your go to scan tool (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 8/16/2022 9:12:05 AM EDT
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this comes up at least once a week..it's right up there with 9mm or 45, beans in chili, what oil do you use... So lets tack this and make it easy for folks to find. I'll go first. blue driver is my go to scanner. I like it so much my son liberated it for his jetta.  So now we both have one. https://ca.bluedriver.com/pages/bluedriver |
For fuck's sake. It is possessive. For the sake of fuck.
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I have several so far: Lenovo Laptop with ForScan ELM327 adapter Foxwell NT630 Plus XTOOL A30Pro XTOOL D8BT At $300 the XTOOL A30Pro is the best bang for the buck on US and Asian cars, it can be iffy on eurotrash  The Foxwell NT630 Plus is very capable, but is not bi-directional |
Patriots are ordinary men who rise up to do extraordinary things in troubled times.
Pro-abortion is the radical idea that an innocent life is the only one worth taking.
Pro-abortion is the radical idea that an innocent life is the only one worth taking.
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I have an Encore by OTC scan tool, does a good job, shows lots of data, has some programming abilities, etc. I use an innova code reader that shows quite a bit of live data much more often though. There's little need for most DIY guys to spend $3,000 or more on a scan tool. |
If the average guy spent more time not being average, then average wouldn't be so fucking mediocre - Hank
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I have a handheld Autel with some live data and graphing for a quick peek. If I need to get a little (or a lot) more in-depth, I have Techstream for the Toyotas and the PC version of Forscan for the Fords. My emergency pack has a basic 20 dollar Autel that will just read and erase codes. |
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I just bought the ThinkDiag OBDII bluetooth dongle, coupled with the ThinkCar Pro app in my smart phone. It talks to all the modules, and has 15 bi-directional functions. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YWTJY4F?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details click the coupon and use code 102MYM98 for some extra savings, gonna be about $100 before taxes (code is good till the 17th) I have not tried the bi-directional functions yet myself, but the scan is legit 
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Patriots are ordinary men who rise up to do extraordinary things in troubled times.
Pro-abortion is the radical idea that an innocent life is the only one worth taking.
Pro-abortion is the radical idea that an innocent life is the only one worth taking.
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I just got one of these https://www.amazon.com/OBDLink-Bluetooth-Professional-Grade-Diagnostic-Performance/dp/B07JFRFJG6 based on recommendations from a previous thread. I have an older version by the same company and it's served me well. The new one is able to scan TPMS, which causes me more problems than any other part of my vehicles. It has vehicle-specific codes in the OBDlink app, which are going to take some exploring. Mostly I just use it for diagnosing loose gas caps and occasional error codes. I have found that if I connect it to the Torque app, then try connecting to the OBDlink app, it fails until I reboot the phone. I guess Torque maintains some connection to the adapter. Question for the hive: Is it OK to leave these things plugged in all the time? How quickly would it drain the battery if I forget to disconnect it?. |
I know I'll never go home.
So set fire to your ships, and past regrets, and be free.
So set fire to your ships, and past regrets, and be free.
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Ultra-Gage Also used as a real-time instrument pod - MPH, MPG, RPM, Torque, etc Website http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/ |
| I’m a professional diagnostic tech. I have access to every factory tool out there except Maserati. I just got the Topdon blue tooth tool to play around with. I’m very impressed. I got the $99 dollar one to play around with keys but the $59 is a great bargain. I have no relationship with them just really digging the tool |
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Originally Posted By motoguy: Is bi directional a worthy thing to look for? Just a very simple example: say you have a power window not working. Plug in the scan tool and operate it from the scan tool. If it works, you know you need to look towards the switch side of the circuit, if it doesn't work, look towards the regulator motor. Also plenty of systems you really need bidi to troubleshoot, like evap systems. |
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Just the thread I needed. Can anyone give me some suggestions for a scan tool that will do Quick Learn? Replacing the transmission in my wife's 2008 JK and I will need to do the Quick Learn reset. Would like to keep it around $500.00 if possible. Thanks. |
I will not bow, I will not submit.
11/01/2016 R.I.P. Titus Maximus, man's best friend. You were a better companion than I.
11/01/2016 R.I.P. Titus Maximus, man's best friend. You were a better companion than I.
