| 
 
   | Miscellaneous Tech & Tools THIS SPACE OPEN FOR ADVERTISEMENT.  YOU SHOULD BE ADVERTISING HERE! Got an ATV or snowmobile you need to fix?  Or are you wondering what the hell a crowfoot socket is for?  Come on in and ask away!
 |  
   |  |       |  02-07-2010, 06:57 PM | #1 |   | Fathered more RS members than anybody else. Who's your daddy? 
				  Join Date: Aug 2002 
					Posts: 25,374
				 
		
			
				Thanked 11,946 Times in 5,145 Posts
			
		
	 
		
			
				Failed 318 Times in 204 Posts
			
		
	   |  Advice on Buying an OBD II Reader  
 
			
			As title states, I'm looking to purchase an OBD II reader. New, so please don't flogg yours here.
 I want one that is good bang for the money.
 
 I have a stupid 2002 Mazda MPV (wife's car), so it needs to read codes from that. I have a Scangauge (stupid POS) that reads OBD II codes from just about any car, but it does not read codes off the Mazda. I borrowed an old school reader from a friend, but I'm not into borrowing stuff from others.
 
 Anyway, I would like one that is capable of live stream data. I'm guessing they're out of my price range, which is around 200 bucks.
 
 I see Lordco and CT selling the Innova/Equus brand. Are they any good?
 
				__________________  Quote:   | "there but for the grace of god go I" |   Quote:   | Youth is, indeed, wasted on the young. |  YODO = You Only Die Once.  
Dirty look from MG1 can melt steel beams.   
"There must be dissonance before resolution - MG1 " a musical reference.
			 |   |   |   |      |  02-07-2010, 07:05 PM | #2 |   | Banned By Establishment 
				  Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SHAT MY PANTS 
					Posts: 971
				 
		
			
				Thanked 59 Times in 31 Posts
			
		
	 
		
			
				Failed 100 Times in 16 Posts
			
		
	   | 
			
			napa sells one by a company called OTC, it seems to work pretty well.  we have that one at the shop i work at as a back up in case our snap-on one fails.  my boss said he got it on sale and it was "cheap" so that's what i'm going by.  and once you get your scanner, if the code is P0171 (i think?) "system too lean" or something then it's usually the PCV hose at the back of the manifold that is leaking!  it's very common on those cars.  good luck!
		 |   |   |   |      |  02-08-2010, 10:49 AM | #3 |   | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS 
				  Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: vancouver 
					Posts: 572
				 
		
			
				Thanked 57 Times in 45 Posts
			
		
	 
		
			
				Failed 2 Times in 1 Post
			
		
	   | 
			
			OTC makes a lot of specialty tools for many manufacturers...  good company... the INNOVA stuff works, but doesn't give live data until you get to the $200+ models...  
 at that point, you're better off buying a used pro unit...
 
				__________________ 
				__________________ 
VZN185 - 32" BFG AT, 32" TOYO MT, OME  suspension, ARB  bumper, Warn  winch, 3sixty  LED light bar, TRD trans cooler, TRD exhaust, AMT  sliders, budbuilt  skids... 
ZWA10 - stock F-sport with LEDs... fng@regencyauto.com |   |   |   |      |  02-08-2010, 07:48 PM | #4 |   | Fathered more RS members than anybody else. Who's your daddy? 
				  Join Date: Aug 2002 
					Posts: 25,374
				 
		
			
				Thanked 11,946 Times in 5,145 Posts
			
		
	 
		
			
				Failed 318 Times in 204 Posts
			
		
	   | 
			
			I came across an awesome deal on a brand new Innova 3120. Below cost. It doesn't have live streaming data, but it does everything else.
 Thanks for the input, guys.
 
				__________________  Quote:   | "there but for the grace of god go I" |   Quote:   | Youth is, indeed, wasted on the young. |  YODO = You Only Die Once.  
Dirty look from MG1 can melt steel beams.   
"There must be dissonance before resolution - MG1 " a musical reference.
			 |   |   |   |      |  02-08-2010, 10:56 PM | #5 |   | 2x Variable Nockenwellen Steuerung 
				  Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: N49.2 W122.1 
					Posts: 6,176
				 
		
			
				Thanked 1,174 Times in 704 Posts
			
		
	 
		
			
				Failed 67 Times in 51 Posts
			
		
	   | 
			
			First you should figure out why a common scanner doesn't work on your MPV. 
Handheld OBD2 scanner are a dim a dozen, you can get live stream data for under $200 on handheld ones easily.. however truly capable scanners are always hooked to a laptop. All handheld uses the same chips these days.  http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.713 |   |   |   |      |  02-09-2010, 11:49 AM | #6 |   | Fathered more RS members than anybody else. Who's your daddy? 
				  Join Date: Aug 2002 
					Posts: 25,374
				 
		
			
				Thanked 11,946 Times in 5,145 Posts
			
		
	 
		
			
				Failed 318 Times in 204 Posts
			
		
	   |   Quote:   | 
					Originally Posted by godwin  First you should figure out why a common scanner doesn't work on your MPV. 
Handheld OBD2 scanner are a dim a dozen, you can get live stream data for under $200 on handheld ones easily.. however truly capable scanners are always hooked to a laptop. All handheld uses the same chips these days.  http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.713 |  The scanner I used was a Scangauge II. Primarily designed to display info as you drive. Also has capability to pull codes and clear them.   
Anyway, I found a reader that more than suits my need. I got it for under 125 bucks, brand new, with warranty, no taxes or shipping. Came with software so you can download/upload data to PC. Has adapters for CAN OBDII and I.   
Live streaming would have been nice, but...............   
Thanks for chiming in. Always helpul for others to find out about this sort of stuff.
		 
				__________________  Quote:   | "there but for the grace of god go I" |   Quote:   | Youth is, indeed, wasted on the young. |  YODO = You Only Die Once.  
Dirty look from MG1 can melt steel beams.   
"There must be dissonance before resolution - MG1 " a musical reference.
			 |   |   |   |      |  02-24-2010, 02:42 PM | #7 |   | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS 
				  Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver 
					Posts: 554
				 
		
			Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
		
	 
		
			
				Failed 0 Times in 0 Posts
			
		
	   |   Quote:   | 
					Originally Posted by 89blkcivic  The scanner I used was a Scangauge II. Primarily designed to display info as you drive. Also has capability to pull codes and clear them. 
 Anyway, I found a reader that more than suits my need. I got it for under 125 bucks, brand new, with warranty, no taxes or shipping. Came with software so you can download/upload data to PC. Has adapters for CAN OBDII and I.
 
 Live streaming would have been nice, but...............
 
 
 Thanks for chiming in. Always helpul for others to find out about this sort of stuff.
 |  hi there, sorry to bring back an old post but where did you get your OBDII cable? there are so many in eBay but i'm hesitant and i want to deal locally.
		 |   |   |   |     |  02-24-2010, 05:39 PM | #8 |   | 2x Variable Nockenwellen Steuerung 
				  Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: N49.2 W122.1 
					Posts: 6,176
				 
		
			
				Thanked 1,174 Times in 704 Posts
			
		
	 
		
			
				Failed 67 Times in 51 Posts
			
		
	   | 
			
			If you just need one, you can contact AMP and ask for a sample.. just remember the plastic connector and pins are 2 separate items.
		 |   |   |   |    |  |  
 
   |    |  Posting Rules |   |  You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts 
 HTML code is Off 
 |  |  |  
 
 All times are GMT -8. The time now is 04:06 PM. 
 |