OBD2 scanners

**pewterz55** · 10-13-2011, 04:56 AM

I'm looking into buying an OBD2 scanner this weekend. Mainly because i saw that sears has one on sale this weekend for 89.99. But after researching the product i found out it doesnt scan trans codes. i went to the sears site and they have 4 different scanners by craftsman. 69.99 all the way to 299.99. the cheapest probably just reads out the obd2 codes and as i found the one on sale doesnt do trans. any one tell me the difference bewtween the 299.99 an 179.99 ones? Seems like they both do the transmissions codes too. or any other makes/models i can look into? not really looknig to spend over 200

**tatertot91** · 10-13-2011, 08:39 AM

I haven't looked but one might read abs codes or live data where the other might not

**pewterz55** · 10-13-2011, 09:39 AM

after reading both a couple times over it seems like the most expensive one does OBD2 and 1 while the 179.99 one only does OBD2. quite the price difference

**tatertot91** · 10-13-2011, 09:49 AM

No need for obd1
Go for the cheaper one imo

**pajeff02** · 10-13-2011, 06:45 PM

I went with one that costs right around $180 and have been very happy with it. The only thing it will not do is read ABS codes -- higher price scanners do have more features but I have not yet found mine lacking and I do work on a lot of cars.

**pewterz55** · 10-14-2011, 06:10 AM

ok cool. im going to be picking up that one. i dont do a 'ton' of work on cars but i do have 4 cars at my house and lights seem to be popping up all the time on them. and the free scans at autozone apparantly dont scan trans codes

id also like to just can the car in my garage look up the parts online and do more work myself right in the garage without really having to go anywhere

**pajeff02** · 10-14-2011, 08:10 AM

I am almost certain mine scans transmission codes as one came up recently at the track after a friend manually shifted the car. Off the top of my head, I want to say that it is an Actron CP9372 or something like that.

**35th-ANV-SS** · 10-14-2011, 09:12 AM

For what it's worth, they also sell ABS scan tools at most car part stores. I've seen them online before for around $70 for the lower end models.

**Z34LS1** · 10-30-2011, 05:54 AM

I'm looking into buying one of these as well. I have 4 LSX motors and now that the cold weather is returning my 5.3 in the Avalanche has already started tripping it's light.
Is there a Sponsor here that Sells one? I'd like to support someone here first, kinda a way of giving a little back after getting so much from this site.

**Cutlass** · 10-31-2011, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by Z34LS1

Is there a Sponsor here that Sells one? I'd like to support someone here first, kinda a way of giving a little back after getting so much from this site.

I don't believe any of them do sell scan tools.

**0rion** · 10-31-2011, 11:21 PM

check out amazon......you can get some pretty good deals on actron scanners there. I have a cp9180 that I've been real happy with. If I had to buy one today though I'd get the cp9580 for ~ $170 that reads abs along with obd codes.

**Z34LS1** · 11-01-2011, 02:28 AM

Thanks for the Replies, I will check them out.

**FMBL** · 12-28-2011, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by 0rion

check out amazon......you can get some pretty good deals on actron scanners there. I have a cp9180 that I've been real happy with. If I had to buy one today though I'd get the cp9580 for ~ $170 that reads abs along with obd codes.

I just got this one for Christmas. Haven't got to try it. I don't have anything that's broke or going bad. Amazon $154 total

**0rion** · 12-28-2011, 10:08 AM

that's a good deal......

**Zyasoon** · 01-08-2012, 07:53 AM

i bought an actron scanner yesterday at autozone for 100. not the best but nit the worst. it did what i needed it to do.

**pajeff02** · 01-08-2012, 08:10 AM

Most of the time, you just need something to read the codes and reset the light so the lower price models are definitely the ticket.

**Zyasoon** · 01-09-2012, 03:43 PM

very true, but lately i find myself wanting to have the best most capable tool/toy for the job even though more than likely i'll never use it to it's fullest capabilities. i like knowing that if i need it, the tool can do it. luckily for me, sensibility kicked in and i went the middle of the road.

**pajeff02** · 01-09-2012, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by Zyasoon

very true, but lately i find myself wanting to have the best most capable tool/toy for the job even though more than likely i'll never use it to it's fullest capabilities. i like knowing that if i need it, the tool can do it. luckily for me, sensibility kicked in and i went the middle of the road.

I used to be that way... but after wrenching on cars for almost 30 years now, I have found that quite often a cheaper tool will do the same job just as well as the more expensive tool. I have maybe one tool from Snap On and one from MAC, most of my stuff is Craftsman and a lot of the oddball tools are off brand pieces acquired through the years at swap meets and car shows. I recently began purchasing tools from the NAPA line and have been very happy with them.

**TA98** · 01-19-2012, 06:41 PM

I know the one we sell at advance, Actron, for 220 or so does engine and abs codes but it also allows real time view of engine functions, basically datalog but i dont think you can save it. I thought that was kinda cool.