Car stuff... OBD readers...

[yorkie_chris]

So I keep getting these horrible 4 wheeled things turning up for fixing.
It would be really nice to be able to read fault codes and stuff.

There are some really cheap ones on eBay and the like in the £20 range, then stuff like draper expert ones for £100 or so. Then it goes up to silly money.

Anyone use them regularly to know what to get or avoid?

[kaivalagi]

I am using a cheap (< £20) OBD2 to USB adapter cable for tuning my KTM via TuneECU, works just fine with the right software

I would suspect it is more about the software than hardware, if the cable is to OBD standard then that should be it...not sure on the software requirements for reading car ECUs though...

Sorry I couldn't be of more help

[timwilky]

I have a cheapo ebay one. Need to go to garage to get make

Even with a few firmware updates it doesn't handle the wifes clio fully.

when I had van trouble the other week the RAC blue tooth one didn't even have my van in its database. Fortunately it had the same van in its other guises.

So you take your chances, I understand VAG can be a problem as they have their own interpetatation of the ODB standards

My mate has a garage and will only use the snap on one, dont know how much they cost but he says any of the others are various levels of crapness

[yorkie_chris]

Snap on definitely not an option for the use it will get.

Is it a case of it will give you the code then you need to go away and look up what it is?

[DJ123]

I have a bog standard RAC one, £30 or so. Reads OBD 2 on all makes and spits out any error codes, which you can then look up in the book or on the CD. It will also let you clear error lights as well.

Snap on one gives a code and what it means on a digital display.

The reason why he says the others aren't as good is compatibility and false reading from others he has had.

[Tomor]

I got one off amazon for around £30 but I had a £25 amazon voucher works well an has an onboard code lookup, but it's easier to type it into google.

[NTECUK]

If you can flag a MAC tools van down have a chat with them.
They do very from agent to agent ,Ours had a Autel AutoLink on board well 3 types one very close to our consult + type system. Basic one started at £50 up to £1600 (+vat)

I bought the lowest spec model that gives you both the code and the definition (explanation) of the code. its so much easier to know that P0400 is the ERG system and P0182 is the pre cat oxygen sensor left bank without having to go looking for a tatty code book.

Mine cost about 100 quid and I love it. its paid for itself many, many times over if you charge 20-30 quid a go to plug it in for people.

C