What OBD II scanner to buy

[mikkelstuff]

My cheap OBD II scanner detects and erases the code in my '02 Ranger but cannot tell me the problem.

Is there a recommendation for a better OBD II scanner?

I see prices on Amazon running from $20 to $500. I ony need a decent one for my Ranger.

 

[Terrys87]

I bought mine from Autozone 10 years ago. I have used it on models up to around, 2010-2012 and it has worked great. I am sure it would work on a few newer than that but I am sure all the codes that have come out since I bought mine are not in it. I have not been out in the shop, but it is orange color. I gave $125ish if I recall correctly and really like it.

 

[Brain75]

most cheap scanners are around $25 right and anything that does more than that is a LOT more... except a laptop (if you have one already) forscan and a vgate v-linker cable (forscan free, cable was $30 before trump started playing with tarrifs...) I think another guy here got it for $30 one week, $60 the next and $45 not too long after that... depending on how immediate you need it might be worth watching prices for a while and pray for trade sanity...

 

[Brain75]

the OBD2 standard allows mfg to add new codes and any scanner will still report those, just no "what is it, what to do about it" ... but at the same time everything above 3497 is "reserved for future use"

 

[rumblecloud]

Innova has some decent scanners. Autozone, Amazon, etc. I bought the SD29. It does what I need it to do decent price.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Personally, for anything involving Fords, I like Forscan on my laptop for a budget friendly tool. I would actually like to find a scan program for a laptop that will work with any OBD2 that isn’t super expensive. I like the bigger screen… lol

 

[rumblecloud]

I've read a lot about Forscan here on TRS.
I think I'll look into it. It seems pretty robust -- if my brain can handle it...

 

[ekrampitzjr]

Harbor Freight has a selection of OBD II scanners now. Might be worth a look. They're all made in China anyway.

 

[Brain75]

.... I would actually like to find a scan program for a laptop that will work with any OBD2 that isn’t super expensive. I like the bigger screen… lol

Being that my GM is a convertible and has codes embedded into it the BCM (Body Control Module) for what is wrong with the convertible when it malfunctions, I have dug and dug and dug into trying to find a universal for both Ford and GM (Dodge can go to hell), never found one..... if you find one that works with the ELM style adapter cable or V-link I wouldn't mind hearing about it, my google-fu failed to find one.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Harbor Freight has a selection of OBD II scanners now. Might be worth a look. They're all made in China anyway.

Great to keep in the glovebox.

Extremely nice to know if the CEL is some emission POS that doesn't really matter or of main reactor core failure is imminent while on the road.

Forscan is awesome.

No scanner will come out and say what is wrong outright. They give you hints.

 

[Brain75]

Harbor Freight has a selection of OBD II scanners now. Might be worth a look. They're all made in China anyway.

I skimmed em, and while some say "live data" and might be enough, you are getting into the $189 units to do so.... that's the cheapest I have ever seen for what used to be starting around $600 "professional mechanic" units. Conveniently harbor freight has the manual online - I would go through the manual for any candidate you are thinking of buying and seeing if it actually does what you need for the price... the VGate V-Linker cable is back to $29 on Amazon ($1 less than it's pre-Trump price)

I read the manual of HF's $60 unit and all it was was the basic $25 + battery/alternator test... and having seen a real battery tester I don't think what it does is comprehensive at all - can't be without a big ass resistor and massive heat fins on it.

Amazon.com

And yeah I didn't say it, but I have a cheap $25 unit in the glove box of every OBD2 vehicle for on the road and 5 seconds before emissions testing, but Forscan is the one I keep for any real diagnostic... just can't afford what they want for one that actually does live date, transmission codes, abs, etc.

Plus if you have a newer vehicle, forscan can adjust tire size to adjust the speedometer, set TPMS a little wider range so cold days and hot days don't make for a blinking light and persistent chime screaming away cause it is 1# too low pressure, etc.... Forscan can do a lot LOT more.

 

[SenorNoob]

The Vlinker cable works with the Torque app on Android too. I can see at least some live data on Brittney's 16 Nissan Versa.

 

[rumblecloud]

Looks like Forscan is mainly for OBDII....leaves me mostly out with my 94. Bummer.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Looks like Forscan is mainly for OBDII....leaves me mostly out with my 94. Bummer.

For the low price of $50 I will mail you a paperclip with "OBD1 Code Reader" taped on it.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Looks like Forscan is mainly for OBDII....leaves me mostly out with my 94. Bummer.

I have one of the OBD1 digital code readers for the old stuff. Displays a numeric code instead of having to count flashes and beeps