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Anyone know anything about OBDII Scanners?

3 Jul 2011, 2:32pm
Guys,

I'm planning on doing a lot more servicing and work on my cars in the future, and I'm sure that an OBD2 scanner will come in handy.

The thing is, there so many of them. I've been reading up, and I've just got myself more confused over what I need.

Whatever I get needs to work on the Jag (S-Type Diesel) and the Golf (Mk5 Diesel). I don't expect it to work with the Gooster, as it's an old, pre OBD BMW interface.

Can someone advise? I know that there are specific VAG units, but then a lot of them seem to indicate that they'll do all cars...

I think I'd like a standalone unit - not a PC based one (Mainly as it'a going to live in the garage, and also due to the fact that I run Macs).

Here's what I think may be a candidate:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autel-MS509-Diagnostic-OBD2-Fault-Code-Reader-Scanner-/220761792594?_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D5%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D1082588179287706247&_qi=RTM742988#ht_5218wt_1165

Ta

Jason
4 Jul 2011, 6:35am
Hi Jason.

I looks like it's a different tool for the VAG cars. So would need one for the Jag and one for the VW.
5 Jul 2011, 12:05pm
I bought a £30 VW scanner from EBay it works well, if you just want to read fault codes.
In the end I also got a £6 cable from EBAY that works on K-line and bought a VAGcom license, the real time measuring blocks, and plotting of data is something I wanted. Both work well, depends on what you want it for.
Cheers
Steve
12 Jul 2011, 8:55pm
Hi,

I bought an Autel Vag405 specific scanner to reset service and clear airbag fault codes.

Works great and seems good quality. The one I got was only about £35 so doesn't do O2 or live data graphs....depends what you want it for.

The one I got will do CANbus systems (as on my B6 passat) and will also read / clear engine fault codes on anything else I've tried it on (Citroen / Peugeot/Rover)

Rich