I have been seeing and hearing about various code reader dongles and adapters. Some are Bluetooth and interface with an app on your phone. Others convert to a USB cable to convert to an app on a laptop.
People say you can get A LOT more diagnostic data from these vs. the cheap code readers that just give you a code. I own one of those and it is helpful but there are situations where something more detailed might be nice.
One of my concerns is that some of these things I see online seem so cheap. Are they legit? Also, can the damage your car? I am also concerned about bad actors inserting malicious code into these things and using them as a backdoor to mess with your car’s computer.
I deal with lots of cheap garbage in the IT world bought off the internet. Most is just junk from China. I know car parts are no different and that lots of fakes are out there these days. How about these code readers? Also, if there is a more legit version of one of these things that costs a little more, that is fine with me. I just don’t want to spend $1000 on a Snap On or whatever diagnostics system and hear these are nice for DIYers.
I have a code reader that came from Amazon; it cost maybe $30. Basically, it tells me what the code is, maybe what it means, and I can also use the reader to see “live action” data from the engine. Which is neat.
I’m of the mindset that my time is better spent doing other things than trying to diagnose complex automotive problems with my admittedly understocked garage tool set. Hence the $30 OBD scanner, instead of the $1000 one my mechanic uses. And he has free coffee for me while I wait.
I haven’t had a trouble code in years but if I did I’d just head to a shop. Identifying the code is one thing but fixing it is a whole nother ball game. In my humble aged opinion.
The older I get, it makes more and more sense to me to just pay people to do stuff.
I had some landscaping work that needed to be done in the front of my house. Just trimming some bushes, cleaning out gutters, and that sort of thing. As time went on, I started realizing how many tools I was going to have to borrow or buy, and the time it was going to cost me on a weekend. I ended up calling a landscaping guy for a quote. His quote was at the bottom end of what I had in mind. He came, did the work, hauled off the debris in an hour on a weekday, while I was at work. Done.
I like doing things myself but there are limits. A few years ago I hired out painting my house. The first time in my life I ever hired out any painting job. Took a little bit for weather and scheduling but I just watched. Best money spent and I stayed off the ladder. Bought them rolls and lemonade.
Iive got an inexpensive bluetooth dongle that i bought on amazon for about 10 bucks. It sends the data to my phone where ive installed “torque pro” software for 4 bucks. Tells me P9999 codes and what they mean. Also gives me freeze frame data. Does NOT process ABS codes, only PCM codes.
I have several types of OBD2 readers. The best is an OBD2 with ms-can connected by USB to a laptop or tablet or phone. Which app depends on which car. Torque Pro for the truck, Forscan for the Ford and OBDEleven for the Audi. Both the Ford and Audi can read ALL codes, ABS and airbags and the rest.
I have not found a cheap reader that does everything for all.
I am with you. For something straightforward or difficult, I take things to the shop. I used to replace front-end components. I pretty much rebuilt the front end on a couple trucks. Now I would rather pay someone to do that work. That is a time consuming hassle if you ask me.
Basic stuff like oil changes, an easily accessed sensor, alternator, starter, etc. are still things I do. It is usually quicker for me to do it than to take it in and wait or whatever. I can also do it on my own time when I have free time so don’t need an appt or anything.
I have had a couple hard to diagnose situations that I fought with for a while and mechanics couldn’t find. I haven’t taken the truck in mentioned for having misfires yet but I am seeing no codes so am worried I would take it in for nothing.
I have older Fords and a Chevy so that would be my biggest focus. So far my newer Mitsubishi hasn’t given me any trouble that wasn’t an easy fix for me.
That’s great. I prefer to save my money whenever possible. Unless something requires expensive tools and equipment that I don’t have, or additional manpower that I don’t have, I would just as easily DIY and save. And this is true for home repair, car repair, etc.
Yeah me too but I am learning. We remodeled our kitchen and the new sink plumbing connections were about 2” off. I bought about $40 in parts at Menards and another 30 at ace trying to get the drain pipes connected. I gave up and called a plumber. He had to cut the old off and refit the drain. All done in a couple hours the next day. I asked him if he wanted my bag of spare parts but he declined. When I got the bill it was $124. A guy has to know his limitations as Clint would say.
Do it yourself or call in a pro? There’s a compromise a diy’er might consider. Hire a pro to come by for an hour and offer advice on the materials to use & a simple construction method.
No, it had to be cut off at the wall and re done. Plumbers get paid to do the work, not provide instruction. My god father was a plumber and he would have offered advice free but he is dead. I talked to the boss to arrange the home visit. I think he would have thrown me out if I asked to just have a guy come out to consult. Real world.
Now I did take my diverted valve down to a plumber to get a new one. He dabbed his finger in some plumbers grease and said here ya go. Of course he married a classmate that I tried to date and she was right there. So maybe that’s why he took mercy on me. Or maybe he was just a good guy. Otherwise she wouldn’t have married him. I have (had) high standards for dating.