Buying a Code Scanner
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
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Buying a Code Scanner
Hey Guys, I am looking in investing in a Code Scanner. Not looking to pay Snap On Prices but figure I have a limit of around $250, and would like the scanner to be OBD2 and Mode 6 Compatable. Any suggestions?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
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I'm not sure what mode 6 data is but I recently picked up a scanner from amazon for about 50 bucks. It does everything I need, such as retrieving codes and getting real time readings from sensors. I have been looking up reviews and haven't really found anything negative about it.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 224
From: Frequently frozen MN
This can be tricky. I have an equus scanner that cost about $180 -- it does SOMETHING that I guess is mode 6.
Thing is, they don't seem to call it that. In my case, it's called something odd (can't remember what right now). They seem to love to make it hard to figure out.
Also, the data is not easy to interpret. It gives a test id and some numerical info plus an indication of out of limits. however, there's no info on what's being reported.
This is for a mopar, and I THINK that I know what I'm seeing from stuff I've seen on the web, but I'm not real sure . Mopar doesn't seem to be forthcoming with the data -- I haven't found it in the factory service manual.
So, good luck -- try to contact the company reps when you narrow down your choices.
hj
Thing is, they don't seem to call it that. In my case, it's called something odd (can't remember what right now). They seem to love to make it hard to figure out.
Also, the data is not easy to interpret. It gives a test id and some numerical info plus an indication of out of limits. however, there's no info on what's being reported.
This is for a mopar, and I THINK that I know what I'm seeing from stuff I've seen on the web, but I'm not real sure . Mopar doesn't seem to be forthcoming with the data -- I haven't found it in the factory service manual.
So, good luck -- try to contact the company reps when you narrow down your choices.
hj
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
This can be tricky. I have an equus scanner that cost about $180 -- it does SOMETHING that I guess is mode 6.
Thing is, they don't seem to call it that. In my case, it's called something odd (can't remember what right now). They seem to love to make it hard to figure out.
Also, the data is not easy to interpret. It gives a test id and some numerical info plus an indication of out of limits. however, there's no info on what's being reported.
This is for a mopar, and I THINK that I know what I'm seeing from stuff I've seen on the web, but I'm not real sure . Mopar doesn't seem to be forthcoming with the data -- I haven't found it in the factory service manual.
So, good luck -- try to contact the company reps when you narrow down your choices.
hj
Thing is, they don't seem to call it that. In my case, it's called something odd (can't remember what right now). They seem to love to make it hard to figure out.
Also, the data is not easy to interpret. It gives a test id and some numerical info plus an indication of out of limits. however, there's no info on what's being reported.
This is for a mopar, and I THINK that I know what I'm seeing from stuff I've seen on the web, but I'm not real sure . Mopar doesn't seem to be forthcoming with the data -- I haven't found it in the factory service manual.
So, good luck -- try to contact the company reps when you narrow down your choices.
hj
As for interpreting it....though it is for a Ford Expedition...I found This
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,429
Likes: 5,509
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 224
From: Frequently frozen MN
OK, I looked it up
The vid was interesting, but the mode6 stuff is vehicle specific -- i.e.different manufacturers do things differently. I have a list of tests that I found that I think are relevant to my mopar, but they could be for a different model.
ezines like motor ( motor.com) and motorage(motorage.com) have published various articles about what you might be able to do.
Anyway, I've never understood why the scanner folks don't just say mode 6 -- it's in the OBD2 standard. The Equus manual is quite vague about the menu item that gets you to it.
Also, if you are thinking about this scanner --it's 'live recording' time is quite short --on the order of 10 seconds. So, if you hook it up and try to record parameters as you drive, that's all you'll see when you download it later. Not to say that it's not interesting, but it's not very long.
hj
The vid was interesting, but the mode6 stuff is vehicle specific -- i.e.different manufacturers do things differently. I have a list of tests that I found that I think are relevant to my mopar, but they could be for a different model.
ezines like motor ( motor.com) and motorage(motorage.com) have published various articles about what you might be able to do.
Anyway, I've never understood why the scanner folks don't just say mode 6 -- it's in the OBD2 standard. The Equus manual is quite vague about the menu item that gets you to it.
Also, if you are thinking about this scanner --it's 'live recording' time is quite short --on the order of 10 seconds. So, if you hook it up and try to record parameters as you drive, that's all you'll see when you download it later. Not to say that it's not interesting, but it's not very long.
hj
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i ain't rite
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,840
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From: On the prairie
Tom, I have the Autoxray 6000 as well. Have you ever had problems with "vehicle not responding" messages? It's only happened to me twice (both GMs, go figure). Other than that I like it very much. Updates available online and OBD-I compatable as well. I tried it on our 2011 and it gave me real time data right down to timing and vac/boost.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,429
Likes: 5,509
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
not exactly sure. but i can say the 6000 will only do basic diesel stuff like read codes only. from what i read the 7000 is a lot more diesel friendly.
it will get farther into it like monitoring engine functions. nnot sure though, because i never used one.
it will get farther into it like monitoring engine functions. nnot sure though, because i never used one.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 0
From: Back where I started...
Happy with it for what it is: quick code ripper that can also do OBDI for when the shop's stuff is tied up & I need to read/clear quick. Kinda wish it cleared KAM, but again, it does what I need it to.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
The video about Mode 6 by Spiggy769 is fascinating and very, very informative! In fact it may prompt me to further explore my modest Actron CP9580 a bit further.
Learn something new every day here.
Learn something new every day here.