Thread: Universal OBD-II Scanner

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Originally Posted by Avalerion

In case this hasn't been mentioned, there is a company that sells OBD-2 scanners on eBay. I bought one a few weeks ago and it's amazing. It worked on 2 Toyota Camrys, 1 Mercury Sable, 1 Mazda Protege (Mine), and a Toyota Corolla. I haven't seen any good universal ones posted, so this is a heads up. The software is amazing too. It's not cheap-o software.

http://autoenginuity.com/

Looks like a nice little tool, on the expensive side though. Their claims on what it does are not all true. First of there are many tools that offer those features. Second VIN reporting is not done by most OBD scan tools because its not always accurate, especially if the ECM is having problems. Also I am not sure, but going by what I remember all the cars that you listed use the same protocol, so the claim of tested universality is not really true.

Looks like a nice little tool, on the expensive side though."
This is actually on the "cheap side" for a true diagnostic tool. Most of the "tools" discussed in this forum are really not true workshop grade or capable devices. They are OK for the purposes of CarPC use, but not for rigorous shop use or for the capabilites that a shop needs for real diagnosis. Shop grade tools start at $1000 and go way up from there (hardware / software).

"Their claims on what it does are not all true. First of there are many tools that offer those features."
This is a very difficult "apples / oranges" comparison.


"Second VIN reporting is not done by most OBD scan tools because its not always accurate, especially if the ECM is having problems."
It's not that scan tool companies don't "do it" because of accuracy, it's that each OEM uses their own formula and bit structure to represent VIN (and lots of other data). So, the trick, which is always underestimated by aftermarket scan tool companies is reverse engineering the vehicle's electrical architecture to accurately get and transform the data to meaningful values.

" Also I am not sure, but going by what I remember all the cars that you listed use the same protocol, so the claim of tested universality is not really true."
universality pertains to OBDII generic level, which is mandated by US government to be standard. The challenge is to find a tool that supports enhanced mode for all those different brands (doesn't exist in the market). Some company's scan tools do a better job than others on completeness of coverage. And, this is the majority of what you are paying for for a "professional" scan tool - completeness and accuracy of the data displayed. This is a huge task for any company, and completely outside the resources of the very small company scan tool products that you typically read about on this forum.

Originally Posted by DavidL

The challenge is to find a tool that supports enhanced mode for all those different brands (doesn't exist in the market).

Except of course for the BR-3, $89.

http://www.obddiagnostics.com

chairboy, not even close. I suspect the tool you mention has less than 50% of the data for any of the vehicles. And that the transforms will not be completely accurate, because it requires validation on each and every vehicle year / make / model / engine combination, as the OEM scan tools go through ($4000 and up).

Not to mention I don't see it listed that it supports CAN protocol (about 50% of this year's production vehicles).

This is no offense to the product you mention, as for $89 one cannot expect this level of coverage. Like I said, this is an apples and oranges comparison.

d00d are you their spokesperson. But seriously, for me, I don't care about CAN because all of my cars are at least 3 years old.

does anyone else make software like the ones that AutoEnginuity's ScanTool comes with?

I have been happy with my OBDScan from www.ghg.net/dharrison. It's universal with nice software for troubleshooting and now they have a CAN interface too.

C.

the whole point of odb-II is to be universal