Anyone have any luck with one of thease?

[PEETYZ]

Hey I was looking into gettin a check engine and other error code light reader does anyone have one? Where do i start? Any advice on the subject is appreciated

[contourbs]

go auto zone and they check it for free

[PEETYZ]

ohh thanks can they also clear any stupid ones that would be a very expensive fix that wouldent change anything?

[contourbs]

at which are those ones

[PEETYZ]

well i guess i dont really care if my car puts out a lil more polution cause we no longer have an E check

[lakesidepark]

If you have a computer (duh...guess you do...) you can buy a module that will read the codes, plot outputs of sensors, monitor engine functions, etc. It can also reset codes. The one I bought is called the "CarChip". Plug it in to the OBD11 connector, it will record up to 300 trip events and can monitor temperature, speed, sensor outputs, and will record any error event even if it clears itself.

It is VERY handy for those situations where the "check engine" light comes on but goes out before you make it to Auto Zone. You can also see the performance of oxygen sensors before they go so bad that they cause malfunctions.

My only advice (if you drive like I do) is NOT to keep it plugged in. When I saw my trip chart with a period of sustained speed of 110mph for over 5 minutes, I figured it is not something you want investigators to find in your car after an accident.

It IS a good thing to put on your kid's car. It records any "disconnect" event too so you can tell if it was unplugged for s speed run in your car.

[guardian]

Originally Posted by lakesidepark

If you have a computer (duh...guess you do...) you can buy a module that will read the codes, plot outputs of sensors, monitor engine functions, etc. It can also reset codes. The one I bought is called the "CarChip". Plug it in to the OBD11 connector, it will record up to 300 trip events and can monitor temperature, speed, sensor outputs, and will record any error event even if it clears itself.

It is VERY handy for those situations where the "check engine" light comes on but goes out before you make it to Auto Zone. You can also see the performance of oxygen sensors before they go so bad that they cause malfunctions.

My only advice (if you drive like I do) is NOT to keep it plugged in. When I saw my trip chart with a period of sustained speed of 110mph for over 5 minutes, I figured it is not something you want investigators to find in your car after an accident.

It IS a good thing to put on your kid's car. It records any "disconnect" event too so you can tell if it was unplugged for s speed run in your car.

Agreed . . . assuming you mean a laptop. And I agree everybody needs to have a laptop. I would never even CONSIDER a dedicated diagnostic unit. Lappy or PDA connect is the only way to go.

Everybody makes these things. Here below are some of the players, but you can find these laptop interface packages under every rock out there. It's a low barrier to entry: you take a little computer savvy and a little car knowledge, mix 'em together and, Shazzam!!, you gotcherself a package:

http://www.nology.com/products_old.html

http://www.troublecodes.net/articles..._Windows.shtml

http://obddiagnostics.com/

http://www.auterraweb.com/index.html

http://www.scantool.net/

http://www.samarins.com/diagnose/checkengine.html

[not sure about that last one - might be just a backgrounder]

So, anyway, which setup is best? Is it one of the above or maybe one of the many other offerings out there?

Sorry, I have no clue.

But I would try my best to buy from a company I expected to be around for a while.

[lakesidepark]

actually...no laptop required for the unit I noted. It monitors and stores the information, then you remove it and plug it into your USB port. There is no access to the unit from a computer when it is in the car. It is simply a data logger.
http://www.davisnet.com/drive/produc...asp?pnum=08221
link to the CarChipEX

I looked at some of the other devices listed, the drawbacks being that they are inconvenient for full-time monitoring as they require the computer interface to be connected (and I take long trips I don't have a laptop with 8 hour battery life).

Drawbacks to the data loggers - no "real-time" monitoring. No instant report of the failure. That does require a dedicated diagnostic device or a device that reports real-time to a computer.

Benefits - it keeps the record of events in non-volatile memory so if there is an event during a trip, you can still review the events after you have popped a beer open and sat down in front of the computer. I would hate to have to keep a laptop active on a long trip if I was looking for an intermittent problem. With this thing I just take it out when I get home and upload the data charts and event logs.

It makes real pretty O2 sensor charts. I could tell immediately which sensor was getting weak even without a code being set.

I haven't investigated the other options. I bought my CarChip after two mad dashes to Auto Zone just to have the code clear before I got there. The module recorded the next event (bank2 sensor2 O2 failure) during a long road trip. Saved me lots of time and guesswork.

Also saved me a trip to Auto Zone for a loose gas cap on another trip

[guardian]

Originally Posted by lakesidepark

actually...no laptop required for the unit I noted. It monitors and stores the information, then you remove it and plug it into your USB port. There is no access to the unit from a computer when it is in the car. It is simply a data logger.
http://www.davisnet.com/drive/produc...asp?pnum=08221
link to the CarChipEX

I looked at some of the other devices listed, the drawbacks being that they are inconvenient for full-time monitoring as they require the computer interface to be connected (and I take long trips I don't have a laptop with 8 hour battery life).

Drawbacks to the data loggers - no "real-time" monitoring. No instant report of the failure. That does require a dedicated diagnostic device or a device that reports real-time to a computer.

Benefits - it keeps the record of events in non-volatile memory so if there is an event during a trip, you can still review the events after you have popped a beer open and sat down in front of the computer. I would hate to have to keep a laptop active on a long trip if I was looking for an intermittent problem. With this thing I just take it out when I get home and upload the data charts and event logs.

It makes real pretty O2 sensor charts. I could tell immediately which sensor was getting weak even without a code being set.

I haven't investigated the other options. I bought my CarChip after two mad dashes to Auto Zone just to have the code clear before I got there. The module recorded the next event (bank2 sensor2 O2 failure) during a long road trip. Saved me lots of time and guesswork.

Also saved me a trip to Auto Zone for a loose gas cap on another trip

Excellent post. Thanks.

I was not really aware of the data logger class. It is interesting and I am happy to learn about it.

Am probably more of a laptop, wanna be one with the engine in real time type, myself. Batteries not a problem: I bought my little inverter years before I ever owned a laptop. It doesn't even get warm with the lappy attached and running strong.

But it's all whatever floats yer boat - what class of tool you choose and then what choice you make within that class. You have to examine ALL the options.

Thanks again for mentioning that data logger. Very slick.