OBD II hardware - Which to choose

Mcnovy · 08-14-2007, 12:49 PM

Hi,
I have been looking trough some of the threads regarding OBD II reader,
but I haven't been able to figure out which to choose.

what would the people here choose..?

should work with USB.
for Can (although a universal would be nice)

should be able to do all the "fun" stuff

I am thinking of something like Scantool etc.
price around 250$ or less

if suggested, I would throw a few $ ekstra on this, if it gives me some better features.

what would you suggest..?

thanks<br /><br />

BiG K · 08-14-2007, 03:48 PM

I would go for the Elmscan 5 USB, which should cover you for most of the vehicles!

Lukeyson · 08-14-2007, 05:14 PM

Yeah, for me it'd be as a first option an ELM327 tool for cheap and all protocols, followed by a Mongoose if you're after Performance, the option of flashing your ECU in the future (with some models), and for the future growth to J2534 software.

PCMSCAN, which to me is one of the best OBD software apps around, has ELM327 and J2534 support.

Lukeyson

UKOBD · 08-15-2007, 03:08 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Mcnovy

Hi,
I have been looking trough some of the threads regarding OBD II reader,
but I haven't been able to figure out which to choose.

what would the people here choose..?

should work with USB.
for Can (although a universal would be nice)

should be able to do all the "fun" stuff

I am thinking of something like Scantool etc.
price around 250$ or less

if suggested, I would throw a few $ ekstra on this, if it gives me some better features.

what would you suggest..?

thanks<br /><br />

Hi,

Also worth looking at the MBD3200 - this can be paired up with PCMSCAN to provide another multi-protocol option.

Gareth

Mcnovy · 08-16-2007, 07:10 PM

well, the most important thing is quality and features, and not that it is a multi protocol. as long as it supports my car.
I am driving a Citroen C3 (an European car

)

so which one to choose if I would go for features..?

thanks for the answers already by now, much appreciated..!

NiSlo · 08-17-2007, 12:39 AM

I have the obdpros interface and it's worked flawlessly for me so far. It's multi-protocol too!

UKOBD · 08-17-2007, 08:36 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Mcnovy

well, the most important thing is quality and features, and not that it is a multi protocol. as long as it supports my car.
I am driving a Citroen C3 (an European car

)

so which one to choose if I would go for features..?

thanks for the answers already by now, much appreciated..!

Is the C3 petrol or diesel, and what age is it?

Gareth

Mcnovy · 08-17-2007, 06:47 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by UKOBD

Is the C3 petrol or diesel, and what age is it?

Gareth

it's a Diesel from 2003

Mcnovy · 08-17-2007, 06:52 PM

the OBDpros sounds interesting,
but still trying to find the pros and cons with the mentioned OBD's

Lukeyson: (or other) could you help me with a homepage of the Mangoose..?

UKOBD · 08-18-2007, 02:39 AM

EU rules did not require diesel vehicles to be OBD2/EOBD compliant until 2004, your car may be OK if it a 2004 MY car.

If it is compatible it will use the ISO protocol, you can confirm that it is by checking the pins:

The connector must have pins 4, 5, 7, and 16. Pin 15 may or may not be present.

If these are not present the car is not EOBD compliant, and the tools will not work I am afraid.

Gareth
UKOBD

Mcnovy · 08-18-2007, 06:34 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by UKOBD

EU rules did not require diesel vehicles to be OBD2/EOBD compliant until 2004, your car may be OK if it a 2004 MY car.

If it is compatible it will use the ISO protocol, you can confirm that it is by checking the pins:

The connector must have pins 4, 5, 7, and 16. Pin 15 may or may not be present.

If these are not present the car is not EOBD compliant, and the tools will not work I am afraid.

Gareth
UKOBD

thanks for that info,
although I am quite sure that it is compliant, I will go have a look...!

for those whom are taking the Other in the poll,
please type in what "other" is..!

Mcnovy · 08-18-2007, 07:59 AM

there's a pin in

1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12 and 16

so, my vehicle should be OBD compliant.!

Profozone · 08-18-2007, 10:20 AM

I have and use Auterra's Dyno scan. I love it because in addition to reading codes, resetting check engine lights and monitoring engine functions, it also functions as an engine dyno. I frequently do 3 runs, average them, then make my repairs or modifications and do 3 more runs. That way I can see how my repair/mod has effected power and torque. It's really cool! It will also do 0 -60 and 1/4 mile times, but I haven't used that yet, especially since it relies on the cars vehicle speed sensor and I don't know how accurate my car's speedo is.

I don't know if it works with your car or not. I do know the USB version is CAN compliant, but you should go to their website and check it out. They do respond in a timely fashion to emails.

I thought there was some kind of issue with ELM scan tools, which is why I didn't go with one in the first place, but I don't remember what the issue was. I think it was compatibility with certain model cars. You'll have to research it yourself.

Good luck.

Mcnovy · 08-18-2007, 10:47 AM

one thing that I have forgot to mention is that I am going to write some software for it myself (or integrate it in some other software)
so there would have to be some libraries included, or the opportunity to read the incoming serial data received from the device...

Profozone,
sounds like a nice one, I will try to mail them and ask if they know if it will work with my car.!

mrbean_phillip · 08-20-2007, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Lukeyson: (or other) could you help me with a homepage of the Mangoose..?

Mongoose Homepage