Code Reader Obdii
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 Code Reader Scanner OBD2 4 Mercedes Benz C CL CLK CLASS  US $22.85
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 BMW Pin OBD 2 to DB 9 Serial Port RS232 Cable Adapter US $4.56
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 MERCEDES BENZ pin Adapter to OBD2 Female Link cable 38 US $4.56
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 BLUETOOTH ODB II 2 ODBII CAN SCANTOOL Diagnostic OBD2 US $6.39
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 BMW MINI ROVER OBD 2 II Oil Service OBD2 OBDII Tool Car US $13.71
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 VW Audi Seat Skoda OBD2 ENGINE SCANNER CODE READER NEW US $35.94
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 OBD 2 CAN AUTO LIVE TROUBLE CODE READER SCANNER OBD E24 US $44.80
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 OP COM SAAB OBD2 OBDⅡ OPEL CAN OBD 2 Ⅱ Scanner AUTO CAR US $30.16
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 U280 VW Audi Seat Skoda Scanner Code Reader OBD2 EOBD US $50.51
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 U381 LIVE DATA Scanner Code Reader Diagnose OBD2 EOBD US $50.29
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 U581 CAN BUS Code Reader OBDII EOBD Live Data Scanner US $72.23
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 U480 CAN BUS OBD2 ENGINE SCANNERCODE READER canbus OBD US $56.50
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 OBD2 SCANNER GS500 CAR Diagnostic Code Reader Live Data US $91.42
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 U585 VAG CAN OBDII CODE SCANNER READER MEMO SCAN OBD2 US $96.00
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 MaxiScan MS409 OBD2 Scanner Code Reader US $118.86
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 Handhold OBD2 EOBD Auto SCANNER GS400 US $63.09
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 VAG5053 OBD 2 CODE SCANNER SERVICE RESET FOR VW AUDI US $162.75
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 Maxiscan MS309 OBD2 SCANNER CODE READER English Spanish US $60.29
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 U280 OBD 2 SCANNER CODE READER for VW AUDI SEAT SKODA US $32.00
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 Vag Com OBD 2 Interface Scanner VW Audi VagCom scantool US $4.56
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 USB Diagnostic OBD Interface vag com VW AUDI SEAT SKODA US $4.26
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 Vag Com OBD2 OBD Code reader Interface VW Audi scantool US $4.26
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 MaxiScan MS509 OBD2 Scanner Code Reader Live Data US $160.00
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 OBD USB Vag Com OBD2 Scantool 4091 VW Audi vagcom B06 US $6.39
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 Auto Scanner EOBD USB Code Reader OBD2 OBDII Tool B03 US $11.88
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 Auto OBD Diagnostic tool Bluetooth CAN BUS Scanner B15 US $13.71
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 U581 CAN Code Reader OBD2 Adapter for BMW 20 pin US $135.32
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 Equus 3030 Innova Diagnostic Code Reader for OBDII US $61.75
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 MaxiDiag US703 GM Holden Ford OBD2 Scanner Code Reader US $227.66
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 ABS BrakeScan Scan Tool ACTCP9449 US $211.99
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Which diagnostic code reader do I need for a '96 Ford?
I purchased a Equus 3145 code reader for my '96 Taurus. I didn't realize OBDII codes were only for pre-96 cars. What protocol is used for '96 and later Fords?
The Equus 3145 is an OBD-I reader. All it does is count the light blinks, so you don't have to do the counting. Your Taurus is OBD-II, which came later. You're gonna need something more like this;
http://www.equus.com/products.php?category_id=1_10_7
Pretty much $100 minimum, although you don't need CAN (Controller Area Network) capability, which might be a little cheaper if it doesn't have that.
OBD-II became mandatory for 1997 model year vehicles, which might be why someone told you that would work on a 1996 model, but the various manufacturers (often it even varied among different models of the same manufacturer), implemented it as early as 1995 or even1994 model year of some cars. Worse yet, some during those years were bastardized hybrids of the 2 systems.
