OBD diagnostics software

[cokewithvanilla]

Ok, I have no idea why this hasn't hit me in all this time, but I just realized that I do not have any form of OBD diagnostic software.. or a cable.

I know a few of you are into cars, and one person here mentioned doing his own diagnostics... so, which software do you use/recommend?

edit: I probably don't need to add this, but just to be clear, I would be looking for something that does more than just pull codes... basically, something that can read all the sensors outputs. Another edit.. I remember the last scan tool I used (which was it's only function, not a computer) could do all domestic vehicles. I would want something that has info for common foreign and domestic.

[Jstas]

http://www1.snapon.com/diagnostics/us/modis

That's the cheapest one you are going to find on the market that will read codes and give you diagnostic info.

Sorry but being a mechanic ain't easy. If there were computers that could do all the dirty work for you, you'd still need a tech to run and maintain them.

Get a scan tool, a laptop with an Internet connection and Google. That's all you need. You can get service manuals from Chilton's or Haynes if you like. You can also go to ALLDTA's website: http://www.alldata.com/ Unless you are fixing multiple cars, you only need a single vehicle subscription to ALLDATA DIY: https://checkout.alldatadiy.com/adec...execution=e1s1 to get a professional level service manual. Unless or course you drop a couple grand on a service manual set for your vehicle from the dealer. If they even sell those to the general public anymore.

[sucks2beme]

I use one of these. Not as spiffy, but handles most diagnostics and brakes.

http://www.amazon.com/Actron-CP9580-.../dp/B003IOITRG

The snap on stuff will let you do a lot more, but the price reflects it.
Sometimes you can find a last generation tool at a pawn shop at a
reasonable price.

[inspiredsports]

I guess I didn't pay close attention, but a young man who is dating one of my daughters and studying to become a BMW mechanic I believe had software on his laptop plus an ODB-to-USB cable that he hooked to one of our cars.

The on-screen display spit out the codes that led us to a broken spark plug wire.

Is a separate scanner better than laptop based programs?

[exalted512]

There's an app for that.

No, seriously. If you have android, its call Torque. All you need is the obd ii bluetooth adapter...around $40 on ebay
-Cody

[shawn474]

I use a scanguage II and then check the codes online. If its something I can handle I do it myself. If not, i take it to the shop. It has literally saved me thousands of dollars.

[sucks2beme]

Last year there wasn't anything that did brakes.
Looks like PC/tablet interfaces have improved.
For me, I prefer it as a stand-alone tool. Even a cheap
one will do most of what you need.

[bobman1235]

Wait, how the hell is an OBD scanner going to handle BRAKES? I mean, aside from ABS issues....

[sucks2beme]

Wait, how the hell is an OBD scanner going to handle BRAKES? I mean, aside from ABS issues....

I had an ABS problem, so I got a new scanner.
My old one required you to look up read codes from a book.
Now it even gives repair hints. The ABS thing was driving me nuts.
Turned out to be straight forward enough with the code.

[bobman1235]

OK. ABS I can understand, I thought you meant like... normal brake problems, and I couldn't even fathom how that could help (or why you'd need it, honestly).

[Jstas]

Wait, how the hell is an OBD scanner going to handle BRAKES? I mean, aside from ABS issues....

A scanner will only handle ABS codes. A scanner will only handled reading codes and maybe giving you a response on what those codes typically mean. However, those responses are general responses across all brands. If a car doesn't have, say, a knock sensor and returns a typical code for a knock sensor, it'll tell you "Knock sensor is your problem". Then you go to the parts store and tell them you need a knock sensor and they tell you that your car doesn't have one. Kinda leaves you in the lurch.

