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Professional OBDII Generic Scan Tool all 1996 and newer cars, light trucks, and SUVs ¿ Domestic, Asian and European Import. This item features unique patented all-in-one screen display and LED display for quick emissions check.
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Technical Details
- Retrieves diagnostic trouble codes and definitions (in English, Spanish, or French) from your vehicle's computer to help diagnose problems- Reads check engine light warnings on 1996 and newer vehicles through any OBDII protocol, including CAN (Controller Area Network)
- Views, records, and plays back live data as well as freeze frame data
- Features built-in memory to store codes, even when reader is unplugged
- Unique patented all-in-one screen display and LED display
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By J. Andrew (MARSHALL, WI, US)
I haven't used this item too much yet, but I have used it to look up the codes on my van and some family vehicles, and it works great. I find that it tells what the problem is right on the screen to be most helpful. I'd definitely recommend this product.
By James Gale
Very pleased, works great, and does what its advertised to do... would buy it again... was at least 30% the price of the same model in the store..
By ZoneIII (USA)
Please see the note at the end of my review to learn about a potential problem with this scanner that I discovered after I originally posted this review).
I just received the scanner yesterday so I haven't been able to use it extensively yet but my first impressions are very positive. It is well constructed and a bit larger than it appeared to me in pictures and videos. The cables are very high-quality and the screen is large, clear, and bright. Although I have done virtually all of my own car repairs since the late 1960s, I simply have not had a real need for a code scanner. Contrary to popular myth, I never found modern cars to be difficult to work on at all. In fact, they are easier to work on in many ways. However, when problems involve electronics, a car's on-board computer system, sensors, etc., special tools are needed for efficient diagnosis. Fortunately, I have never had a problem that I couldn't fix without the use of a scanner although I have pulsed out a code or two using a paper clip in the past. I have found the electronics to be extremely dependable on modern cars. That said, the MIL (Check Engine) light went on last week and that's when I decided that it was time to get a scanner. However, I cleared the code by momentarily disconnecting the battery and the MIL light has not come back on so it must have been a fluke. (I hadn't decided to buy a scanner at that point; if I had, I would not have cleared the code and I could have read it when I did get the scanner.)
This scanner has rather advanced features that may only be useful for experienced mechanics like myself. For that reason, I would suggest that someone buy a simpler scanner if all they want to do is retrieve the trouble codes (DTCs). Once you know the code, it's a simple matter to research it on the Internet or using the shop service manual. In fact, you will need the service manual to do more specific diagnosis in many cases even with the scanner. (I buy a factory service manual for every car I own.) But someone who does not do their own repairs is unlikely to have the expensive service manuals anyway. Again, if you just want to retrieve DTCs for further research into the problem or to give to a shop that will do the actual repair(s), you would do well to buy a simpler and less expensive scanner because you will almost certainly never need and may not even understand some of the information this scanner can retrieve. Also, with a simpler scanner, you won't have to worry about all the other features that this scanner has that can be confusing if you don't use them frequently. Very simple scanners require no manual at all but give you the most important info that you need - the DTCs.
The manual is well written but has a lot of information so you will have to refer to it if you only use the scanner occasionally or when using more advanced features. I would suggest that you download the PDF version of the manual from the manufacturer's site to keep just in case you lose the hard copy manual. In fact, I download the manual for all things that I buy that require a manual and that has come in very handy.
In actual use, the scanner is very easy to use once you understand it's operation although you will probably forget some of the more advanced procedures. I plugged it in and pressed the correct button and, in a few seconds, it told me that no DTCs were present. I then played around with live data, etc., and it worked very well. If you are just reading DTCs, it is very easy to use but then you really don't need a scanner with this many features.
The case that comes with the unit is a very nice soft case although it would have been better if it came with a blow-molded case that allowed you to store the cables in another compartment so the connectors don't scratch the scanner. But that's a small point. Again, the soft case is very nice.
