Bluetooth Scanner - Any Good?

[zakmuh]

Hello guys!

Im a DIY amature mechanic and Im looking to buy a car diagnostic tool for my little jobs. So Ive been doing some research on Ebay and Google to find out which tool would the best (not expensive) one to go for. At the moment Im working on my 2006 Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi turbo issue. I thought of buying something like Maxiscan MS509 ( http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MaxiScan-MS509-Car-Diagn... ) etc. Lots of people are going for this bluetooth scanning tool that uses Android phone to do diagnosis ( http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ELM327-Vehicle-HH-ODB-OD... ).

Can anyone please advise me whether this tool would do fault code erasing/clearing like EMI/DPF/Airbag job as well?

Many thanks

[shandyboy]

I've one of the ELM units that I bought years ago when a previous car kept lighting it's Engine Management Light (it had been to the garage a couple of times, who'd checked it, and said it was ok and just cleared it - it wasn't worth pursuing as it was only a Daewoo Matiz - there, I've admitted it).

The ELM unit was pretty good at reading codes and clearing the error. It won't clear all errors though - I think airbag warnings are an example as they aren't stored in the same 'area' - for example in my car the unit will clear some warnings but not others as they are Smart/Merc specific.

For the price it's worth having one in the drawer just in case you do ever need to see what error's been thrown.

[zakmuh]

Thanks shandyboy. So its a good piece of tool for a quick findout about the problem in the car I guess. I think I should go for more advance one, something that would clear any type fault code for any make and models.

[Krikkit]

Basic OBD info only really covers engine diagnostics, if you want to go the whole 9 yards you need a laptop with the dealer software with appropriate cabling to be able to connect to all the control units (ABS/AirBag/Climate etc etc)

The bluetooth ones generally work well, but they're quite limited in what they can do.

[zakmuh]

Oh okay. Thanks Krikkit.

Can you recommend one please? PP2000 is dealer level software but thats only for Peugeot and Citreon. Anything similar on Ebay which would work for all cars?

[kambites]

Krikkit said:

The bluetooth ones generally work well, but they're quite limited in what they can do.

They're limited in what they can do easily, which isn't quite the same thing. With the right software they can do anything and there is software out there which will let you do anything if you're willing to put the effort into work out out how.

[kambites]

zakmuh said:

Anything similar on Ebay which would work for all cars?

As far as I know, there is no software that will automatically do everything for all manufacturers. I suspect it would be monumentally expensive if there was.

[zakmuh]

It makes perfect sense that it cant do everything. I think I should get this PP2000 off Ebay for Peugeot and keep one of the other one as well.

Highly appreciated. Thanks a lot guys

[ch427]

That looks like an autel copy to me which id steer well clear of, the original stuff is very good though.

[Dog Star]

ch427 said:

That looks like an autel copy to me which id steer well clear of, the original stuff is very good though.

Looks just lke the Autel to me - what's wrong with those copies? I ask because my Autel was stolen last year along with most of my tools, and that looks like an inexpensive replacement for something I rarely use.

ETA: just read the reviews. I see what you mean now.

Edited by Dog Star on Monday 13th July 14:41

[Disco_Biscuit]

If your after a scanner for pretty much any vehicle which cover all modules you cant go wrong with a Delphi Clone, I've been using one for over a year with no problems, just need a laptop to use it.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Diagnostic-Machine-Tool-...

[zakmuh]

Thanks guys!

Delphi sounds good. So you plug that into the car, scan it and then plug it to the laptop?

[ch427]

zakmuh said:

Thanks guys!

Delphi sounds good. So you plug that into the car, scan it and then plug it to the laptop?

No it stays connected to the car and laptop while you read it, i have one and it has been great but was a nightmare to set up as generally the instructions that come with them are non existent or in part chinese.

[Dog Star]

Can those Delphi jobbies do airbag lights and so on? My stolen Autel could, and that Delphi looks just the job.

[ch427]

yes ive read and cleared airbag faults on a few cars, its very good but obviously very illegal!