OBD II Scan Tools
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 34,131
Likes: 126
From: Canton, MA
OBD II Scan Tools
Hello. I'm planning to get an OBD II scan tool. The hand helds seem to be pretty good, and reasonably priced units from companies like Autel test out pretty well. The part I have trouble with is determining if these tools will work with my cars, a 2002 Honda, a 2005 Dodge, a 2016 BMW, and my wife's 2018 Lexus.
This unit gets very good reviews, but try to figure out if it will work with a specific car.... Read the description
Here's an unhelpful quote:
Check the vehicle coverage before order☛：Please email OBDPRICE back▲Autelonline@outlook.com▲ to check the compatibility before order, offer your detail car model, year, VIN and what functions you need, you will get the available solution in 12 hours.
I sent them an email. Let's see how they respond.
Anyway, have any of you invested in an OBD II reader, and if so, did it work on recent vehicles?
This unit gets very good reviews, but try to figure out if it will work with a specific car.... Read the description
Here's an unhelpful quote:
Check the vehicle coverage before order☛：Please email OBDPRICE back▲Autelonline@outlook.com▲ to check the compatibility before order, offer your detail car model, year, VIN and what functions you need, you will get the available solution in 12 hours.
I sent them an email. Let's see how they respond.
Anyway, have any of you invested in an OBD II reader, and if so, did it work on recent vehicles?
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,443
Likes: 2,651
From: Long Beach, MS
This article on wikipedia demonstrates how complicated the answer to your question is.
But the key points are:
All cars sold in the US in 1996 or later. must provide an ODBII diagnostic interface.
ODBII standardized the connector, including pin-outs, protocol, message formats, and many PIDs (Parameter IDs...the code sent from the reader requesting a particular diagnostic results.)
While all manufacturers must support a specific set of PIDs and responses, almost all use additional PIDs that are unique to each manufacturer. This provides lots of diagnostic info beyond the ODBII standard, but only if the scan tool supports those codes.
Readers used down at your local mechanic's or auto parts store allow the operator to enter the year, make, and model of the car being checked. Not sure how many inexpensive readers offer this feature or how many makes and models they might support. The scanner manufacturer's web site might provide some additional details that would answer your question.
Bottom line, any scan tool will provide some diagnostics on all your vehicles. For example, any scan tool should diagnose a misfire and tell you which cylinder was at fault, or which O2 sensor has failed. But not all tools will provide all the manufacturer's diagnostics for each vehicle.
PS: I didn't just look this stuff up. I have used scanners in the past. But the wiki article provides lots of details I was not aware of.
But the key points are:
All cars sold in the US in 1996 or later. must provide an ODBII diagnostic interface.
ODBII standardized the connector, including pin-outs, protocol, message formats, and many PIDs (Parameter IDs...the code sent from the reader requesting a particular diagnostic results.)
While all manufacturers must support a specific set of PIDs and responses, almost all use additional PIDs that are unique to each manufacturer. This provides lots of diagnostic info beyond the ODBII standard, but only if the scan tool supports those codes.
Readers used down at your local mechanic's or auto parts store allow the operator to enter the year, make, and model of the car being checked. Not sure how many inexpensive readers offer this feature or how many makes and models they might support. The scanner manufacturer's web site might provide some additional details that would answer your question.
Bottom line, any scan tool will provide some diagnostics on all your vehicles. For example, any scan tool should diagnose a misfire and tell you which cylinder was at fault, or which O2 sensor has failed. But not all tools will provide all the manufacturer's diagnostics for each vehicle.
PS: I didn't just look this stuff up. I have used scanners in the past. But the wiki article provides lots of details I was not aware of.
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 9,930
Likes: 363
From: West of Chi., IL
I don't use a tool, I use an app on my iPhone and a bluetooth scan transmitter. Specifically:
A) OBD2 Bluetooth Scanner in each car. It's a VeePeak unit at a cost of $12-15 per car.
B) iPhone APP is DashCommand (DashCmd) for iPhone and I think that the cost was $11.
