Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) engine light on....scanner recommendations please

[americana]

Gentlemen (and the few ladies out there)



My check engine light came on and I am going to use it to justify a scanner/analyzer to the wife.



What do you recommend for our Dodge/Cumimns combination? I'd like to get something more than a code reader.



thanks in advance.

 

[ASchwartz]

For a third gen, I'd go with a smarty. Not sure if it reads codes on the second gens.

 

[americana]

thanks... . smarty... is that a brand or a model?

 

[ASchwartz]

MADS Electronics - Smarty - CaTCHER - Smarty03

 

[americana]

I was looking for something a little less involved ($). something that is more than a code reader, but could also help diagnose problems (or at least help narrow them down). maybe a little memory so i could go for a drive. anything affordable out there that can do that?



as far as bombing i'm saving up for an edge A2.

 

[ASchwartz]

how bout this



OBD II Scan Tool, Performance Meter & Data Logger | Auterra

 

[ASchwartz]

or this



ScanGaugeII - How to Buy

 

[PRout]

Just be aware that some of these nifty scanners give nice readouts, etc, but will not read or clear all the codes they claim to in their sales literature. Not putting down any product in particular, just saying do your homework and make sure it is 100% compliant with the dodge/cummins before purchasing, or make sure it is clear that you can return it if it doesn't clear the codes you need it to. Dodge/Cummins has some non-standard features in their code that some generic readers cannot decipher.

 

[RGianelli]

is the AUTOXRAY EZ-READ 1000 a good scanner for our 2nd gens??

I have found it at a great price. .



rob

 

[Bob Cochran]

I had the Super Chips programmer and use it to read codes rather than sell it after the Adrenaline/Pulse I am using.

 

[americana]

what about the inova obdII readers on sale now at Kragans?

 

[Bob Cochran]

Just be aware that some of these nifty scanners give nice readouts, etc, but will not read or clear all the codes they claim to in their sales literature. Not putting down any product in particular, just saying do your homework and make sure it is 100% compliant with the dodge/cummins before purchasing, or make sure it is clear that you can return it if it doesn't clear the codes you need it to. Dodge/Cummins has some non-standard features in their code that some generic readers cannot decipher.

How is a novice supposed to know without asking people like yourself and other knowledgeable people here?

 

[PRout]

Definitely not an expert, but I found out that my Scangauge 2 would not clear a check engine light one time (think its when I had an APPS voltage out of limit code). Then I tried an Actron 9175 (not a low end model) which required some digging through the history to find and isolate the code. It would not clear it either. At the time, I had a Smarty programmer but it was boxed up because I was in the process of selling it and figured I would use one of the other less expensive units mentioned above instead. - No joy. .

Unpacked the Smarty and it instantly displayed the code and cleared it along with the check engine light easily.

That's when i started doing more research and found some slight little subtleties in the fine print of some product's literature, for example:

ScanGaugeII - Fequently Asked Questions

Notice how it shows. . "Will the ScanGauge II be able to clear my
trouble codes and turn off my "Check Engine" light?
The ScanGauge II will clear the codes and turn off the check engine light on 99% of 1996 and newer vehicles. It has been reported that it can not do this on some trouble codes in the Dodge vehicles. "

********

Compatibility list:

ScanGaugeII - Compatible Vehicle List

Notice for example. . "WORKS ON ALL EXCEPT: 2004. 5 through 2005 Dodge Diesel Trucks. " (On several years they specifically exclude Dodge Diesels - on 2000 vehicles it shows "Works on all vehicles" - Didn't on mine. . ?)

Here is another interesting thread from just searching out the word "Actron" in the search function on this site:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...80-diagnostic-scan-tool-innova-vs-actron.html

Notice in the 2nd post. . "Heavy duty pickups, above 8500GVW, such as our year model Dodge Diesels, are not required to be fully ODBII compliant and they are not fully ODBII compliant. "

********

At the time when I was doing the research on which unit to buy, there were several software type diagnostic tools available (don't recall the names without doing a major research project again), but 2 of them required you buy an "add-on package" to be able to read Dodge Cummins specific codes/parameters. This is where I started realizing that it would be easier for me to keep the smarty, as it appears to work well at reading & clearing codes quickly and easily.

