Need Advice on a good OBD-II Scan tool

[Yanks0114]

I've finally decided that I am going to buy an OBD-II scan tool.
My brother's camry has the CEL light on, and I don't want to pay $40 to get the code read.

Any reccomendations?
Also I have a laptop, so it would be nice if it had laptop compatibility, but its not a must.

[Yanks0114]

I've been reading up on this one, and it looks like it'll do everything I want

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... gory=43989

[JoeB]

I wish I could just give you a recommendation on 1 I felt really good about. Unfortunately, I don't think I've found it yet.

I bought the Car Codes scanner http://www.obd-2.com/index.html. This one is much like it's web page. There's a lot of good information but the interface is not the most intuitive. I think I paid about $130 for this one.

I bought the Digimoto http://www.digimoto.com/ (page is down)for $100 which includes the popular ELM-Scan interface mainly so I could try dyno runs on it and hoping the interface was easier to use. As it turns out, the ELM-Scan interface is slow. Trying to get dyno information was pethetic. I downloaded the ScanTool http://www.scantool.net/ for free which works on the same ELM-Scan hardware interface and it is VERY easy to read and clear codes from.

Between these tools, I always end up going back to the Car Code tool for tuning because it is more complete but if I had a CEL, I'd probably use the ScanTool. I'm also looking at AutoTap http://www.autotap.com/products.html which is more expensive but sounds very nice. If you get the 1 you're looking at, let me know how you like it. -JoeB

[Mole]

i have the autotap.

its useful for clearing, but it may be on the slower side of refreshing/checking things since it plugs into a laptop.

good for recording engine readings when you are in motion. (i've yet to try this.)

refresh is every 5 or so seconds.

its handy, but i just havent had time to use ALL of the reading/functions.

[JoeB]

I use the Car Code tool for data logging. It is very good at that. It logs several data points per second. One thing I forgot to mention about the Car Code tool is the support is VERY good and they have very frequent updates you can download for free.

TRDMole, can you tell me if AutoTap can read and log misfires and timing corrections? The support guys at AutoTap could answer the question. I'm starting to think the way it works is the car supports some subset of a complete list and whatever scantool you are using will just show what the car is capable. If that is the case, I'll just stick with the tools I have. -JoeB

[SC V6]

II have the Scan tool and it works awesome

[Poman]

I bought the Actron CP9135 for about $149. Works best! No need to plug into a laptop and it give you the code and give you the full description. Autozone uses it. Very nice unit!

[Mole]

I use the Car Code tool for data logging. It is very good at that. It logs several data points per second. One thing I forgot to mention about the Car Code tool is the support is VERY good and they have very frequent updates you can download for free.

TRDMole, can you tell me if AutoTap can read and log misfires and timing corrections? The support guys at AutoTap could answer the question. I'm starting to think the way it works is the car supports some subset of a complete list and whatever scantool you are using will just show what the car is capable. If that is the case, I'll just stick with the tools I have. -JoeB

misfires- i forgot.

timming- there is a timming monitor on there.

[Yanks0114]

I went ahead and ordered the Scan tools one.

Its less for tuning and more for clearing CELs.

The nice thing is, my moms maxima uses ISO also so it'll work on all of our cars

[Akui]

Ok...

I don't mean to be a pest here Mole, but this is exactly the thread I was referring to when I made my own.

JoeB made some suggestions but they are inconclusive. That is why I asked him whether or not he found something more worthwhile in the AutoTap.

Yanks decided to get the ScanTools scanner, and I merely wanted to ask him how that worked out for him.

I'm aware that I don't need anything extremely detailed, but I would have liked to open up my options before deciding to buy a piece of equipment that I may regret in the future, regardless of it's price.

[JoeB]

Ok...

I don't mean to be a pest here Mole, but this is exactly the thread I was referring to when I made my own.

JoeB made some suggestions but they are inconclusive. That is why I asked him whether or not he found something more worthwhile in the AutoTap.

Yanks decided to get the ScanTools scanner, and I merely wanted to ask him how that worked out for him.

I'm aware that I don't need anything extremely detailed, but I would have liked to open up my options before deciding to buy a piece of equipment that I may regret in the future, regardless of it's price.

Akui, If you have any questions let me know. I may have been a little critical but trying to give good advice so nobody wastes money. Although it may have sounded like I wasn't happy with them, I still use them and get good information. I just want the perfect tool. -JoeB

*EDIT* Ah, I see the other post and the reason for your comment above. I never bought the AutoTap tool. It is expensive and I only would have bought it for tuning purposes. It seemed like it wouldn't do what I wanted although those parameters are available on other vehicles. If all you want is a simple scnning tool to get/clear codes, I would buy the Digimoto. It is less expensive than ScanTools. It uses the same hardware and you can download and use Scantool for free, it even says so. Let me know if I can help. -JoeB

[Akui]

Thanks much JoeB

It would definitely appear that either the Digimoto or ScanTools is what I am looking for. Would you still recommend getting the Digimoto and running the ScanTools software on it if price was not an issue? I went to both websites and the Digimoto 3.7 Package runs $119 while the ScanTools ELMScan runs for $100. Is there another package that I am perhaps missing?

Also, setting the actual hardware aside, which company would you think offers better support? I know that you probably can't speak for ScanTools, but how's the Digimoto support?

Thanks again for your help!

[JoeB]

Ah, I didn't notice that Digimoto's price had gone up. It was $99 when I bought mine. The difference was they both run off the same hardware and you can download and run Scantools for free but not Digimoto. ScanTool was VERY easy for reading codes and clearing them. It was the easiest I've seen. ScanTool didn't seem to offer the ability to log data. I could monitor sensors real-time but I couldn't see an option to log it. That doesn't do you much good when you're stomping the gas and trying to monitor 6 sensors at the same time . Another nice thing about Digimoto is the dyno feature. I'm not saying you want dyno charts to post and brag about but if you have a good base-line before you add something to your car, then you add it and record another dyno, you can compare the 2 and see if and how much it really helped. So many people by "so called" performance mods that do nothing for them. The bad part was, I couldn't get the dyno to record meaningful data. I tried to work with the guys and Digimoto and they tried to help but we didn't seem to get anywhere. The ELM hardware seems to record very slow. With the other OBD2 scanner I have, Car Code, I can record many more samples per second. I still prefer it although the interface is much more cryptic and it cost a little more.

If I had to choose between Digimoto and ScanTool, I'd pay the extra $20 and get both. I wouldn't buy an OBD2 scanner without the ability to log sensor data. Maybe you can with ScanTool but I didn't see it. A good example of why you want logging is, say your CEL comes on, you hook up the scanner and it tells you bank-1 is running lean. Then what? I would record the short and long term fuel trims while driving around and see what is happening. Maybe under load you see that both banks are going lean but bank-1 more so than bank-2 or that bank-1 is always lower than bank-2 by a wide margine. You might decide that the fuel injectors need cleaning and that's the only problem or load related might be your fuel pressure is inadequate do to some fuel related mods you have done. If all you want is the ability to read and clear codes though, I would get the ScanTool or I notice Digimoto sells the "Creader" for $79. It doesn't require a PC interface and can read and clear codes (never tried it). I hope my ramblings help. -JoeB

[Yanks0114]

I love the scantool.net product. Its very simple to use and useful. I've used it on like 5 different cars so far.

Definately worth the money

Make sure that if your laptop doesn't have a serial port(DB9) that you buy the adapter for serial to usb