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Originally Posted By prossound: I'm a professional diagnostic tech. I have access to every factory tool out there except Maserati. I just got the Topdon blue tooth tool to play around with. I'm very impressed. I got the $99 dollar one to play around with keys but the $59 is a great bargain. I have no relationship with them just really digging the tool My son's bluedriver was stolen out of his car last weekend so I was thinking about picking one of these up and giving him my bluedriver. I like that it's bi-directional and if you like it that's validation enough for me. https://www.topdon.com/products/TopScan |
To say that you are on thin ice would be a vastly optimistic view of your current situation. The ice has melted. You are being supported by the surface tension of water.
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Originally Posted By JustinU235: Carly Reading up on the carly. How do you like it? |
To say that you are on thin ice would be a vastly optimistic view of your current situation. The ice has melted. You are being supported by the surface tension of water.
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Originally Posted By Striker: @JustinU235 Reading up on the carly. How do you like it? Very much. If it is compatible with your car. It helped me diagnose and correct a bad alternator in my 2007 BMW Z4 M coupe. Was able to read all the codes, perform troubleshooting, and clear them after. Let me monitor voltages and such to make sure I was going after the right thing. |
Become prompt critical.
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Originally Posted By JustinU235: Very much. If it is compatible with your car. It helped me diagnose and correct a bad alternator in my 2007 BMW Z4 M coupe. Was able to read all the codes, perform troubleshooting, and clear them after. Let me monitor voltages and such to make sure I was going after the right thing. |
To say that you are on thin ice would be a vastly optimistic view of your current situation. The ice has melted. You are being supported by the surface tension of water.
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Originally Posted By Striker: tks. Did it "unlock" any options you didn't have before? Now that I think about it, yes, but that vintage car didn't have much. One thing was "5 flashes" to pass, from 3. If you're going to code a BMW, bimmercode is best suited for that. |
Become prompt critical.
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I've got a few. ANCEL AD310 - good cheap dedicated tool with its own cord. No bluetooth connection or phone required. Just plug it in and away you go. It can read basic codes, reset, and show live data. No advanced stuff Some cheap bluetooth dongle. Mine is made by Hikeren. It works with the android apps. There's an app called "Tor" (not torq) that works well enough. Again, just a dumb scanner. It shows live data, trouble codes, and can reset codes. XTOOL A30M BT. This one is another dongle. You use it with their app and your phone or tablet. Its pretty full featured with bidirectional stuff and talks to a bunch of the different systems like body modules, abs, tpms, transmission, ECU. Its not perfect, but pretty good. So far, they are still supporting the app. I opened it today and they had updates for a bunch of different brands of cars. They each have their pros and cons. Thats why I have a selection of them. Same reason I have more than 1 ratchet and more than one screwdriver. |
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I have Blue Driver and it works great....needed it for SRS on older Silverado & specifically diagnosed what I needed. I also have a cheap/chinese generic dongle that I've used with a few different android apps...which works as a basic code reader but does not work on all vehicles & not all codes...like SRS airbags & ABS brakes. EDIT: My reason for going with the Blue Driver is that they keep their database up to date without the user (you) having to always download update data which sometimes can be a challenge for those less "techy". Hook up the BD dongle and open the app on your cellphone/tablet and get what you need. Works for a plethora of vehicle makes & years. You can go to their site and validate first before you buy...unlike others where you find out your vehicle isn't compatible until after you buy & try to connect. Once in a while you can get a price drop thru Amazon...otherwise buy direct. https://us.bluedriver.com/pages/bluedriver?wb=false&source=google&gclid=Cj0KCQjwy4KqBhD0ARIsAEbCt6hGbOH4-MtP6BVtXBO3omZecM72UKfwGr_cEM2-IFZJ8JuR3zbyY-kaAs80EALw_wcB |
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Bumpage for cyber Monday deals and what's good and on sale ETA looking for something that can read all codes including tranny, air bag codes Being able to control stuff is a bonus but not needed Tranny codes are the big thing for me ATM |
PROUD AMMOSEXUAL
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Originally Posted By craig24680: Bumpage for cyber Monday deals and what's good and on sale ETA looking for something that can read all codes including tranny, air bag codes Being able to control stuff is a bonus but not needed Tranny codes are the big thing for me ATM I just got the Otofix D1 Lite for my ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle LOL) I have not had a chance to really put it up against my XTOOL D8bt yet, but it does look to be a good value for $319 on the amazons. I needed one for my 4x4, that I could just leave in there all the time, it gets old moving stuff between the service van and the pickup, and needed something more than a code reader. |
Patriots are ordinary men who rise up to do extraordinary things in troubled times.
