Looking to buy OBD2 Scan Tool

[KENSFM]

I am looking to buy an OBD2 Scan Tool. Thinking of buying an ACTRON model #CP9175. Does anyone have one of these? Or like to recommend another brand or model. Would like to keep the cost at about $100. This would be for my personal use and should work with most vehicles made since 1996.
Thanks, Ken

 

[George2615]

I have a CP9135 which doesn't have all the features of the 9175. But I only needed a basic unit. It was about a hundred when I bought it a few years ago and it was on sale then. I see the 9175 on Ebay selling for about 93 bucks. Sounds like a good deal to me.

 

[OKnewguy]

I recently purchased this reader While we find your parts, please enter your ZIP Code at PartsAmerica.com, it works well for me and was a decent price. It will read live data and is CAN.
Good luck, Dave

 

[JDeerekid]

I have been looking into getting one also. I just spent $65 to have a mechanic hook his scanner up to tell me what was wrong. I figure having to do that once or twice cold pay for my own scanner. Advanced auto has the 9175 for $129 and has the 9180 for $140. What is the difference? Is it worth getting the little more expensive one?

 

[Tig]

I have an elmscan5 from scantool.net. I am very happy with it.

 

[jdbower]

I have a CarChip which is nice in that you can leave it installed and it records the last 300 miles of driving, but it's bad in that you need a PC to actually do much with it. I primarily use an Auto X-Ray which has a decent display of what it's picking up, but I don't know that it can do much that a cheaper model couldn't. If you drive a particular brand of vehicle more often you may be able to find a model that supports some of their proprietary codes, but I've found that searching for an obscure code online with your make and model frequently finds someone able to explain what it means.

 

[dsb5610]

I have the CP9180. As I recall it comes with the USB cable to download updates where the CP9175 does not. Not sure what the other differences are, if any. I have been very pleased with it. Think I paid around $140 incl. shipping.

dsb

 

[Reg]

I have the ScanGauge, probably the best part about it is that I can add 4 additional gauges in real time as I drive.
MAP, MPG, GPH & RPM usually, but there is a choice of more than a dozen.
The Manifold absolute pressure is in fact a measure of turbo boost.
It also has trip economy and distance to empty functions that I don't use, mostly because I don't record the exact amount of fuel I get at every fill-up.
Battery voltage has been interesting, it seems to be more a function of temperature than electrical load, i.e. the voltage regulator provides higher voltage to the battery when the temperature is low. NO, this isn't because the battery is cold and has a higher internal resistance - I did a little experiment to check for that (-:

 

[texbaylea]

I use AutoTap software on my laptop. It has an amazing array of diagnostic features. It is more expensive but worth it.

Take a look AutoTap - OBDII Diagnostic Scanner

Vernon

 

[EddieWalker]

Excellent timing as I've just started looking for one too. My 1998 Ford F-250 has the ABS light on and lately, it's been running rough when I come to a stop, then smooths out. I have a client who will do the check for me without charging me, but he's way out of the way from where I'm working right now, and I don't know when I'll be able to get to his shop to have him do it for me.

Buying one and just being able to do the test myself makes allot of sense. Thanks for the links and recomendations.

Eddie