OBD2 OBDII CAN Diagnostic Scanner Code Reader/Resetter

[simplysimon]

I've been looking at a cheap OBDII code reader/resetter and thought about on Oxford Excelvan U380 or U480 as they are under £20, but I have heard good thing about the Foxwell NT300 and there's a guy on ebay with some for £55
I'll mostly use it at home on my Civic 02 and Focus 03 but I will be working on newer vehicles for friends and family.

does anyone know of any problems with any of the above or have an insight to other makes.

 

[ford34/2]

Cant remember the make but I have a plug in one-- brilliant and the codes are available on the internet, but technology persuaded me to buy a Blue tooth plug in adapter for the socket and I got a programe on disc for my Daughters laptop and use that now, was a mere few quid for the blue tooth and mini disc on E bay. Very impressed as to the comprehensive options.
stan

 

[AndyStobbs]

Makes me cry the price of diagnostic gear now.

 

[ford34/2]

Trying hard to remember,--- if you prefer there are many downloads for your mobile phone and the bluetooth plug in will communicate the OBD readings to the phone, something like this one, this is where my stuff came from. Torquefree is my programme for the phone.Just another option to a laptop.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OBD2-Car-...183?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item20dccbb147

Stan

Reading material::
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/advise-me-on-obd2-scanners.45869/#post-509091

 

[lchris21]

depends how deep you need to go? i got an elm 327 reader off ebay for less than a tenner, bit of freeware off tinternet and bobs your mothers brother. diagnosed and cleared the fault on my daughters Citroen C2. I was staring down the barrel of a £60-80 charge at local garage just to press a key on a keyboard, so thought it was worth a punt??? happy days

 

[simplysimon]

Makes me cry the price of diagnostic gear now.

I take it you never used a '70s SUN Diagnostic machine... mental amount to fix if you happen to break one when you were an apprentice

@ford34/2 nothing for a phone fella, my BT Synergy doesn't support this tooth business

@Ichris21 I'm just a bit wary of something so cheap interfacing with something so friable, I'll have a look though, thanks

 

[The flasher]

i got a autel maxiscan ms509 for 26 quid off ebay and its brilliant.

 

[ford34/2]

@Ichris21 I'm just a bit wary of something so cheap interfacing with something so friable, I'll have a look though, thanks

I wouldnt worry too much its only sending a OBD signal to a programe and no worse than a cheap scanner.

Pity on the phone front, nearly worth getting hold of a cheap phone just for the Bluetooth capability,You can still use a laptop with a hard wired connection lead to the OBD socket, and a programe on the laptop.
Stan

 

[simplysimon]

i got a autel maxiscan ms509 for 26 quid off ebay and its brilliant.

now I've seen this scanner on Amazon and quite a few of the comments customers have left say there are lots of Chinese copies around!

 

[simplysimon]

Hey Stan I've got my lads old Dell Alienware laptop in the garage, the battery's knackered and has to be powered off the mains so he was about to bin it so its mine now
I'm sure it has Bluetooth buitin although it could do with an up-to-date OS I think it still has XP Pro 64bit.

I'll just read that link you posted and see whats what, thanks

 

[ford34/2]

I`ll take a pic tomorrow, just found the manual on the compter, its a V-Checker ODB II Professional, was about £100 in its day, probably £15/20 now, Hand held, displays codes and can delete them. you need to look the code number up to cross ref the fault, Mines used on Golf Mk4s, Not sure if the code numbers cross ref accross all ODB protacol, It also has a conversion lead to fit another socket-not sure what.
I believe some are fairly basic only interogating the airbags and service light codes -- could be wrong.
Stan

 

[AndyStobbs]

I take it you never used a '70s SUN Diagnostic machine... mental amount to fix if you happen to break one when you were an apprentice

@ford34/2 nothing for a phone fella, my BT Synergy doesn't support this tooth business

@Ichris21 I'm just a bit wary of something so cheap interfacing with something so friable, I'll have a look though, thanks

I wasn't born until '89 haha. But having spent a fortune on genuine equipment only to see fully featured cloned versions now available for under £500 makes my eyes water.

 

[Fazerruss]

I've got the foxwell and I'm very pleased with it. The main thing it does that cheaper ones done is reset airbag, ABS and SRS codes which a lot don't.
Mine is the nt 600

 

[Brad93]

I've got a Gendan think it was about £50 lifetime upgrades and support with it

 

[Brad93]

Next for me is probably an old laptop and VAGCOM and done ford software

 

[Hitch]

I bought a cheapo Ebay bluetooth one of ebay when we had the renault. Use with my android phone, download an app called 'Torque'
It will read basic codes, reset the managment light etc. Only does engine managment as far as i'm aware though, not abs/airbags etc.