But the OP said he wanted something that will give you live data and read sensors as well as codes. That's a diagnostic box, not just a scanner or code reader. Something like that can give info on what every sensor in the braking system is finding. If the car has tire pressure sensors, it can give you that too. A tire low on pressure can actually cause the braking system to heat up and reduce effectiveness. If you checked it manually after the car cooled down so you could actually touch stuff, something like that wouldn't be readily apparent. It doesn't have to be a severe problem either. Heavy things like SUVs with a single tire down just 6 pounds of pressure may not show a whole bunch of sidewall flex. However, when rolling down the road, the lower air pressure means that the tire flexes more and builds up more heat which in turn can cause a host of other problems from overheated braking systems to tire tread failure/separation.

Diag boxes like the one I posted are very expensive. Even if it's just a software package with a dongle to attach to your particular vehicle. If you have more than one type of vehicle then you'll probably need multiple dongles as well. But to do what the OP is asking, you need something specifically designed to run the OBDII diagnostics programs.

Keep in mind too that OBD doesn't get read the same way as ODBII and not every diag box can do diagnostics on both. Only the very expensive ones. The easiest, quickest and most accurate way to do diagnostics on a an OBDI sensor is to use a multimeter and check voltage across the poles and see if it's in range. Other than that, OBDI doesn't give you much to work with compare to OBDII.

So while you guys have cheaper alternatives, they are no different than a scan tool that just reads codes and maybe gives you a good guess about what's going on. To do diagnostics, you need to drop some coin and honestly, that Snap-On unit I posted is about as cheap as you're going to find and still do what the OP wants.

Diagnostic boxes do not replace good mechanic skills in any way though. They just make it easier to pinpoint a problem. Especially since the computer can get it wrong. Like it telling you that the EGT sensor is reading out of spec and find out that the car is running leaning because of a clogged injector. It wouldn't necessarily tell you that on the diag box and you're replace the EGT thinking that it was faulty with a reading that high. A small pile of money later and still the same problem. Fuel pressure tests and other tests won't necessarily show it. You might have to take voltage readings with a multimeter of each injector while the engine is running to find the bad one. It'd likely read considerably high than the other injectors because of all the work it needs to do to work past the clog. But all you got from the diagnostic box was that the EGT sensor was way outta spec and reading crazy hot. It's a clue but to an untrained/inexperienced tech it's the wrong path.

[cokewithvanilla]

http://www1.snapon.com/diagnostics/us/modis

That's the cheapest one you are going to find on the market that will read codes and give you diagnostic info.

Sorry but being a mechanic ain't easy. If there were computers that could do all the dirty work for you, you'd still need a tech to run and maintain them.

Get a scan tool, a laptop with an Internet connection and Google. That's all you need. You can get service manuals from Chilton's or Haynes if you like. You can also go to ALLDTA's website: http://www.alldata.com/ Unless you are fixing multiple cars, you only need a single vehicle subscription to ALLDATA DIY: https://checkout.alldatadiy.com/adec...execution=e1s1 to get a professional level service manual. Unless or course you drop a couple grand on a service manual set for your vehicle from the dealer. If they even sell those to the general public anymore.

I had three years auto shop class in highschool, where I basically spent the entire day (skipping most classes). I am by no means an expert, but my family has NEVER taken a car to a mechanic for repairs. I do not want a standalone tool, I know those are expensive. Back in highschool, ours was 10k. I am just looking for software that will read ALL sensor output. I believe our OBD tool did that, we could check pressure in each cylinder and that... check voltages and stuff, you know

I am not trying to fix one specific vehicle, as my vehicle is never more than a year old. I am simply thinking about loading up a computer with software and getting the required cable, sitting it in my dads garage for when someone needs it (hence the ALL vehicles and fairly inexpensive)

[sucks2beme]

The Actron listed will give some live data and so far I like pretty well.
Boy, do I know it doesn't do everything! But most of the time
I'm just looking for a few clues. The internet does provide a lot of
information on diagnosing problems, as long as you can logically
sort through it. Otherwise, you'll be throwing a lot of parts at the problem.
My collection of car repair tools and test stuff keeps getting better.
The learning curve of newer cars is pretty tough. Life was a lot
easier working on a 1960 Chevy Bel Air.
Fuel, Fire and Air. Easy concepts.