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Actron CP9145 AutoScanner Diagnostic Code Scanner with Live, Record and Playback Data Capability for OBDII Vehicles List Price: Sale Price: $99.95 Average Rating:  |
DescriptionSUPER AutoScannerA bold step forward in DIY diagnostics! The SUPER AutoScanner allows the user to easily retrieve and read OBD I and/or II trouble codes and display/read live vehicle data for a faster diagnosis... Features
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Black & Decker AD925 Smart Scan Automotive Check Engine Light Diagnostic Tool List Price: Sale Price: $54.95 Average Rating: |
DescriptionIncludes Car Diagnostic Tool - AD925 Features
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Actron CP9135 AutoScanner Diagnostic Code Scanner with On Screen Definitions for OBDII Vehicles
Sale Price: $499.99 Average Rating: |
DescriptionFor ODB II (1996 and newer) vehicles. Provides trouble code data, then erases trouble code and turns Check Engine light off. Helps determine if vehicle will pass emissions test. Quick read and erase DTC hot keys... Features
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GL1 (formerly goLINK) OBD-II to iPhone/iPad/iPod touch by GoPoint Technology List Price: Sale Price: $99.82 Average Rating: |
DescriptionOur GL1 (formerly goLINK) protocol converter, an Apple "Works With iPhone" product, will directly connect your vehicle's engine On Board Diagnostics (OBD) data to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Use your iPhone/iPod touch to read/reset diagnostic codes! LOG your vehicle's engine performance! And much, much MORE! More: the GL1 will charge your iPhone or Touch using patent-pending intelligence... Features
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ELM327 BLUETOOTH OBDII OBD2 DIAGNOSTIC SCANNER VAG-COM CAN ELM 327 SCANTOOL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAR CODE READER
Sale Price: $47.95 Average Rating: |
DescriptionTurn you laptop into a powerful diagnostic station with the ultimate in DIY car maintenance products. Perform amazing real-time diagnostics of your own car, all you need is this ELM 327 BlueTooth to OBDII 16 pin interface and your multimedia device... Features
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ELM327 USB OBDII OBD2 DIAGNOSTIC SCANNER VAG-COM CAN ELM 327 SCANTOOL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAR CODE READER
Sale Price: $36.95 Average Rating: |
DescriptionTurn you laptop into a powerful diagnostic station with the ultimate in DIY car maintenance products. Perform amazing real-time diagnostics of your own car, all you need is this ELM 327 USB to OBDII 16 pin interface and your multimedia device... Features
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Actron CP9410 PocketScan Plus Diagnostic Code Reader for OBDII Vehicles List Price: Sale Price: $52.49 Average Rating: |
DescriptionWhen your Check Engine light turns on, find out immediately if you should stop or keep driving with the Actron PocketScan Plus OBD-II Code Reader with Urgency Indicator. There are many reasons that can cause this indicator to appear -- from minor to critical -- but the PocketScan Plus is here to provide you with the code information you need as well as an immediate recommendation on the urgency of the Check Engine Light problem... Features
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Autel MaxiScan MS300 CAN OBD-II Scan Tool List Price: Sale Price: $29.95 Average Rating: |
DescriptionThe MaxiScan code reader supports all OBD2 protocols, including the newly released Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol. Though it is small, it is able to retrieve same information as large expensive scanners... Features
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Equus 3030 Innova Diagnostic Code Reader for OBDII Vehicles List Price: Sale Price: Too low to display Average Rating: |
DescriptionOBD2 Car ReaderNote: Earlier versions may not communicate with VW Turbo Diesel applications due to vehicle manufacturer communication issues. This has since been resolved with a firmware update that also allows the tool to communicate with these vehicles... Features
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CODE SCOUT 700 OBD-II CODE READER List Price: Sale Price: $72.93 |
DescriptionCodeScout 700 OBD-II Code ReaderFeatures and Benefits:AutoXray introduces CodeScout 700 a fast and easy to use OBD-II code reader for Do-It-Yourselfers and Do-It-For-Mers. Quickly determine the cause of the ' Check Engine Light' ... |
A Closer look at Car Scanner
Many car owners who are not aware of a vehicles electronics system will be surprised why mechanics no longer inspect and check engine problems as they used to. This is especially true to cars manufactured from 1992 to 1995, and, 1996 to present. Those from 1992 to 1995 would have On Board Diagnostics I (OBD I) installed then OBD II for those manufactured from 1996 to present. OBDs are electronic systems installed in vehicles to regulate and optimize engine performance basically for emission purposes with the help of automotive repair manuals. The system now requires OBD scanners to analyze any engine problem the vehicle is experiencing.
What does a car scanner do? First, the scanner is electronic equipment that is connected to a vehicles OBD system. Second, it is programmed to scan the car's Engine Control Unit (ECU), a computer installed for vehicles with the electronic system. The ECU detects the problems of an engine and stores the error code for that specific problem. Third, the scanner ‘talks' to the ECU and ‘asks' the ECU for the error code/s it has stored. Fourth, the scanner interprets what the ECU provides then displays on its screen the problem. Trained and certified technicians are immediately able to understand the scanner. For the regular car owner, if you have a list of the error codes and definition then you would be able to know the cause of the engine problem.
Car scanners vary in size, capability and price. There are those that can be used in series with a laptop to display more information. Some can also be updated online. While, on the lower end of the devices, there are proprietary handheld scanners available in the market for car owners and weekend mechanics. Scanners are different from OBD readers. They provide more information than readers. Readers simply read and display the error code relayed to it by the ECU.
Car owners and untrained mechanics, please take note of precautions in using car scanners. It is not a simple plug-and-play device for computers. Avoid using it by your self driving the vehicle and while trying to read the problem displayed! There are car scanners with power supply of their own, so you can read and analyze the error codes away from the car. It will be the best device to use without needing anyone's aid. OBD I systems have a different portal connection from the OBD II/obdii code reader. There are OBD II car scanners that have adaptors so it can be connected to OBD I systems.
As an end note here, please take note of your car's make and year model. Chevy models might require scanners only for Chevrolet and might not be compatible to universal types. Another is in getting a list of error codes for interpretations make sure that you have the correct one for your make and model. Wrong interpretation of error codes could lead to wrong results in analyzing your engine problems.
About the Author
Mike has been working on cars and trucks since he got his first Olds 442 in the early 70's. Since then he was worked on many vehicles and is deeply interested in electronics and the new computer controls of todays vehicles. While it might seem they are limiting the DIY'r he thinks just the opposite. With the right OBDII Code Reader and Haynes repair Manual you can do far more than the days of screwdrivers and timing lights.