********

Note: In my original post in this thread, I purposely didn't put any units down. I merely suggested a person do their homework before they buy, or make sure they can return the unit if it doesn't do everything you expected it to do. There are clear, defined reasons some of these compatibilities exist, like the newer year trucks use the "CAN" protocol, etc.

In reality, most of these units will probably work for 80 or more percent of the data you want/need, just know that our trucks may have some proprietary code in their software. Again, I'm not an expert, just passing along what I came across.

 

[americana]

thanks for your help, Phil. VERY good information to know. Unfortunately $700 for a smarty is too rich for my blood at this time.

 

[Bob Cochran]

Definitely not an expert, but I found out that my Scangauge 2 would not clear a check engine light one time (think its when I had an APPS voltage out of limit code). Then I tried an Actron 9175 (not a low end model) which required some digging through the history to find and isolate the code. It would not clear it either. At the time, I had a Smarty programmer but it was boxed up because I was in the process of selling it and figured I would use one of the other less expensive units mentioned above instead. - No joy. .



Unpacked the Smarty and it instantly displayed the code and cleared it along with the check engine light easily.



That's when i started doing more research and found some slight little subtleties in the fine print of some product's literature, for example:



ScanGaugeII - Fequently Asked Questions



Notice how it shows. . "Will the ScanGauge II be able to clear my

trouble codes and turn off my "Check Engine" light?

The ScanGauge II will clear the codes and turn off the check engine light on 99% of 1996 and newer vehicles. It has been reported that it can not do this on some trouble codes in the Dodge vehicles. "



********



Compatibility list:



ScanGaugeII - Compatible Vehicle List



Notice for example. . "WORKS ON ALL EXCEPT: 2004. 5 through 2005 Dodge Diesel Trucks. " (On several years they specifically exclude Dodge Diesels - on 2000 vehicles it shows "Works on all vehicles" - Didn't on mine. . ?)



Here is another interesting thread from just searching out the word "Actron" in the search function on this site:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...80-diagnostic-scan-tool-innova-vs-actron.html



Notice in the 2nd post. . "Heavy duty pickups, above 8500GVW, such as our year model Dodge Diesels, are not required to be fully ODBII compliant and they are not fully ODBII compliant. "



********



At the time when I was doing the research on which unit to buy, there were several software type diagnostic tools available (don't recall the names without doing a major research project again), but 2 of them required you buy an "add-on package" to be able to read Dodge Cummins specific codes/parameters. This is where I started realizing that it would be easier for me to keep the smarty, as it appears to work well at reading & clearing codes quickly and easily.



********



Note: In my original post in this thread, I purposely didn't put any units down. I merely suggested a person do their homework before they buy, or make sure they can return the unit if it doesn't do everything you expected it to do. There are clear, defined reasons some of these compatibilities exist, like the newer year trucks use the "CAN" protocol, etc.



In reality, most of these units will probably work for 80 or more percent of the data you want/need, just know that our trucks may have some proprietary code in their software. Again, I'm not an expert, just passing along what I came across.

Well that was a well thought out and perfect answer. Bottom line there is no easy answers and the answer for one year truck can be different for another. Thanks I appreciate your kind of answers. Oo.

 

[DCreed]

thanks for your help, Phil. VERY good information to know. Unfortunately $700 for a smarty is too rich for my blood at this time.

you should be able to get a used smarty for less than $500. it will do much more than scan/clear codes.

 

[MAllen1]

I would buy a book that will tell code definitions and a simple code reader that will communicate with your truck. You can probably (good possibility) stay under $250 for both book and code reader.

 

[DCreed]

I would buy a book that will tell code definitions and a simple code reader that will communicate with your truck. You can probably (good possibility) stay under $250 for both book and code reader.

codes are listed under FAQ right here! Thanks Tim!
https://www.turbodieselregister.com...ine-transmission-faq/96634-24v-code-list.html

 

[americana]

Thanks, guys. I've been looking for a used smarty. no luck. I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and take her in.

 

[1tuffram]

You might try Auto Enginuity.com. Their OBD II diagnostic scanner/software has a Dodge Cummins software add-on. I think it is a little over $200 additional and I think there was some kind of yearly subscription fee in order to get the updates for their OEM enhanced codes software packages. I'm not sure how much usable info you will gain from the Dodge Cummins add-on. The website has several screen shots samples of the Cummins package on a few 3rd gen trucks.