Scanner Usage - When to use
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 156
Likes: 1
Scanner Usage - When to use
At the risk of sounding really dumb, I will ask this anyway. Is there any value in using a scanner if there is no check engine light on? What kind of information would I expect to be able to retrieve and use? I have never had my truck scanned since I've owned it, am I missing out on anything?
Elder User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 778
Likes: 1
It depends on the tool you buy. If you are talking about a (CODE only reader) most i have seen wont tell you anything till the light is on, which if you take your truck to a shop to have it fixed it might help from getting taken to the cleaners by a less than honest shop. Now if your talking about a true scan tool, that has live data stream function, it could show missfires counts on your cylinders, you could see if your mass air flow was doing ok, or reading right, you could see what the sensors, and switches were doing as well as many other things. You will speend a good bit of money on a good scan tool, mine was a little over $3500
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 156
Likes: 1
$3,500 to check for misfires and MAF check? Please tell me you are a mechanic and need this for your job. I guess I won't bother borrowing one from Autozone, as I assume it is the cheaper kind that only does anything if the Check Engine Light comes on.
Elder User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 778
Likes: 1
Yes there are software vinders such as, (not pluging for them) AutoTap, which use your laptop, or desktop with wireless connections to read whats causing problems, and pull codes. They have different packages to suit different folks needs. I cant think of the other one at this time, Do a search for AutoTap diagnostic software on the net. You might want to go this way. 
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