25 Jan 2012 at 09:10

Iv got this one

Cost about £70 3 yrs ago. TBH I would go with frozennova's suggestion

Frozennova · 25 Jan 2012 at 10:11

Forgot to mention if you stick the phone on a far cradle you can also monitor live data while driving.

lordrobs · 25 Jan 2012 at 16:40

frozennova said:
If you've got an android phone and want to spend peanuts grab a bluetooth reader off ebay and "buy" a copy of Torque for android.

I went this route. Does all I need it to on the Octavia and Grande Punto.

Frozennova · 25 Jan 2012 at 16:50

Just incase you havent looked this is the same as the one we bought

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bluetooth...842?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f0dd4a31a

Delivery took about 10 days IIRC

GeX · 25 Jan 2012 at 16:56

I would (and did) get this one;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110768406865

It supports faster communications for Torque, there has been a lot of hit and miss with the blue/orange ones.

..and don't "buy" Torque. Just buy it, it's only £3.

kPATm · 25 Jan 2012 at 17:18

Can Torque reset the ECU or does it just clear the codes?

Shimmy · 25 Jan 2012 at 17:50

frozennova said:
If you've got an android phone and want to spend peanuts grab a bluetooth reader off ebay and "buy" a copy of Torque for android.

Been using this method for last 18 months, works great.

There's a free version of torque I think which still reads and clears codes, at least there was a year ago. My OBD2 reader cost me £10 I think.

GeX · 25 Jan 2012 at 18:30

kPATm said:
Can Torque reset the ECU or does it just clear the codes?

What do you mean by reset the ECU if you don't mean clearing codes?

Generally you'll need something more specialised than an ELM interface for things like that, I had an issue on my VTS that required the PSA specific 'lexia' interface to reset it and get the car going - clearing faults with the ELM OBD interface didn't cut it.

kPATm · 25 Jan 2012 at 20:20

I had a prog on my Laptop I used on my Legacy that would actually reset the ECU. If there has been a problem for a bit on the car then the ECU would be trying to compensate for said problem. Once the problem is repaired the ECU is reset to allow it to learn how to run the car with everything tip top

jamoor · 25 Jan 2012 at 20:33

I have bought the bluetooth thingy, is there a free(ish) software to let you use it with a laptop as well, or is it just android only?

kPATm · 25 Jan 2012 at 20:36

You could try ECUExplorer