Scanners

[Bobby A]

I have been traveling many times and the check engine light comes on, it can be very nerve wracking when your far away from home and in the middle of nowhere. I'm sure we all have been through it. I am interested in purchasing a easy to use scanner that won't break the bank but will give me the info and clear the check engine light while traveling. My wife is an amazon queen, there is so many that it makes your head spin, so I wanted to reach out to you guys, you have never let me down yet. Suggestions please ??

 

[johnmyster]

Ancel AD310 is your basic starter kit.

Under $30 amazon

 

[Grumpy8811]

I carry one of these
2025 LAUNCH CRP123 OBD2 Scanner, Engine $134.00

available on Amazon www.amazon.com/LAUNCH-Transmission-Automotive-Diagnostic-EL-50448

 

[AH64ID]

AlfaOBD or JScan with a VLinker MC+. Much more than a simple generic scan tool.

 

[Grumpy8811]

AlfaOBD or JScan with a VLinker MC+. Much more than a simple generic scan tool.

except you also need a smart phone or some type of PC for those 2.. whereas these others are standalone devices and will operate across more than one brand of vehicle..

already run into the benefits and drawbacks of dedicated versus generic diagnostic tools...

 

[AH64ID]

except you also need a smart phone or some type of PC for those 2.. whereas these others are standalone devices and will operate across more than one brand of vehicle..

already run into the benefits and drawbacks of dedicated versus generic diagnostic tools...

True, but cheap and generic is just that. Some cheap generic scanners aren’t able to clear all the codes.

Most people have a smart phone, which makes an app based scanner pretty handy.

 

[Grumpy8811]

True, but cheap and generic is just that. Some cheap generic scanners aren’t able to clear all the codes.

Most people have a smart phone, which makes an app based scanner pretty handy.

I dont have a smart phone... I do have a laptop... so I could use Alpha, but that device I posted clears codes, reads data on all engine, transmission and ABS systems on all vehicles domestic and foreign... and is quite compact... no it is not as sophisticated or have all the tools a manufacturer specific tool does, but then again most of the people these tools are aimed at are not dealer tech level people..

what that Creader I posted the link for wont do is specialty functions for a manufacturer specific device, like it wont calibrate a turbo actuator or it wont do a stationary desoot but has the advantage of it working on every vehicle a person wants to scan.. and is capable of being updated via the internet.. so for 120 dollars it isn't bad deal..

any way you look at the question, there are different methods people can employ and both have advantages and disadvantages.

 

[CVR222NV]

The biggest complaint I have seen about the cheap generic scanners is that they don't read the ABS module. I have AlfaOBD and it reads all modules and has the capability to make configuration changes as well. I also understand that AlfaOBD works on Android phones but unfortunately not iPhones. Fortunately, AlfaOBD also works on Microsoft devices like my Surface.

 

[Grumpy8811]

The biggest complaint I have seen about the cheap generic scanners is that they don't read the ABS module. I have AlfaOBD and it reads all modules and has the capability to make configuration changes as well. I also understand that AlfaOBD works on Android phones but unfortunately not iPhones. Fortunately, AlfaOBD also works on Microsoft devices like my Surface.

that 120 dollar scanner I have reads all ABS, Transmission, Body and Engine stuff with the added benefit of working on all makes of vehicles.. but it cant do some dealer level functions.. but if a person needs full capabilities, that generic scanner isn't for them... but many of the people these generic scanners are aimed at do not need or have the ability to use the levels of sophistication a manufacturer specific diagnostic tool offers.

sometimes a Swiss Army Knife serves a better purpose than a job specific tool.. but it isn't going to be as good for a specific task as a specialty tool..

end user needs to give some thought to what they desire.

 

[Ozymandias]

AlfaOBD, 50$, is the way to go with any Mopar product.
Why pay more for less.

 

[Grumpy8811]

AlfaOBD, 50$, is the way to go with any Mopar product.
Why pay more for less.

if all you have to deal with is Mopar Stellantis stuff, as well as owning a smart phone or carry a laptop with you Alpha OBD makes perfect sense.
realistically it is $50 on top of the cost of the other stuff..

desirability of one thing over the other also has to take the end user into account..

 

[Ozymandias]

Most people nowadays have a smartphone or a tablet.

 

[Grumpy8811]

Most people nowadays have a smartphone or a tablet.

yeah, they do.. I'm using a laptop to communicate here.
but the fact remains the original post was asking about OBD 2 scanners. and there are different choices available for the end user.
kind of like motor oil... some people think one is better than another.. and I know there is more than one way to skin a cat.

 

[bcbender]

you skin cats....