Pro-abortion is the radical idea that an innocent life is the only one worth taking.
Pro-abortion is the radical idea that an innocent life is the only one worth taking.
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Originally Posted By craig24680: Bumpage for cyber Monday deals and what's good and on sale ETA looking for something that can read all codes including tranny, air bag codes Being able to control stuff is a bonus but not needed Tranny codes are the big thing for me ATM Ended up with the BlueDriver for $80 on Black Friday So far, very pleased https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00652G4TS Saves previously ran scans to look at later |
PROUD AMMOSEXUAL
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Originally Posted By RED_5: I need one that can talk to my F150 and my bmw moto, and do all-the-things w/o some stupid apparatus or subscription No Subscription for Blue Driver and it's advertised that way on their site. Go here and put your vehicles year/trim/etc in and see if it'll work I did with my 08 Tundra and confirmed it'd work especially for tranny codes (as previously mentioned) https://us.bluedriver.com/pages/compatibility |
PROUD AMMOSEXUAL
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does/can BD work without an internet connection? my current obd2 bluetooth thing needs to constantly phone-home to work right.. and that doesn't work for me. |
MIA: M/SGT James W. Holt USSF 2-7-68 SVN
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
"Your freedom to be you includes my freedom to be free from you."
-A. Wilkow
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Originally Posted By RED_5: does/can BD work without an internet connection? my current obd2 bluetooth thing needs to constantly phone-home to work right.. and that doesn't work for me. Good question I'll test tomorrow by turning off cell and WiFi |
PROUD AMMOSEXUAL
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Autophix. I also use wireless MHD tuner. It monitors quite a bit and will graph a bunch of info from the ECU to look at. |
"A mass production economy can neither be created nor sustained
without a leveled population, one conditioned to mass habits, mass tastes, mass enthusiasms,
predictable mass behaviors." John Gatto
without a leveled population, one conditioned to mass habits, mass tastes, mass enthusiasms,
predictable mass behaviors." John Gatto
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Originally Posted By JustinU235: Carly @justinu235 I have an ‘08 5 Series that I was given. Will Carly allow me to program AFS headlights out? I replaced them with halogens. Not paying 1600$ for AFS but I don’t have high beams. |
"A mass production economy can neither be created nor sustained
without a leveled population, one conditioned to mass habits, mass tastes, mass enthusiasms,
predictable mass behaviors." John Gatto
without a leveled population, one conditioned to mass habits, mass tastes, mass enthusiasms,
predictable mass behaviors." John Gatto
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I'm not a pro. I used to use Torque and cheap generic ELM327 with an android. Switched to BAFX ELM327 and Torque to get transmission temps. Then switched to VEEPEAK because it works with iPhone, and the "Car Scanner ELM OBD2" app. It's just easier to use and I don't need to carry a second phone. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073XKQQQW https://apps.apple.com/us/app/car-scanner-elm-obd2/id1259933623 |
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Originally Posted By HELOBRAVO: @justinu235 I have an '08 5 Series that I was given. Will Carly allow me to program AFS headlights out? I replaced them with halogens. Not paying 1600$ for AFS but I don't have high beams. Good question but I'm not sure. I would chat with them to be sure. |
Become prompt critical.
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Originally Posted By RED_5: does/can BD work without an internet connection? my current obd2 bluetooth thing needs to constantly phone-home to work right.. and that doesn't work for me. @RED_5 Confirmed it will read codes with cell and WiFi turned off on my phone. Tried 2 different vehicles, one with CEL and one without Now you can't see potential fixes or how common the code is without the webz But to read codes it will work with no internet |
PROUD AMMOSEXUAL
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Originally Posted By craig24680: No Subscription for Blue Driver and it's advertised that way on their site. Go here and put your vehicles year/trim/etc in and see if it'll work I did with my 08 Tundra and confirmed it'd work especially for tranny codes (as previously mentioned) https://us.bluedriver.com/pages/compatibility Might not have looked hard enough I don't think this will read ATF temps and that's a big one for me Might have to return :( Have email into CS |
PROUD AMMOSEXUAL
