Comments on: Dealmonger: OBDII Code Scanner W/Freeze Frame For $135 http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:31:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Nate Bezanson http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110497 Nate Bezanson Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:16:42 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110497 Followup: Nope, doesn't look like the PC interface does anything useful. They say it's for firmware updates, but I've been burned by a lot of devices that advertised that then failed to have any updates throughout the product's entire lifespan. Also, if you're going to put a PC cable on an OBD-II device, why not give it a bridge mode to work with common diagnostic software? Ugh. Followup: Nope, doesn’t look like the PC interface does anything useful. They say it’s for firmware updates, but I’ve been burned by a lot of devices that advertised that then failed to have any updates throughout the product’s entire lifespan. Also, if you’re going to put a PC cable on an OBD-II device, why not give it a bridge mode to work with common diagnostic software? Ugh.

]]> By: Nate Bezanson http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110281 Nate Bezanson Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:23:36 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110281 What makes this interesting to me is the PC connection cable. I've got some reading and research to do, to figure out whether this can also be used in a dumb passthrough mode so I can run any generic OBD II software on the laptop. If it'll do that, I'm sold, but if it's specific to their proprietary PC software, it's a useless feature. I'll post back if I learn anything. What makes this interesting to me is the PC connection cable. I’ve got some reading and research to do, to figure out whether this can also be used in a dumb passthrough mode so I can run any generic OBD II software on the laptop. If it’ll do that, I’m sold, but if it’s specific to their proprietary PC software, it’s a useless feature. I’ll post back if I learn anything.

]]> By: Harry http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110278 Harry Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:20:19 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110278 Checker often has these on sale for $99. That would pay for one trip to the shop for you to find out that your significant other or kids left the gas cap loose or had filled up with the engine running. No, my family doesn't do that as I have enlightened them as to the evils of doing this. However, I have made a decent living from people who do it and want the SES light turned off or investigated. These will only read generic OBD II codes however, and not manufacturer specific. One must also remember that a DTC is only a starting point. Despite what the parts store will tell you, it may not be a specific part failure that turned the SES light on but, rather a series of conditions the PCM monitors that could result in tailpipe emissions exceeding the federal standard by 1.5 times which results in the PCM turning the light on in the first place. The parts stores need to sell parts and offering free code scanning is a way to get more customers. This is a handy tool to quickly check for what's wrong or possibly verify what your mechanic told you. This model is one of the better code readers out for less than $150. Just remember, that there may be other information stored in the PCM that you can't access with this scantool and that retrieving the DTC is just an early step in strategy based diagnostics on a repair path to fix your vehicle. You don't want to succumb to the shotgun method of auto repair by throwing parts at a car hoping one of them will fix it. Checker often has these on sale for $99. That would pay for one trip to the shop for you to find out that your significant other or kids left the gas cap loose or had filled up with the engine running. No, my family doesn’t do that as I have enlightened them as to the evils of doing this. However, I have made a decent living from people who do it and want the SES light turned off or investigated.
These will only read generic OBD II codes however, and not manufacturer specific. One must also remember that a DTC is only a starting point. Despite what the parts store will tell you, it may not be a specific part failure that turned the SES light on but, rather a series of conditions the PCM monitors that could result in tailpipe emissions exceeding the federal standard by 1.5 times which results in the PCM turning the light on in the first place. The parts stores need to sell parts and offering free code scanning is a way to get more customers. This is a handy tool to quickly check for what’s wrong or possibly verify what your mechanic told you. This model is one of the better code readers out for less than $150. Just remember, that there may be other information stored in the PCM that you can’t access with this scantool and that retrieving the DTC is just an early step in strategy based diagnostics on a repair path to fix your vehicle. You don’t want to succumb to the shotgun method of auto repair by throwing parts at a car hoping one of them will fix it.

]]> By: Stuey http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110200 Stuey Mon, 27 Aug 2007 21:32:45 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110200 I'm impatient too, but every time my light comes on and it would be appropriately timed to buy an OBD scanner, I think of the impending repair costs. This last time, I did decide to purchase one, but after hitting up Napa and Advanced Auto parts with no decent scanners in stock, I ended up at Auto Zone and just borrowed theirs. I’m impatient too, but every time my light comes on and it would be appropriately timed to buy an OBD scanner, I think of the impending repair costs.

This last time, I did decide to purchase one, but after hitting up Napa and Advanced Auto parts with no decent scanners in stock, I ended up at Auto Zone and just borrowed theirs.

]]> By: PutnamEco http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110188 PutnamEco Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:36:39 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110188 PepBoys around here have the Actron pocket size for $85. PepBoys around here have the Actron pocket size for $85.

]]> By: Chuck Cage http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110178 Chuck Cage Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:10:34 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110178 I'm too impatient. But that's a personal problem. :) I’m too impatient. But that’s a personal problem. :)

]]> By: Stuey http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110174 Stuey Mon, 27 Aug 2007 19:49:00 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110174 Yep, Autozone will do a free scan, but you'll have to wait quite a while if the store is busy. They also won't clear the light, but they'll give you a printout of the code that prompted it. Yep, Autozone will do a free scan, but you’ll have to wait quite a while if the store is busy. They also won’t clear the light, but they’ll give you a printout of the code that prompted it.

]]> By: olderty http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110171 olderty Mon, 27 Aug 2007 19:31:04 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110171 AutoZone will scan your car for free too. AutoZone will scan your car for free too.

]]> By: jeff http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110167 jeff Mon, 27 Aug 2007 19:22:33 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/08/27/dealmonger-obdii-code-scanner-wfreeze-frame-for-135/#comment-110167 This is the same scanner that Checker lets people use for free. It works pretty decent. This is the same scanner that Checker lets people use for free. It works pretty decent.

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