Comments on: Dealmonger: OBD II Check Engine Auto Scanner $37 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:57:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Tracy Allen http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/#comment-212722 Tracy Allen Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:13:02 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/#comment-212722 That's a great price at Amazon. But I found a pocket code reader from http://www.denlorstools.com/home/dt1/page_13211/launch_laucreaderiv_can_pocket_code_obd_2_reader.html for just a little more than that and it is CAN capable. Since they are all going to this protocol mandated by the government, it makes sense to get the latest and greatest. That’s a great price at Amazon. But I found a pocket code reader from http://www.denlorstools.com/home/dt1/page_13211/launch_laucreaderiv_can_pocket_code_obd_2_reader.html for just a little more than that and it is CAN capable. Since they are all going to this protocol mandated by the government, it makes sense to get the latest and greatest.

]]> By: Teacher http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/#comment-208251 Teacher Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:37:13 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/#comment-208251 My 1990 Dakota will give e trouble codes if I do an ignition sequence of:on off on off on. I light on the dash flashes for the first digit, pause, then flashes for the second digit. The codes are very, very generic though. My 1990 Dakota will give e trouble codes if I do an ignition sequence of:on off on off on. I light on the dash flashes for the first digit, pause, then flashes for the second digit. The codes are very, very generic though.

]]> By: Sean Anderson http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/#comment-204429 Sean Anderson Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:24:42 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/#comment-204429 I just ordered the professional obdII this weekend from diydiagnostics for ~$45. It adds live data viewing capabilities. Somewhere in my research, prior to making the purchase, I saw mention of some vehicles that display codes on digital odometers with either a ingition switch on/off sequence or by turning the ignition on while holding the trip odometer button in. Might be available on more autos than we actually know. Anyone have experience with vehicles that include this kind of feature? I just ordered the professional obdII this weekend from diydiagnostics for ~$45. It adds live data viewing capabilities. Somewhere in my research, prior to making the purchase, I saw mention of some vehicles that display codes on digital odometers with either a ingition switch on/off sequence or by turning the ignition on while holding the trip odometer button in. Might be available on more autos than we actually know. Anyone have experience with vehicles that include this kind of feature?

]]> By: mike d http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/#comment-203803 mike d Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:34:21 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/#comment-203803 Chris: I read an article on obdII a few years back and according to it, the car companies wanted a more meaningful display. They claim they didn't want you running back to the dealer every time the check engine light came on and it was just a loose gas cap. The article said the EPA wanted the more generic, fear inducing, check engine light. Their argument was that if it was more specific - like mentioning a specific pollution control circuit - the average consumer would ignore it going "I can live without that." They were probably right. Chris: I read an article on obdII a few years back and according to it, the car companies wanted a more meaningful display. They claim they didn’t want you running back to the dealer every time the check engine light came on and it was just a loose gas cap. The article said the EPA wanted the more generic, fear inducing, check engine light. Their argument was that if it was more specific - like mentioning a specific pollution control circuit - the average consumer would ignore it going “I can live without that.”

They were probably right.

]]> By: techieman33 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/#comment-203795 techieman33 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:09:52 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/#comment-203795 I don't understand the point of cheap code readers like this. Most parts stores will check the codes for free. And if your into car repair enough that you want your own, you'll probably want something a lot nicer than this. I don’t understand the point of cheap code readers like this. Most parts stores will check the codes for free. And if your into car repair enough that you want your own, you’ll probably want something a lot nicer than this.

]]> By: Chris http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/#comment-203763 Chris Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:11:02 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/#comment-203763 Fred: because the vast majority of car buyers/owners aren't willing to pay a $100 premium for a vehicle that has this built in, since they take their cars to the dealer whenever an idiot light comes on anyway. You and I would find it useful, but I suspect people like us comprise maybe one percent of the market at best, and if I can get something like this on the aftermarket for $40, I'd much rather do that than pay $100 for a hypothetical (and likely inferior) factory-installed device. Fred: because the vast majority of car buyers/owners aren’t willing to pay a $100 premium for a vehicle that has this built in, since they take their cars to the dealer whenever an idiot light comes on anyway.

You and I would find it useful, but I suspect people like us comprise maybe one percent of the market at best, and if I can get something like this on the aftermarket for $40, I’d much rather do that than pay $100 for a hypothetical (and likely inferior) factory-installed device.

]]> By: Fred http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/#comment-203740 Fred Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:25:38 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/#comment-203740 I wonder why something like this isn't built in to cars. That would be much more useful than the generic check engine gub. I wonder why something like this isn’t built in to cars. That would be much more useful than the generic check engine gub.

]]> By: KMR http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/#comment-203739 KMR Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:23:11 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/14/dealmonger-obd-ii-check-engine-auto-scanner-for-37/#comment-203739 I used the exact OBDII scanner shown above yesterday... very easy to use, does exactly what it should. The error code it read from the ECU of a Ford supported the symptoms the car actually had. You can purchase these from http://www.diydiagnostics.com/ where they also have VW/Audi and BMW specific products. I used the exact OBDII scanner shown above yesterday… very easy to use, does exactly what it should. The error code it read from the ECU of a Ford supported the symptoms the car actually had.

You can purchase these from http://www.diydiagnostics.com/ where they also have VW/Audi and BMW specific products.

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