Rep Power: 0

Hi

I have a couple of Civics and a Ford and they all have OBD II ports.

I've never used a code reader but I wonder if I should buy one because it's good to have? I'm thinking that perhaps it shows useful information that I should know as the primary caretaker of the vehicles?

Or is a code reader only useful for fixing specific problems and not very useful otherwise?

Is there a better type for a DYIer to have?

Thanks in advance.

 
Rep Power: 511

I bought a cheap one, well, cheap back then ($60 in 2007) and it's been plenty useful. With the aid of mobile google machines, you can easily and quickly begin to troubleshoot CELs. The only I bought only shows you the code and allows you to delete them. Fancier ones actually give readouts and stuff. There's also cheap ones you can plug into the OBD2 port and get readings on your phone via bluetooth, so there's that.

 
Rep Power: 367

at amazon, you get dongles that you plug into the port and it bluetooth all the data to your cell phone. and clears codes as well.

I prefer scangauge or similar so i can check many more things iat the dash instead of a hidden phone in my pocket. better temp gauge, MPG, etc.

I have a code reader that reads SRS and Honda specific codes as well.

 
Rep Power: 518

A code reader is a tool just like anything else in a tool box. Its effectiveness is up to you.
Some codes are easy, read code and throw a part at it....other codes aren't so simple and some people can waste a lot of money by not doing their homework first.
Sometimes people post with codes that can't exist in their car, that means some code readers aren't 100% accurate at reading the codes.


80% of my entire career has revolved around your pesky warning lights LOL
I have:
Hondas HDS scanner software (on two of my personal laptops)
Mastertech scanner (mine, pretty much obsolete now)
NGS scanner (mine, obsolete now)
Still considering getting a $20 engine code reader/eraser just for speed

Our shop has a scanner from Matco that gets a lot of use too.


My car has an Ultragauge on the dash, displays quite a bit of live data and can read/erase codes if needed

 
Rep Power: 222

I have one of the bluetooth dongles and the torque app. And a cheap code reader i bought like 10 years ago, Both have been extremely useful. I tend to use the bluetooth one since it gives me more information

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for the suggestions!

I'm thinking of getting a 180$ reader from a local retailer, assuming that it will have functionality I will eventually use compared to a much cheaper bluetooth dongle.

Is that a fair bet?

Also, do these last a long time or do technology updates make them obsolete? The ones I'm looking at claim to have lifetime updates but based on the stuff I'm reading online I might not be able to rely on that promise. What made yours obsolete?

 
Rep Power: 367

the reader gets obsolete with new cars

as long as you own an old car, does not matter much.

select it more for if it reads honda specific codes (fords were not that fickly, most readers should do the job)

I chose mine for honda codes, got a newer one for the SRS honda codes)

 
Rep Power: 222

What extra functionality does it have? Abs and srs code reading? Honda specific things?

Unless it has stuff like that i would still get the dongle. The app that you download does get updated frequently. I was looking at normal code readers before i bought the dongle and unless i wanted to pay over $200 for one that did abs and srs stuff all the other readers (from $50-$180) did exactly the same thing or less than the dongle

 
Rep Power: 0

Having never used one, I cannot at this point determine whether I need the extra features. For reference, here's a comparison between a cheaper and more expensive one I am considering:

70$ Autel: https://www.princessauto.com/en/deta...er/A-p8454308e

180$ Autel: https://www.princessauto.com/en/deta...er/A-p8454332e

The table of "Attributes & Specifications" is full of NO for the cheap one and almost all YES for the more expensive one.

Not including ABS and SRS, but there are options in that price range that do those as well. It just bothers me that I can't find much info about the manufacturer of that other reader (Launch Tech USA).

 
Rep Power: 518

http://www.autelonline.com/

https://www.auteltech.com/

http://www.autelonline.com/autel-max...-tool_p30.html


Anyone wanna post up real feedback about what their torque pro app can do?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...l.torque&hl=en

 
Rep Power: 222

I have an older version of that $70 reader, I got it for $20 on clearance. You can check and clear codes, look up the vin (on newer cars), and check the readiness monitors.

The $180 one will also do freeze frame and live operating data which is handy for diagnostic purposes. And it will apparently do abs codes but iy might not work on all cars.

Or you can save $150 and get a $20 dongle and $5 app. You just won't be able to do abs codes, which with the multiple different vehicles I've owned (2 Fords and 5 Hondas) I have never needed abs scanning. You can always get partsource (or another parts store) to scan it for you if you do have the abs light come on.

You do what you want I'm just trying to save you money

 
Rep Power: 222

I have Torque Pro:
I can scan and erase codes, when a code comes up it will give the number and a description, as well as a link to google search results for that code.

I can get freeze frame data from when the code was set as well as live data for multiple sensors (number of sensors depends on the vehicle).

I can also check all the readiness monitors (for etests).

Additionally i can log data and graph it.
There's probably other things I haven't found yet

 
Rep Power: 0

Collin: sounds like the dongle with the app can do almost everything that the more expensive tool can? Unless I'm missing something in the manual?

In that case sounds like I should definitely try the dongle first. Is there one you'd recommend? There are so many to choose from.

 
Rep Power: 222

This is the one I have:


if you have an iphone you may need a different version.

and then for the app I downloaded Torque, pay for the full version that way you can use all the features in the app.