On the iPhone you enter a set of descriptive parameters for each car and it sets the PIDs according the the make, model and trim. Then when you enter that car and pair to the VeePeak in it, it automatically sets itself to that cars PIDs. It also reverts to any of the dashboards or gauge configurations that you set for that car.
You need not have a VeePeak for each car. I'm lazy.
I gave my sona VeePeak and he used it to clear a lot of codes on his CRV several times. Needless to say, he has a new CRV now.
A) OBD2 Bluetooth Scanner in each car. It's a VeePeak unit at a cost of $12-15 per car.
B) iPhone APP is DashCommand (DashCmd) for iPhone and I think that the cost was $11.
On the iPhone you enter a set of descriptive parameters for each car and it sets the PIDs according the the make, model and trim. Then when you enter that car and pair to the VeePeak in it, it automatically sets itself to that cars PIDs. It also reverts to any of the dashboards or gauge configurations that you set for that car.
You need not have a VeePeak for each car. I'm lazy.
I gave my sona VeePeak and he used it to clear a lot of codes on his CRV several times. Needless to say, he has a new CRV now.
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 11,385
Likes: 1,796
I've had an Innova 3160E, for about 5 years. It's worked fine for me. On several model, makes of cars.
https://obd2scanners.org/innova/3160-review/
https://obd2scanners.org/innova/3160-review/
Last edited by windhund116; Jan 11, 2020 at 02:38 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 34,131
Likes: 126
From: Canton, MA
I've had an Innova 3160E, for about 5 years. It's worked fine for me. On several model, makes of cars.
https://obd2scanners.org/innova/3160-review/
https://obd2scanners.org/innova/3160-review/
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Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 34,131
Likes: 126
From: Canton, MA
This article on wikipedia demonstrates how complicated the answer to your question is.
But the key points are:
All cars sold in the US in 1996 or later. must provide an ODBII diagnostic interface.
ODBII standardized the connector, including pin-outs, protocol, message formats, and many PIDs (Parameter IDs...the code sent from the reader requesting a particular diagnostic results.)
While all manufacturers must support a specific set of PIDs and responses, almost all use additional PIDs that are unique to each manufacturer. This provides lots of diagnostic info beyond the ODBII standard, but only if the scan tool supports those codes.
Readers used down at your local mechanic's or auto parts store allow the operator to enter the year, make, and model of the car being checked. Not sure how many inexpensive readers offer this feature or how many makes and models they might support. The scanner manufacturer's web site might provide some additional details that would answer your question.
Bottom line, any scan tool will provide some diagnostics on all your vehicles. For example, any scan tool should diagnose a misfire and tell you which cylinder was at fault, or which O2 sensor has failed. But not all tools will provide all the manufacturer's diagnostics for each vehicle.
PS: I didn't just look this stuff up. I have used scanners in the past. But the wiki article provides lots of details I was not aware of.
But the key points are:
All cars sold in the US in 1996 or later. must provide an ODBII diagnostic interface.
ODBII standardized the connector, including pin-outs, protocol, message formats, and many PIDs (Parameter IDs...the code sent from the reader requesting a particular diagnostic results.)
While all manufacturers must support a specific set of PIDs and responses, almost all use additional PIDs that are unique to each manufacturer. This provides lots of diagnostic info beyond the ODBII standard, but only if the scan tool supports those codes.
Readers used down at your local mechanic's or auto parts store allow the operator to enter the year, make, and model of the car being checked. Not sure how many inexpensive readers offer this feature or how many makes and models they might support. The scanner manufacturer's web site might provide some additional details that would answer your question.
Bottom line, any scan tool will provide some diagnostics on all your vehicles. For example, any scan tool should diagnose a misfire and tell you which cylinder was at fault, or which O2 sensor has failed. But not all tools will provide all the manufacturer's diagnostics for each vehicle.
PS: I didn't just look this stuff up. I have used scanners in the past. But the wiki article provides lots of details I was not aware of.
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 16,443
Likes: 2,651
From: Long Beach, MS
I did not know ODB could help with ABS brake bleeds. I have a friend who has a low mileage Cadillac Allante who has a brake issue that I suspect is nothing more than air in the lines. I think the Allante had a strange ABS that made bleeding the main system a challenge.
