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Code reader/diagnostic - Grease_monkey

About time i invested in a code/dianoatic tool. I've been looking at this from Marchine Mart www.machinemart.co.uk/p/laser-5091-eodb11eobd-code.../ Can anyone recommend anything better?

Code reader/diagnostic - Wackyracer

It will depend what car you plan on using it with and what you want to do.

A launch Creader will do pretty much all that will and you can buy them for less than half that price.

Code reader/diagnostic - Railroad.

Probably as good as any available, but by no means the cheapest as far as EOBD scantools go. Remember that EOBD refers to engine emission data only, and all UK sold cars have been compliant since 2001 for petrols and 2004 for diesels, and a handful of protocols cover all models. An EOBD scantool will not communicate with ABS, Airbag, Instruments and other vehicle controllers.

Code reader/diagnostic - Wackyracer

An EOBD scantool will not communicate with ABS, Airbag, Instruments and other vehicle controllers.

For about the same price as the one the OP was looking at, the Launch CRP123 will read ABS,SRS,EPS etc.

Code reader/diagnostic - Railroad.

An EOBD scantool will not communicate with ABS, Airbag, Instruments and other vehicle controllers.

For about the same price as the one the OP was looking at, the Launch CRP123 will read ABS,SRS,EPS etc.

We had a Launch X431 at the last garage I worked at, and whilst it did cover most vehicles/systems and protocols its biggest drawback was it was really painfully slow. The newer models may have improved though. Personally I never liked it.

Code reader/diagnostic - Cyd

If all you need to do is read OBDII compliant codes, then Torque app and an adaptor is all you need for the princely sum of around 25 quid all in. And it's so useful for many other functions too (eg live data).

Code reader/diagnostic - Gibbo_Wirral

Scan-anything readers rarely perform a thorough job. We gets loads of people with these devices asking for help because its come back as "marque specific fault code" or similar.

I've done some tests with various scanners on my car with a known EGR, diesel heater sensor, and glow plug faults and only the dealer specific equipment picked up these fault codes and read the live data to show that the parts were indeed faulty.

Code reader/diagnostic - Railroad.

Scan-anything readers rarely perform a thorough job. We gets loads of people with these devices asking for help because its come back as "marque specific fault code" or similar.

I've done some tests with various scanners on my car with a known EGR, diesel heater sensor, and glow plug faults and only the dealer specific equipment picked up these fault codes and read the live data to show that the parts were indeed faulty.

That's because there is EOBD, a standard by which all vehicle manufacturers agreed to in the 1990s allowing cross communication with a standard 16 pin interface, and there is manufacturer specific. Prior to this different manufacturers used different hardware, software and communication cables, which meant it was very difficult if not impossible non-franchised repairers to interogate controller information. This meant they had a monopoly and led to the EOBD agreement.

EOBD compliance means all manufacturers must allow anyone with a compliant scantool to access data and standard fault codes relating to engine emissions. Manufacturers can offer as much as they like as long as they meet the minimum requirements, so some give more than others. This is a compromise, but better than the pre-EOBD days.

EOBD scantools serve a purpose but if you want to be able to access all information then manufacturer specific is the only way to go.

Code reader/diagnostic - peter moss

That kind thing is ok to do the basics ,if you buy a basic one make sure it has a battery to keep the memory and comes with a computer lead [some dont ]

cars like french ones cann have special clip software , basic scanners wont do auto transmission /airbags /electric steering to name but a few but if not looking for a complex one the basics do a basic job ,

if howeve ryou need to reset the condition counter in an AL4 transmission your goning to spend a lot of money and buy a bi directional unit that reads and writes but they are a lot of money !

me i just got a £32 one it reads live data on fuel trims and re sets most codes it does not do air bags or trans unit but i got it for the fuel trims and it works well on that side of things !

Code reader/diagnostic - khcomp

As already said, this will actually only show & reset engine based codes, not manufacturer specific ABS, airbag & transmission codes. For that price, it's far too dear and doesn't do anything that a £10 bluetooth adapter & smart phone app wouldn't do.

Something like an Autel MaxiCheck Pro will do everything for the same money - I've had the previous version for some time & it is fantastic, it'll often read things that some expensive garage kit won't. The current model, around £190, will do ECU, SRS, EPS, DPF and electric handbrake diagnosis. Highly recommended.