Code reader scan tool reviews




















Inkjet Printers. Best of the Best. Check price at Amazon. BVR Rating. Based on 4, reviews. Pro Large LCD display allows to read vehicle information and trouble codes easily.

Con The reader may take time to detect the problem. View details. Best Premium. Pro Features clear and simple codes that makes it easy to read and understand. Con Bluetooth may disconnect randomly. Best Value. Based on reviews. Pro Electronic switch allows to access all CAN buses and enables advanced functions. Con Lights on the adapter may not turn on making it difficult to use. Updated on Jan 13, RANK 1. RANK 2. RANK 3. Overall rank. Best accuracy. Best overall performance. Best value for money.

Best connectivity. Best compatibility. Best readability. Best tech support. Best customer support. Best build quality. Best easy to use. Browse by. Sort by. Available on prime. Buy on Amazon. Overall performance. Value for money. Pros Large LCD display allows to read vehicle information and trouble codes easily Comes with 4 intuitive buttons that makes it easy to operate Classic and simple design makes it ideal for beginners. Cons The reader may take time to detect the problem.

Pros Comes with simple instructions that makes it easy to use Built-in Bluetooth allows to connect it with any Android and Windows device The diagnostic code reader can be used for all and newer cars. Cons Reader may randomly stop connecting to vehicles ECU. Pros Electronic switch allows to access all CAN buses and enables advanced functions Rock-solid connection avoids unnecessary data corruption Dealership-level diagnostic supports all ford protocols and modules.

Cons Lights on the adapter may not turn on making it difficult to use. Cancel anytime. RANK 4. Cons May not read codes correctly making it inaccurate.

RANK 5. Pros Reliable Bluetooth connection works with Android, tablet and Windows Reader works with a third-party OBD2 app that allows to check any kind of trouble Ideal for car owners to diagnose engine light and monitor car sensors. Cons Adapter is not tight that may cause condensation. RANK 6. A better OBD2 code reader will read the manufacturer codes, too, and explain those in English.

Most will confirm the vehicle's VIN and show you a Freeze Frame, or a rundown of key data points in the car at the moment the check engine trouble code was triggered, to help pinpoint what caused the problem. Most will report Live Data -- a potentially long list of data points like fluid temperatures, engine speed and load, fuel injection and spark rate, sensor operation and so on while the car is running.

It's like the full set of gauges most car model types no longer have and then some, and another valuable diagnostic tool. Many OBD2 scanners will conduct a simulated smog test, checking the same things a service shop will check before it signs off on a smog certificate -- and give you a good idea if the car will pass or fail in its current condition.

They'll save or print reports with potential causes and possible repairs. The best can send commands to a car's individual control modules and even turn them off and on.

They let you make finite adjustments that the vehicle manufacturer allows in its control software and calibrate the tire pressure monitor system, or TPMS. OBD2 scanners are less expensive than ever, but competition makes the supply side of the market wilder than ever.

Anyone who has carefully shopped for a mattress will understand. There's a handful of established players, a bunch of upstarts and a vast expanse of noise. Even the respected companies will build essentially identical scanners with different model numbers and insignificant appearance changes to sell through different retailers sometimes at different prices.

Differences are sometimes hard to discern. Depending on where you live and what you drive, a decent OBD2 scanner can pay for itself in relatively short order, if only through the fuel and time saved by avoiding trips to the local auto parts store for a free code read. OBD2 code readers don't have to be expensive, but every car hobbyist or do-it-yourselfer should probably have one in the tool kit. The list of the best OBD2 scanners above runs the gamut from the least expensive way to check engine trouble codes on your vehicle to excellent car enthusiast-type devices to a probably-too-expensive, full-professional mega scan tools.

We evaluated reports from testing labs and scanned user ratings at popular shopping sites. Before you choose an OBD2 code reader, consider the following pointers. And before you click "Confirm Order," have a look at our pro tips below. Its primary purpose: What do you plan to do with an OBD2 scan tool?

If you just want to know what that check engine idiot light in the dash is telling you, or you want to independently evaluate what a repair shop is reporting and maybe turn the light off if it's lit for something like a loose gas cap or a replaced EGR valve, you don't need to spend much. Even when the problem is solved, a basic OBD2 scanner remains a valuable tool if you or someone you know is looking for an inexpensive used car.

If, on the other hand, you're an automotive enthusiast, a frequent do-it-yourself person or the friend nonenthusiasts come to for car advice, it's certainly worth spending more. More expensive scanners can have broader make and model coverage. An OBD2 code reader with the right features will help you look deeper into a car's control systems, troubleshoot problems and settle on appropriate repairs.

A better one can help you analyze vehicle performance, optimize efficiency and better understand how a vehicle works. The best are good enough that, if you intend to make money fixing cars, you could use them to get started. Eventually, though, you're probably going to need one of those expensive pro-grade models. Dropping big bucks on an OBD2 scan tool isn't necessary if you're only reading and clearing error codes from time to time.

Which type works for you: Across the price spectrum, there are basically two types of OBD2 scanner. The dedicated hand-held scan tool is a self-contained device that plugs into the OBD2 port via cable preferably long enough to reach from inside the car to the engine bay and does its job. It has its own screen, buttons, software and computer chip. This type is usually a fairly small, plastic device that plugs into the OBD2 port and then connects to a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth.

Its job is to wirelessly transmit data from the vehicle's OBD2 system to the phone, where that data is processed and presented by the dongle manufacturer's control app.

