Posted: 2/19/2013 8:55:30 AM EDT
I am an experienced mechanic... mainly from back in the day! (before 1995  )
I have 4 vehicles now manufactured beyond that year: 1995 Ford F150 2006 Nissan Altima 2007 Chrysler Aspen 2010 Dodge Dakota .... one has the check engine light on. What scanner can I get that wil work with all of them? Is there a scanner system that will attach to a laptop or iPad? I'm ok with just a scanner, not real concerned about the laptop or ipad interface, just curious about that.... |
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i have a hand held one and it work pretty good. Does not give graphing and such like the fancy ones,but tell me the basics
Here is one off of ebay that might work for you http://www.ebay.com/itm/ELM327-WIFI-Wireless-OBD2-Car-Diagnostic-Scanner-Adapter-for-iPhone-iOS-Android-/321074441205?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item4ac1872bf5&vxp=mtr |
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I bought this recently so I could read "check engine" lights. http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-Bluetooth-diagnostics-compatible/dp/B005NLQAHS/ref=pd_cp_e_0 Of course now that I have it, I have yet to have a light come on. Using Torque app for my galaxy phone connected bluetooth, I can monitor sensors while driving. |
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Quoted:
I bought this recently so I could read "check engine" lights. http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-Bluetooth-diagnostics-compatible/dp/B005NLQAHS/ref=pd_cp_e_0 Of course now that I have it, I have yet to have a light come on. Using Torque app for my galaxy phone connected bluetooth, I can monitor sensors while driving. I was just now looking at this on Amazon.... I only have Windows and iOS devices. this may make it worth my while to get an Android tablet... |
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One thing to note, IIRC your '95 isn't going to be OBDII (was required in '96+), on that year F150 i believe you'll need to place a jumper between two terminals on a connector under the hood, and then count the flashes of the check engine light at key on. Everything else is OBDII compatible.
As far as the ELM based tools, they are nice although I've had issues with the clones in the past— they're probably a lot better as of recent. (The OBDlink SX is very good value for money and is my go to scan tool for generic OBDII reading.) |
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OBD II is standard on all vehicles manufactured 1996 and up. So it will work on all your vehicles minus the F150.
I have this one. It works great. http://www.harborfreight.com/can-obdii-code-reader-with-multilingual-menu-98568.html |
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Is the ford truck OBD1 or OBD2?
This is a really nice scan tool for your OBD2 vehicles. |
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Not sure but it is the least of my worries... it runs perfect with 278,000 miles on it.... The Aspen threw a code the other day and the Nissan has a blnking airbag light... |
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I know this is an older thread, and you may have bought something already, but if you want to read more than just the CEL make sure the reader will do it. Not all readers will read ABS, Airbag, or Traction control codes. Most lower end ($100 +/-) will not read Airbag codes, and a lot of them will not do ABS lights.
I like this one. Live data, records, reads CEL and most ABS codes. |