OBDII Engine Fault Code Reader

[Jerry]

OBDII Engine Fault Code Reader on sale at Newegg for $14.00. Save $16.00.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9SIA2VF3277016

Have not used this one but it looks like it will give you basic code information. Won't do all the things a fancier unit will, like transmission codes, but if you are looking for a basic unit this might be an option.

No financial ties to Newegg...just passing along a sale notice. I have a similar unit and they come in handy; I have used mine a couple times on both my 2005 Ford F-150 and my 2001 Honda Accord, saved the cost of the reader the first time I had to use it.

[BA80]

The problem with these is they will tell you what system is having a problem, not what's causing the problem. I can't even tell you how many times I've had customers come in and the code reader told them a sensor wasn't working and they've spent 100s of $ on new sensors and all it was causing the issue was a bad connector or broken wire.

Be careful, electronics will never replace knowledge and experience.

[Jerry]

Agreed. My first use was on my F-150, code reader told me an o2 sensor was bad. I checked and the problem was the connector had worked loose. A little Deoxit on the cable and sensor connectors, plugged back in tightly, reset the error and problem was resolved. The reader told me where to start looking and let me clear the check engine light.

Local Ford garage wanted $120.00 to plug in their code reader, 1 hour of labor minimum, so I figure my inexpensive reader saved me around $100.00 in it's first use. A reader is a tool and not a solution, but they can be useful in telling you where to begin your troubleshooting. At $14.00 it is probably worth having a reader in your kit.

[MaximPhil]

Hi Jerry,
I recently purchased OBD11 reader. Not quite as cheap as yours
My van has a minor evaporative system leak. I'll get around to fixing one day.
In the mean time I do no want to drive with the warning light on continuously in case something serious sets a code. so i check and clear it every week
Phil

[BowlingSS]

OBDII Engine Fault Code Reader on sale at Newegg for $14.00. Save $16.00.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9SIA2VF3277016

Have not used this one but it looks like it will give you basic code information. Won't do all the things a fancier unit will, like transmission codes, but if you are looking for a basic unit this might be an option.

No financial ties to Newegg...just passing along a sale notice. I have a similar unit and they come in handy; I have used mine a couple times on both my 2005 Ford F-150 and my 2001 Honda Accord, saved the cost of the reader the first time I had to use it.

It is $19.99 now. Still a great price.

Bill

[ViperRon]

True these testers do not always pinpoint the problem but better then a dummy light that says fix me stupid. The tester can only do minor checks of inputs from things and tell if it gets a good reading. You and or the mechanic still needs to know how that system functions and do some end point checks of the reported device failing and all things that input into it. Most times you need to factor in age as in a new vehicle it would probably be a sensor or loose connection and when its got 200K it could easily be hoses wiring or any part that wears or is damaged by heat.


What I do hate is car manufacturers seem to have gotten smart and are making the communication in these things different all the time. Hence the tool you could buy before at about 200 you now are spending 1000 for or worse its dealer only.

Next thing is viruses and Trojans where your car stops in the middle of nowhere and you have to send the hacker money to start the car. Or worse you are speeding along and have to pay him to stop. Yea guys think about that one!!!!!

[CaptonZap]

Next thing is viruses and Trojans where your car stops in the middle of nowhere and you have to send the hacker money to start the car. Or worse you are speeding along and have to pay him to stop. Yea guys think about that one!!!!!

Yeah, as I'm tooling along in my '69 Ford F250, (300 six) I'm gonna worry a lot about that.

CZ

[ViperRon]

Yea that's why the EPA is going threw all the older junk yards and shutting them down, at least around here they had been. This is so you will have to buy a piece of new junk one day. In about 5 years 6 of the hole in a wall places I used to visit have been shut down. Older vehicles definitely have advantages they can be repaired, they last forever (most do ) as long as some parts are available, and the electronics are to a minimum.