I just bought an xA and it is my first car with an OBD port. (It replaced my 1991 Accord.) I'd like to buy an OBD tester. At this point I don't intend to do any tweaking to the engine performance, I just want to know what the Check Engine light means when it comes on and basic things like that.

Any recommendations for a good one? or ones to avoid?

 

A lot of people here on SL use the ScanGaugeII (http://www.scangauge.com/). I wish I could afford one as they are nice and double as cool looking guages, but at $170 its a tad too much for me. If you search around you will find pics of some people's setups.

 

While reading some of the results from a search on "OBD" in this forum I came across that device and have seen some pictures. Yes, I'd like one but not yet.

I'd like to get a general purpose hand-held scanner first and that is what I'm looking for recommendations or warnings about.

 

the scan gauge is in my wish list as well !!
Worth the buy.

 

Zack over at 365motorwerks is who I got my ScanGauge from - quick service, very good price (ScionLife discount), nice guy.

It does all the "handheld tester" stuff, plus more, and lets you see what your car is thinking while you are driving.

It's worth the slight extra cost for the added features.

Tom

 

scangauge.

 

For check engine lights, I bough a little handheld one off ebay for like $20 I think.

 

My interest for a hand held is that I bought a 2006 xA used with 7600 miles on it a month ago. Recently the Check Engine light came on and I was concerned. I got out the manual and it mentions as one of the main points that it could be a loose gas gap. I didn't check the gas cap but the next day the Check Engine light was not on anymore.

I'm wondering if those hand-held scanners can give me more information when the light comes on?
And also are there any differences between any of them?

 

(Just the quality OBDII connector supplied with the ScanGauge is worth more than some entire "eBay" handhelds.)

Tom

 

warranty .. need i say monre...

 

Any decent OBDII reader should show you the actual code(s) the car is complaining about. Determining what in heck they mean requires having access to a code list and some understanding of what they mean.

Here's a basic list: http://tijil.org/Scion_Docs/ODBII_codes.txt

The Scion Repair Manuals list other codes that are specific or unique to the ECUs in the Scions...

Tom

 

Thanks for the link to the list of codes.

As for "any decent OBDII reader" can anyone recommend ones to buy or ones that are not decent and should be avoided?

Otherwise I'll head to Kragen and just buy one in the middle of their price range.