I only have a couple very minor complaints so far and one of them has nothing to do with the tool itself. I used Amazon's free shipping option and, to my delight, the scanner arrived much sooner than their system said it would be delivered. I received it in three or four days. However, the packing wasn't ideal. The scanner itself comes in a very nice box that I almost hate to throw away but it was placed in a larger shipping box with no packing material in it so the inner box could bounce around in the outer box. That's not good for electronic devices, of course. Fortunately , no damage was done. My other complaint is one that others have mentioned in their reviews - that is, that the scanner comes with an archaic parallel connector on the PC end of the PC cable. Luckily, I happen to have a parallel port on my old PC but many people don't. Of course, you can buy a parallel to USB adapter cable but it's unfortunate that the scanner doesn't have a USB cable or at least include the adapter cable with the scanner. On the other hand, you may not want to connect it to your PC anyway. I did load up the software that comes with the scanner and it appears that it may be helpful but I don't think it's absolutely necessary to get good service from the scanner. That brings me to one last point: I have read in other reviews that you can get firmware updates from the manufacturer's site when the scanner is connected to your PC but I have been unable to find anything about those updates on the website. I do, however, see that I can upgrade the tool so it reads some ABS codes but that's another thing. At this point, I'm not sure if you can get non-ABS updates or not. I will contact the manufacturer about that. It would make sense to be able to get such updates, though, because I would imagine that new cars may have new manufacturer specific codes from time to time and the scanner should "know" about those codes.
All-in-all, I think it's a fine tool that will be of most value to the professional or experienced home mechanic. It won't do what extremely expensive scanners will do but it will do more than most people will require. It seems to be a very good value for someone like myself and that's why I chose it after researching many different scanners.
NOTE: I am adding this note several weeks after my original review because I found a problem with the scanner which other owners should be aware of and also because of what I believe to be poor customer support from the manufacturer. The button (green) that turns the scanner on and off is supposed to have to be pressed for several seconds to turn it on. That makes sense because that would help to prevent turning it on by accident. However, the button turns on instantly at the slightest touch and it is not recessed into the housing to prevent it being accidentally turned on. That's a problem because it can (and will) be turned on just from handling the soft case normally. It really does turn on inadvertently too. Even if you put the scanner face down in the case, it may still turn on just from the button touching the back of the case. It did for me. I don't know if this is a defect with my specific scanner or not but you may want to check yours out. I found my scanner turned on in the case several times after I had zipped it up and opened it again. For that reason, I'm going to store it with the batteries removed. One other thing that may be of interest to potential buyers of this product: I filled out the proper online technical support form at the manufacturer's website to ask about the button problem and also to ask if there are firmware updates available for the scanner (I do have their software installed on my PC.) I know there is an Anti-lock brake UPGRADE available, but some of the material at the manufacturer's website and also in reviews here suggest that you may be able to download firmware updates to the tool as well. However, I couldn't find any option to do that at the website so I asked technical support if firmware updates are available and, if so, how I would get them. Unfortunately, they never bothered to respond to my questions. In fact, they didn't even bother to acknowledge receiving them even though I filled out the proper online technical support form. For that reason, and also because of the button problem, I have changed my rating from five stars to four stars. It's not a good sign when a company does not bother to respond to customers.
By Paul Neuhaus (Hewitt, TX)
This thing works great and tells you instantly if your vehicle will pass an emission test, plus retrieving codes and live data is a snap and easy to read. You need to be a mechanic or mechanically inclined to use the information given, but you can definitely save on the diagnostic fee that the shops charge. This thing can be upgraded to read ABS codes for $99. If you buy the USB to serial adapter, it connects to a computer well. This was definitely the best price.
By C. noack
I found this scanner easy to use. It came with a detailed instruction book on how to set up and use the product. It also has an extensive list of error codes to help with troubleshooting the problem. The ability to erase the error code was especially helpful. There was also a CD included which allowed you to set up a file for your car on a computer to catalog the codes and keep track of the repair work done to resolve the issue. Came with a nice carrying case which helps keep all the cables and scanner protected and stored together.
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