OBDII Scanner Choices

[Antichrist]

Advance Auto is having a 50% off sale so I picked up a Actron CP9180 for $90 and change.
Actron CP9180

But I'm wondering if there's is something better, or just as good, for similar, or even less, money.
I've seen the software ones that I could install on my laptop and use a USB cable with, but haven't seen any Land Rover owners' comments on how they compare. I know next to nothing about OBDII.
I have read that readers like the above don't communicate exactly right with Land Rovers and can give misleading readings.

In my case it's for use on our '97 Disco.

Thoughts?

 

[stolenheron]

i've been using that scanner for my 04 D2 for 2 years now. it hasn't let me down yet.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Does it do anything other than powertrain OBDII and live data?

The only thing comparable I'd suggest considering is a ScanGaugeII. Pretty much the same thing, but designed to be mounted for use while you're driving. Nice for the digital temp readout, MPG gauge, etc.

If you want something more full-featured for a Land Rover, maybe consider the Hawkeye. I was just about to buy one until my trans failed and now I have other things to worry about.

 

[Storz]

I am a big fan of Actron stuff, I have a scanner, multimeter and timing light from them and all function properly and are super easy to use. The timing light was my fathers and is like 30 years old, still works like a champ

 

[Antichrist]

Does it do anything other than powertrain OBDII and live data?

No idea.

The only thing comparable I'd suggest considering is a ScanGaugeII. Pretty much the same thing, but designed to be mounted for use while you're driving. Nice for the digital temp readout, MPG gauge, etc.

I'll be installing a real gauge and average mpg is good enough for me, so just doing the math now and then is fine.

If you want something more full-featured for a Land Rover, maybe consider the Hawkeye. I was just about to buy one until my trans failed and now I have other things to worry about.

Would be nice, but way out of my budget right now.

 

[4xdog]

Costco (in the store, not online) has for the last several months stocked a modest, but perfectly useful OBDII scanner for about 35 bucks from CodeKey. Approximately the size/shape of an iPod. Seems to do everything I need (read/reset codes) on every vehicle I've tried it on so far.

 

[timmy!!!!!!!]

Whoa! Tom when did you get a 97 disco? I thought you were a manual transmission only .

 

[Antichrist]

Just got it Friday. I do prefer manual, but my wife wanted an automatic.

 

[evilfij]

I bought the $30 special at pepboys and has read and cleared codes fine on everything I tried it on.

 

[Antichrist]

Hmmm....so maybe most of the features of the CP9180 are of no use on a Land Rover and the PocketScan for $40 would cover all my needs? Actron CP9410
I'm not a member of any of the warehouse clubs, so that's not an option. I'd check PepBoys but the one near me closed and their web site totally sucks.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

You really need to tell us what it is that you want it to be able to do. Reading and clearing codes is just the basics. It's helpful, but it's not enough to keep a truck running, really. Live sensor data is nice. I don't think you'll be getting that on a $40 unit. And none of these will talk to the ABS or body control computers.

 

[sven]

Ive been using this: http://www.obd-2.com since 2004. When you buy it, you get lifetime updates. They are released every couple of months. There are some Land Rover specific tests builtin, however I THINK they are intended towards P38/D2 or higher. I tried running these extra tests on my 99 D1 and nothing happened. The live data collection is really nice. You can capture whatever you want and replay it later for analysis.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Have to be careful with that stuff. I bought the ScanGuageII expecting all kinds of extra features (engine data, etc.) and most of them don't work on the Rover. I bet it's the same with most of these.

ScanGuage left a lot of the development to the enthusiast community. Basically, it gives you the tools to probe the computer memory banks, but it's up to us to figure out what's where and how to interpret it to get live data. Many other vehicles have guys who are working on this, kind of an open-source project. But for whatever reason, the LR community isn't.

 

[craig]

Elm 327 is an open standard for OBDII hardware that has probably over 100 software clients available for it on all platforms: Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Linux, etc. Because it is an open hardware specification the hardware is available from many different manufacturers. You can get the hardware with either a USB or a bluetooth connector. Bluetooth is required for use with the phone.

See:
http://www.elmelectronics.com/DSheets/ELM327DS.pdf - Hardware spec
http://www.scantool.net/
and Google on Elm327

Good stuff w/o the vendor lock in. You can find the hardware from $29 to over $200 depending on what connectivity features and performance you want.

 

[Antichrist]

In the near term I want to be able to read the codes (I can reference the online list for what it means) and clear them so the CEL goes out.

Long term, it would be nice to get more information, but that's the problem, I don't know what works with D1's so I don't want to spend money on something with features that don't work with Land Rovers, D1's in particular.
ScanGaugeII sounds like it has possibilities, if people can write software to work with it. The ScanTool stuff looks good too.

Sounds like I should just go with the $40 Actron CP9410 while I do more research.