With a Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, the quality of its manufacturer's software is paramount. The primary advantage of the Bluetooth device, if it isn't obvious: lower cost. Why pay for a screen and computer chip when your smartphone already has those? A Bluetooth OBD2 code reader dongle uses those components on your phone, where the screen and the chip are probably much higher quality than you need for this task. If the typical cost advantage in a Bluetooth OBD2 scanner sounds like a no-brainer, you should consider the more subtle issues.

Dedicated scanners are in important respects more efficient to use and if you use the code reader regularly to diagnose check engine lights, or for longer sessions, speed and simplicity matter. With a self-contained scanner, you never have to worry about the quality of the Bluetooth connection, your phone charge or the strength of your Wi-Fi or cellular signal the typical Bluetooth OBD2 scanner relies on access to internet databases.

You won't be interrupted by incoming calls or notifications while you're using it. A good dedicated scanner is more impact-impervious than a smartphone and drops are probably inevitable. Many Bluetooth scanners want to sell you upgrade subscriptions and some of the apps have ads. A dedicated OBD2 scanner in many respects is more efficient to use than a Bluetooth smartphone dongle. It probably goes back to the first thing you need to know when buying an OBD2 scanner: your primary purpose for doing so.

And maybe how often you plan to use it. The great majority of OBD2 scanners sold today will work on the great majority of vehicles built for model year and beyond. Yet for fairly arcane reasons, there are exceptions to this assumption of universal application a few companies still build scanners for specific makes. Most reputable scan tool manufacturers have application checkers on their websites, so play it safe.

When you think you know what scanner you want, check to ensure that it will work on cars you might regularly want to use it on. And if you plan to buy a Bluetooth-based scanner, there's another potentially embarrassing mistake. The control apps that connect with the OBD2 dongle are specific to the operating system on the phone, tablet or PC that's going to run the app. Some manufacturers have an app for Android or Apple, but not for other OSes, much less for Windows devices.

Well, the chance of getting a short-lasting product goes higher. Top Obd2 Scanner Code Reader brands try to offer some unique features that make them stand out in the crowd.

We look at the features that matter and choose the top Obd2 Scanner Code Reader based on that. Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products of higher specifications, but with the right balance. Better ratings mean better service experienced by a good number of people. Customer Reviews: Like ratings, customer reviews give you actual and trustworthy information, coming from real-world consumers about the Obd2 Scanner Code Reader they used.

Seller Rank: Now, this is interesting! It serves two objectives. Firstly, the growing number of users indicates the product is good. Secondly, the manufacturers will hopefully provide better quality and after-sales service because of that growing number. Value For The Money: They say you get what you pay for. We try to measure how much value for the money you can get from your Obd2 Scanner Code Reader before putting them on the list.

Durability: Durability and reliability go hand to hand. A robust and durable Obd2 Scanner Code Reader will serve you for months and years to come. Availability: Products come and go, new products take the place of the old ones. Probably some new features were added, some necessary modifications were done. We try to feature products that are up-to-date and sold by at least one reliable seller, if not several.

Negative Ratings: Yes, we take that into consideration too! When we pick the top rated Obd2 Scanner Code Reader on the market, the products that got mostly negative ratings get filtered and discarded. These are the criteria we have chosen our Obd2 Scanner Code Reader on. Does our process stop there? Heck, no! The most important thing that you should know about us is, we're always updating our website to provide timely and relevant information.

Since reader satisfaction is our utmost priority, we have a final layer of filtration. It also has a 5-foot OBDII diagnostic cable, so you can check codes from outside your vehicle; no more having to scrunch down under your steering wheel while the scanner runs its analysis.

There are a couple of other aspects you need to be aware of as well. This particular scanner only works on engine systems. It does not have codes for any other systems like transmissions or airbags. You can check the vehicle emission control information VECI label, usually found under the hood or by the radiator. These is by no means a bare bones model, as it has a lot of features. But lack of wireless technology and a compatible app are just a couple of reasons it is at number three on our list.

Plug it in, turn on the ignition, and wait for it to light up. The unit has an automatic VIN acquisition, which makes it more OEM specific almost immediately, saving you having to search through multiple codes.

You can navigate through the menu using the arrow keys, and everything is easy to read on the 2. The live sensors can be displayed in either text or graph form, whichever is easier for you to understand. It will also read freeze frame data which shows certain engine conditions such as engine coolant temp. There is software that can be downloaded so that diagnostic data can be uploaded and printed, enabling you to take it to a mechanic for further analysis.

Automatic VIN acquisition and the range of vehicles it covers brings this unit in at number four. To make it easier, it automatically displays the fault code definition.

Like others in the list, it can graph data, and view freeze frame data from live stream sensors. However, it supports all US OEMs since with those characteristics, as well as most EU and Asian vehicles from onwards, making it one of the most widely usable car code readers on the list.

All in all, however, this workhorse would be a fine addition to any home garage. This unit is a basic engine code reader. It does what you need it to do, but pretty much nothing else. There are some good features. This is a great tool for beginners. Simply plug it in to the OBD2 port, turn the car on, make sure the unit is on, and you are ready to start diagnosing. The LCD screen shows the code and its definition, so you do not have to go look through a glossary or hunt for what the code means.

This unit also provides life-time software updates for free; you just have to download the software from the ANCEL website. It can retrieve live data as your car runs. This can be especially useful in tracking a problem as it occurs instead of waiting for a code to be thrown. There once was a time, not too long ago, when you could take your car to a mechanic, they could take a simple look , and tell you what was wrong with your car.

Better yet, if you were mechanically minded, you could generally diagnose and fix the problem yourself. Those days are long gone. Cars are so computerized now that it takes special diagnostic tools to be able to read the codes produced by the computer when there is something wrong with your car.

In turn, this could ultimately save you some money in the long run.



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