Update on that cheap code reader from the auto parts store

I bought one of those $30 generic OBD2 scanners from the big chain store last fall, thinking it would be fine for basic stuff. It read the codes okay, but the live data was so slow to update it was useless for diagnosing a rough idle. I spent a whole afternoon chasing what I thought was a bad O2 sensor based on its laggy feed. Turns out it was just a dirty MAF. I lost about four hours of billable time and had to eat the cost on the sensor I didn't actually need. The tool just couldn't keep up with real-time engine data. Now I keep my old, slower but reliable scanner for codes and rented a better one for live stuff. Has anyone found a decent mid-range scanner that doesn't cost a fortune but actually gives good live data?

3 comments

3 Comments

anthonykim2mo ago

Honestly, those cheap ones are such a waste of time. I had the same thing happen trying to watch fuel trim numbers bounce around.

the_hayden2mo ago

Ever try a better scan tool that actually holds a steady reading?

lily8921d ago

Tbh, "waste of time" is exactly what I thought reading that. I spent hours chasing a misfire code that ended up being a bad wiring pin, not even the sensor itself. These cheap readers just throw codes at you without any of the live data context you actually need.