OBD2 scanner recommendations

[Coiled]

Last thread about scanners is @6yo, clearly things have changed.

+120K miles on a '13 Highlander and the CEL and Trac OFF lights came on which also happens to disable the cruise control. Turns out it was just a poor seal at the gas cap but I think it's time I get a scanner.

I'm obviously wanting the best bang for the buck but I'm a shadetree mechanic at best so no need for high end gear. What scanner(s) has/have worked well for you?

 

[smittyb]

Actron

 

[smittyb]

https://www.amazon.com/Actron-CP967...ron+cp9670&qid=1575239714&s=automotive&sr=1-4

This one will do whatever us regular joe's need done.

 

[pronstar]

These are the two that I have...one is wired, the other wireless.

Both work equally well.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Bozz10mm]

I bought an Autel about 10 years ago and it has served me well. I believe this one will do everything you need it to.

https://www.amazon.com/Autel-AutoLi...07XE5LTG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_sims?ie=UTF8

 

[smittyb]

I bought an Autel about 10 years ago and it has served me well.

I have heard good things about Autel in the last few years, but I have no personal experience with them.
OTOH, I have been using Actron(s) for 20 years now.

 

[Bozz10mm]

Scotty Kilmer has recommended the Blue Driver on his youtube videos. It interfaces with a smart phone and may be more comprehensive than the self contained scanners.

https://www.amazon.com/BlueDriver-LSB2-Bluetooth-iPhone-Android/dp/B00652G4TS/ref=sm_n_se_dkp_US_pr_sea_0_0?adId=B00652G4TS&creativeASIN=B00652G4TS&linkId=097b455a34f10ae6f454198d765cc67d&tag=brg_ana_1-20&linkCode=w42&ref-refURL=https://www.bestreviews.guide/obd2-scanners&slotNum=0&imprToken=rNks6wHUxLnz5lNIxTdZtQ&adType=smart&adMode=search&adFormat=grid&impressionTimestamp=1575250848272

Scotty Kilmer Blue Driver Demo

 

[Dawico]

I have a cheap Bosch that has served me well. Sucks going to their site to see what the codes are but it works.

Most auto parts stores will read them for free too so there is that option.

 

[F350-6]

Search the vehicle forums for your ride. There's a fair chance you find a free downloadable program that works well with your vehicle that you can use with an OBDII dongle that connects to a laptop or smart phone via bluetooth. For many Ford's, that program is Forscan. I've even been able to change some factory settings in my truck with that program like tire size and adding GPS to the dash display.

The program was free to download. I only needed to buy a way to connect to the vehicle. The OBDII connector I bought also came with it's own app that could read codes as well as the free scans you get at the parts store.

 

[DoubleDuty]

Buy an inexpensive Bluetooth one for about ten bucks and use an app called Torque. It reads all the codes and checks every function that your vehicle has.

 

[Brains]

Honestly? Just get a cheap POS on Amazon with an LCD screen. Don't get any of the bluetooth or wifi dongles that connect to your phone, it just adds time and frustration and there's really no genuine benefit for most people. Even when paying for the software upgrades in apps like Torque, you're not going to get any more useful data out of it than the cheap handheld scanners.

The "good stuff" isn't available in any of these scan tools anyway, because it's simply too expensive to get access to the PIDs and calibrations. I'm talking about the manufacturer specific (e.g. non-gov't mandated) parameters, bi-directional controls (e.g. Turn things on and off from the tool, move solenoids, etc.), and software/calibrations. All that is 5 figures plus per year just to get a glimpse, and there's still going to be a LOT you won't get access to. Some shops will shell out big bucks for the same tools used in the dealerships, but even if you're doing that kind of work every day it often is just cheaper to send the job to them.

I own a good set of scan tools, including the ELM327 dongles (in USB, WiFi, and Bluetooth variants), a handheld from Amazon, and some specialized tools as well (EFILive, LS1Edit). What do I use most often? The cheap handheld.

 

[Coiled]

Lol. I've been doing dongle w/Torque App research for @45 minutes now.
A lot of cool features but I likely would get frustrated and/or bored with all the options.

Do you recommend any particular "cheap POS" hand held?

 

[DoubleDuty]

I have two of them one for each vehicle. They stay plugged in and monitor everything in real time. You can just use what ever feature you want. Just need to read diagnostic codes then that is all you need. Plus the price can't be beat

 

[Brains]

Lol. I've been doing dongle w/Torque App research for @45 minutes now.
A lot of cool features but I likely would get frustrated and/or bored with all the options.

Do you recommend any particular "cheap POS" hand held?

I don't know, what's on sale? Realistically, they're going to be pretty similar. Look for reviews that talk about ease of use more than anything, because they're all going to be reading the same data.

 

[Coiled]

I have two of them one for each vehicle. They stay plugged in and monitor everything in real time. You can just use what ever feature you want. Just need to read diagnostic codes then that is all you need. Plus the price can't be beat

Your phones memory doesn't tap out? Do you have to clear it every so often?

 

[Brains]

Your phones memory doesn't tap out? Do you have to clear it every so often?

Sounds like a Jeopardy trivia topic. "I'll take 'Things an Android user has to constantly deal with' for $100, Alex.

 

[DoubleDuty]

Your phones memory doesn't tap out? Do you have to clear it every so often?

Nope, I have an older Android phone that I use just for that. But any decent phone should work fine.

 

[F350-6]

......

The "good stuff" isn't available in any of these scan tools anyway, because it's simply too expensive to get access to the PIDs and calibrations. I'm talking about the manufacturer specific (e.g. non-gov't mandated) parameters, bi-directional controls (e.g. Turn things on and off from the tool, move solenoids, etc.), and software/calibrations. ....

Actually you can get some of this stuff. The Forscan app (free) I mentioned for Ford vehicles gives you access to the PID's. You've got to do some research to know what to change and what to change it to, but I've done all sorts of things to my truck. Got rid of the sirius option on the radio controls. Enabled factory GPS, changed tire sizes, enabled high beam and fog at the same time. Changed the bump turn signal from 3 flashes to 7 flashes.

There's more I've probably done that isn't coming to mind at the moment, but I do have access to the PID's. I just need to know which letter to change (from an A to a B for example) and then write the change to the PCM.

The downside is it doesn't come with the full instruction manual, so you have to find forums where others have done the trial and error thing to know what does what when you start changing PID's. But that's kinda what forums are for.

 

[mroper]

I have a cheap one too that I got off of amazon (it looks like the actron ones ). It pulls the codes and allows you to clear them . it came with a book. but it is best to just google the code and year make model

 

[Shady]

If you have a Ford or one of the other supported brands Forscan is about as good as it gets and is dirt cheap.

a laptop pre windows 10 is even better

$20 bucks for the cord to connect them and on top of codes and clearing them you can do all kinds of cool stuff

Like turn off all the anoying chimes and warnings for seat belts and open doors. Adjust for tire size changes

Modify things like auto windows down when you click the remote 3 times <depends on what options your truck has>

Link to a faq on forscan for a f150
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-8dKaS_Spu4Zw4hV_CrKC4tLoP9G8yejqegF1wxIqxY/edit

If you don't have a car that uses forscan

The bluetooth dongle and Torque are what you seek again an old laptop and a $10 dongle.