Anyone here got OBD/EOPD Reader Experience?

[andrewg1323]

Looking to invest in some form of scan tool for when working on modern cars, looks a total minefield when looking at the various scan tools available though! Anyone got any experience of using scan tools and any recomendations of what i need? Anything i should particularly avoid?

 

[Rusty]

Hi,you can buy simple fault code readers for about £15.00 or OBD units to plug into a laptop with relevant software will give detailed info on the vehicle plus you can make certain adjustments to the vehicle through the laptop,a company in Exeter do a good range ( ebay i think ) or this company http://www.gendan.co.uk/

 

[JimM]

Hi, if you are looking for something to use across several vehicles then you'll need to get an interface with the ELM327 chip, this is a generic reader and supposedly can be used across all the different standards ISO, CAN, KWP etc

You can then get loads of software for reading the sensors, codes etc and a lot of it is genuinely free. A few examples are listed on this site

http://***.alpha-bid.com/page15.html

I just bought an ELM323 from this company with no problems

All you will need is an interface, laptop and software

Points to note with the OBD stuff is that

1. Not all the software will work with all cars
2. Its use is pretty limited if you don't know what you are looking at eg knowing that the fuel air sensor has a reading of 3.98% is useless if you don't know what it should be
3. Can't speak for all cars but certainly on my '98 Volvo V40 I need a seperate VAGCOM interface to get the VOL-FCR software to reset the service light
4. It can be useful to read the DTC codes but again you will then have to interperate these into what you actually need to do to sort the problem

HTH

Jim

 

[ag motors]

code readers

hi there do you just want to read engine management codes or do you want to be able to read abs and air bag codes aswell you can by a logic code reader for about £80 that will do all makes even jap cars but will only read management codes . but if you want to do abs and airbags you are better waiting for snapon doing a deal on there code readers i got one for £1000 plus vat on a deal