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OBDII Diagnostic Scan Tools

17 messages,  Last post on Dec 18, 2009 at 5:02 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Wagon

Messages Page 1 of 2

#1 of 17 OBDII tool by superj

Mar 28, 2007 (8:00 pm)

After getting multiple CELs within the last couple of months on my 2001 Forester, the dealer "fixed" the current error and said that it was a gas cap issue (charged me $120 for THAT). Only reason I had the Subaru dealer check it is that our regular mechanic couldn't decipher the meaning of the code (thought it was the car's computer that was the error), that and I was due for a 90k service. Anyway, other than making frequent trips to either Autozone or shelling out 120 bucks at the Subaru dealership each time the CEL comes on, I figure I could purchase a OBDII tool to figure out what the errors are. I was curious to find out if anyone else has one. If so, what kind? How well does it work? Price?
Thanks!

#2 of 17 Re: OBDII tool [superj] by subearu

Mar 28, 2007 (8:18 pm)

Replying to: superj (Mar 28, 2007 8:00 pm)
if you have a laptop (not even a high priced one, just needs a serial com port or USB), you could try http://www.obd-2.com - get the ISO version for your Subie.
 
-Brian

#3 of 17 Re: OBDII tool [superj] by discopete

Jul 03, 2007 (6:08 am)

Replying to: superj (Mar 28, 2007 8:00 pm)
I bought a code reader on sale for $100(regular price $150)about three years ago at AutoZone. Wal*Mart is selling cheaper ones recently, although mine looks to be of better quality.
 
I have used the code scanner to delete a couple of alarms that turned on the CEL. They didn't look like serious problems and did not reoccur after deletion. When the knock sensor went bad, I knew that it was a real problem because the alarm would return if deleted.
 
An OBDII scanner is nice to have.

#4 of 17 Re: OBDII tool [discopete] by ateixeira

Jul 05, 2007 (10:25 am)

Replying to: discopete (Jul 03, 2007 6:08 am)
Agreed. I've used mine a couple of times, to troubleshoot my car and to clear a code when my wife forgot to tighten a gas cap.
 
I've also used it for two friends to read and clear codes from them.

#5 of 17 Check Engine Light by tamsher

Sep 05, 2007 (4:46 pm)

I have a 2000 forester and have now replaced at least three oxygen sensors (front as well as rear) a knock sensor and a third sensor that's not coming to mind right now.
I replaced the knock sensor about a month ago, had the codes cleared, came up clean, and the next day the engine light came back on.
I have only had the car about 16 months and it currently has 120,000.
Kind of getting annoying.
Anyone know of this situation ???

#6 of 17 Re: Check Engine Light [tamsher] by ateixeira

Sep 06, 2007 (10:59 am)

Replying to: tamsher (Sep 05, 2007 4:46 pm)
Perhaps the sensors are not malfunctioning after all. Maybe they really are reporting the correct symptoms.
 
Do you know what the codes were each time? Misfires? Or something else?
 
Spark or fuel, as they say. Could be the plugs or plug wires, or the ignition coil. Hope it is because all are cheap and easy fixes.

#8 of 17 Re: OBDII tool [superj] by tygertone214

Nov 17, 2008 (5:24 pm)

Replying to: superj (Mar 28, 2007 8:00 pm)
here's a practical code reader at a good price http://www.etoolcart.com/equus-innova-canobd-2-code-reader-3110.aspx
 
although there are more simplier ones available at a lower price too....

#9 of 17 Re: OBDII tool [tygertone214] by xwesx

Nov 17, 2008 (5:35 pm)

Replying to: tygertone214 (Nov 17, 2008 5:24 pm)
Yes, mine is just like that sans C.A.N. compliance. It works well for reading the codes, but does not give real-time diagnostic information. For the price, it has paid for itself over and over again by allowing me to read/clear codes. I much prefer to clear codes that are recurring (like P0420) rather than leave them active and risk having a new, serious code trigger but go undetected. The readers are worth quite a bit just through added piece of mind!

#10 of 17 Re: OBDII tool [superj] by jsaban

Apr 17, 2009 (9:48 am)

Replying to: superj (Mar 28, 2007 8:00 pm)
I was going to the dealer too always to get things repaired. Find out $100s of dollars later that all I needed was a scan tool to do it myself. The dealer charged me $100 every time they hooked up to my vehicle and then charge me crazy costs to repair. I have now bought a great little scanner that I use on all of my vehicles. This is one of the best tools I have ever bought!!! Here is the place I got it from: http://mechanicdoctor.com/
 
I paid around $50 bucks.
 
Good luck!

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