harbor freight code scanner

[leckbass]

I was thinking of buying 1 of harbor freight code scanners 4 o b d 2 cars,they are on sale for 99 dollars this week, what do you guys think of it ?

[Sigma]

I think autozone will do it for free

[leckbass]

I would rather do a weekly bloodletting than deal with the idiots at autozone!

[Walkabout7781]

Buy yourself a "Scan Gage II" for about $150. Not only does it read fault codes, you can mount it on your dash or steering column and it will tell you what your current mpg is, water temp, spark advance, or whatever you set it to tell you, to 4 items at once. It will teach you how to drive to get better MPG!

http://www.scangauge.com/

[sgt93]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by leckbass &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I would rather do a weekly bloodletting than deal with the idiots at autozone!</td></tr></table>

Then spend the $99. If you get coded
That often you may want to think about a new vehicle or even maintenance

[barchief]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Walkabout7781 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Buy yourself a "Scan Gage II" for about $150. Not only does it read fault codes, you can mount it on your dash or steering column and it will tell you what your current mpg is, water temp, spark advance, or whatever you set it to tell you, to 4 items at once. It will teach you how to drive to get better MPG!

http://www.scangauge.com/</td></tr></table>

Have one on my daily driver, and lemme tell you.. that thing has already paid for itself by calming down my leadfoot.

[unclemark]

Those code readers are ok, they will point you in the direction but by now means is it 100% to the buutton that is causeing the problem. You will still have to do some trouble shooting.

[mattmann7]

Wallyworld had one for not much more than 99 dollars a few years back. I bought it and returned it unopened when the problem on the car was resolved without a meter. The good part about it was that you could go to the website and download upgrades for the unit. Can you do the same with the Harbor Freight unit?

The last time I had a dummy light on I went for my emmisions checkup. They gave me the code for the light. I looked up the code on line, found out the solution, replaced the parts and was good to go.

[DIXIEDOG]

Up here you can buy them locally cheaper. If you have a newer car (GM is something like 07 + not sure about the others but I think it was 08???) make sure it is Can bus capable or it won't work.

[haha]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Walkabout7781 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Buy yourself a "Scan Gage II" for about $150. Not only does it read fault codes, you can mount it on your dash or steering column and it will tell you what your current mpg is, water temp, spark advance, or whatever you set it to tell you, to 4 items at once. It will teach you how to drive to get better MPG!

http://www.scangauge.com/</td></tr></table>

I have one in my truck because it doesnt have a DIC. (driver information center)

[cowtrimmer]

There is a reason why some hand held code readers cost 99 bucks and some cost 2+ grand.

[JerryT]

2 grand...we have 5 into our new one and had 9 into our last one that they told us was now obsolete and they wouldnt be updating it anymore

What are your plans for it...Just to check codes...If so see if it will also have a code library in it like my small Mac tools one does..i think i paid 79 bucks for it

A lot of them hit you extra for things like Graphing...which hardly anyone uses

[leckbass]

I mainly want it to just check and erased coach, any additional features are a bonus

[sandbarDan]

buy a peice of elctrical tape..place over check engine light

[bilgerat]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by unclemark &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Those code readers are ok, they will point you in the direction but by now means is it 100% to the buutton that is causeing the problem. You will still have to do some trouble shooting.</td></tr></table>

Someone gets it

Yeah, Auto Zone will read your codes, then try to sell you the sensor(s) associated with those codes. Hit or miss proposition, more of a hit on you as generally electrical items are non returnable. Like unclemark said, you still need to know how to check a circuit out.

[SSNCHIEF]

I bought the same one autozone uses from autozone and didn't pay much more than a hundred bucks. that was 4 or 5 years ago though. I've had good luck with harbor freight stuff but I've never bought any electronics from them.

[mhr650]

If you have a Smartphone you can buy a Bluetooth transmitter to plug into the OBD port and get an app to read error codes or show performance data on you’re phone. A lot less money and there are always new apps and updates

[KellyJoe]

I now have one of these after having a Scangauge II. They both do pretty much the same thing but the Ultragauge is half the price. http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/index.htm

[leckbass]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by mhr650 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">If you have a Smartphone you can buy a Bluetooth transmitter to plug into the OBD port and get an app to read error codes or show performance data on you’re phone. A lot less money and there are always new apps and updates</td></tr></table>

This seems interesting, where can i go to find one of these?

[leckbass]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by KellyJoe &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I now have one of these after having a Scangauge II. They both do pretty much the same thing but the Ultragauge is half the price. http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/index.htm </td></tr></table>

I'm open to suggestions, but why would you buy he Ultragauge if you already have the Scangauge II?