OBDII Scanners

[JDNav]

What are some of the better (not pricier) scanners out there and are there any personal reviews of them?

[speedingredline]

I have on of those scanners you can get from advance auto. I forget the name brand, but its worked good on my wifes 01 l300 and my sister-in-laws 9? ford contour

[Sp00ner]

Interceptor- Nice, but slightly limited as a full scanner. As a driver informatin aide, it can't be beat.

I've heard many good things about AutoTaps, but don't have a alot on info on them. Wop should have some better insight.

[(-)]

Are you looking for a reader to look/reset codes ?
You can get them for about $70 at Autozone.

[speedingredline]

Originally Posted by Sp00ner

Interceptor- Nice, but slightly limited as a full scanner. As a driver informatin aide, it can't be beat.

I've heard many good things about AutoTaps, but don't have a alot on info on them. Wop should have some better insight.

did your interceptor get updated yet? I have been watching the sight for a redline model but have seen no updates

[Sp00ner]

Originally Posted by speedingredline

did your interceptor get updated yet? I have been watching the sight for a redline model but have seen no updates

No, I emailed him yesterady about it so we'll see...

[WopOnTour]

One of the best "consumer grade" hand held scan tools I have used is from EASE
It uses a Palm Pilot or Pocket PC to act as the interface and is very full featured
EASE also makes a full "professional grade" laptop scanner

http://www.obd2.com/catalog/data/14_pda/pda_14.htm
http://www.obd2.com/palm/data/palm.htm

Of course anther Palm solution is the AUTOTap, which also has a huge following. Although I personally have never used it, it too appears to be keeping up-to-date with most of the available Class 2 PIDs
http://www.autotap.com

I know a great many techs that own these Palm units without too many issues (although they will NEVER be a substitute for a TECH2)

EASE as a pretty big outfit (formerly McKarny the maker of one of the first laptop based scan tools back in the 80s) so updates and support is very good.

AutoTAP has been releasing updates at a torrid pace trying to keep up with the LS1 and LS2 engines for the V8 boys.

I recently bought a Palm Vx for $25 and a serial cable for $0.99 on eBay (for my Megasquirt) so that's not a major price to pay ($200-300) for what these can do. Plus if you mount it somewhere on your dash it looks pretty trick. (I currently have the Palm Vx mounted in my son's Supra and out at the track everyone asks what's up with it)

BUT
I have not used either of these on the LSJ so I am not 100% certain on exactly which LSJ specifc PIDs are yet supported. Maybe someone here has one of these and can fill us in??


Regards
WopOnTour

[racenpilot]

Originally Posted by JDNav

What are some of the better (not pricier) scanners out there and are there any personal reviews of them?

What do you consider a "pricier" scanner. I have an OTC genesis scanner that I use at work that costs around $3000. To me, the Nemesis that they have out is more of a bottom end scan tool that I think is around or less than $1000. It can still read and clear codes, and I think has datastreams also. It just doesn't do all of the specialized tests that the genesis does.

[JDNav]

I think WOP has it dialed in. $300 bucks for a scanner sounds about right for what I need it for. I have a PDA so the AutoTap seem to be the way to go. Their basic "generic" package sits at $179. Do I really need to get the "enhanced" package?

http://www.autotap.com/enhanced_parameters_gm.asp

[WopOnTour]

Originally Posted by JDNav

I think WOP has it dialed in. $300 bucks for a scanner sounds about right for what I need it for. I have a PDA so the AutoTap seem to be the way to go. Their basic "generic" package sits at $179. Do I really need to get the "enhanced" package?

http://www.autotap.com/enhanced_parameters_gm.asp

Wow
I missed that
The AutoTap boys seem to really have expanded their PID coverage since I last looked. (No doubt due to their recent association with the EFILive crew)

At one time EASE had the advantage on parameter capability but it looks like AUTOtap has now surpassed them. Personally I would order the enhanced package as it will likely have a sugnificant number of additional PIDs that the LSJ PCM can transmit. I still dont see boost pressure or IAT2 though!!
IAT2 is part of the boost pressure sensor (TMAP) near the #1 cyl intake runner and shows the temperature of the air charge AFTER the supercharger.
So far the only scan tool I have seen that can display these is the TECH2

WOT