# Recommend a Scanner Tool for Check Engine Light & Diagnostics **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 8, 2017, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scanner-tool-for-check-engine-light-diagnostics/790797 "2017-07-08T23:49:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2017, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scanner-tool-for-check-engine-light-diagnostics/790797/1 "2017-07-08T23:49:12Z")
I’m thinking about getting [one of these](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004IV58AY/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I1X39DI9JRUMWW&colid=1KW3WJ7U5FF86) to pull off the codes in the event of a “Check Engine Light” on my Toyota. Any Dopers use these devices? The one I selected seems fairly bare bones regarding utility. Should I be looking for more features? Note that I plan to use this only if the “Check Engine” light comes on. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scanner-tool-for-check-engine-light-diagnostics/790797/2 "2017-07-08T23:59:10Z")
Ehh, most OBDII readers do about the same thing. If they can speak the protocol the bus speaks, it’ll be fine. It will most likely just display a generic code when the manufacturer-specific codes are thrown. Now, you can spend 10X the price and get a reader that reads most Toyota codes, but that seems excessive unless you’re going to be modifying the vehicle. You can usually get a manufacturer-specific diagnostic code read by a garage for a reasonable fee. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2017, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scanner-tool-for-check-engine-light-diagnostics/790797/3 "2017-07-09T00:07:52Z")
I use a reader similar to [this one](https://www.amazon.com/Foseal-Bluetooth-Scanner-Diagnostic-Android/dp/B00T5G53ZM/ref=sr_1_5?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1499558692&sr=1-5&keywords=bluetooth+obdii) coupled with [Torque on Android](https://torque-bhp.com/). Works great for check engine type stuff, and has lots of other features to boot. As **scabpicker** says, it won’t have all the manufacturer-specific codes built in, but frequently you can find the decoded meaning on various forums. ---
**Author:** ![dirty\_hippie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@dirty\_hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirty_hippie)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2017, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scanner-tool-for-check-engine-light-diagnostics/790797/4 "2017-07-09T01:14:04Z")
Scangauge II but kinda pricey. It also functions as a very useful tool to access other info that isn’t on your dash instrument cluster. Many hybrid owners use it. I have one on my first-gen Honda Insight. Also have an Ultragauge on my Scion xB. Sent from my C6916 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2017, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scanner-tool-for-check-engine-light-diagnostics/790797/5 "2017-07-09T01:18:10Z")
A friend of my dad’s owned an auto repair shop. He had a tester and software for all the car manufacturers. He purchased updates regularly for the new cars. He got cancer and had to retire. Sold the business. He couldn’t legally sell the diagnostic software. A big investment cost that he lost. I take my car to a local shop. They charge a small fee to read the service code. It’s waived if they service the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2017, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scanner-tool-for-check-engine-light-diagnostics/790797/6 "2017-07-09T04:31:23Z")
On par with **Dr. Strangelove** , [this one](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AAOOQJC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage) and Torque. ---
**Author:** ![Dickerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2017, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scanner-tool-for-check-engine-light-diagnostics/790797/7 "2017-07-09T05:48:21Z")
The auto parts stores around here let folks use theirs gratis. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2017, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scanner-tool-for-check-engine-light-diagnostics/790797/8 "2017-07-09T06:11:36Z")
> [@Dickerman](#): > > The auto parts stores around here let folks use theirs gratis. Great **Dickerman**! Tell me where you live and I’ll be right over. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2017, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scanner-tool-for-check-engine-light-diagnostics/790797/9 "2017-07-09T08:34:07Z")
> [@Dickerman](#): > > The auto parts stores around here let folks use theirs gratis. They don’t do so out of the goodness of their hearts, they’re relying on the fact that a code tells you _where_ a problem exists. Not what the problem is. They’re hoping you’ll buy a bunch of (non-refundable) parts from them trying to make the code go away. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2017, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scanner-tool-for-check-engine-light-diagnostics/790797/10 "2017-07-09T12:14:39Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > I’m thinking about getting [one of these](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004IV58AY/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I1X39DI9JRUMWW&colid=1KW3WJ7U5FF86) to pull off the codes in the event of a “Check Engine Light” on my Toyota. Any Dopers use these devices? The one I selected seems fairly bare bones regarding utility. Should I be looking for more features? Note that I plan to use this only if the “Check Engine” light comes on. Hey, just bought it on Amazon. Funny, Amazon also recommends - Calms, an herbal stress reliever. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2017, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scanner-tool-for-check-engine-light-diagnostics/790797/11 "2017-07-09T18:42:54Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Great **Dickerman**! Tell me where you live and I’ll be right over. 😉 Pretty much any **AutoZone** and **O’Reilly’s** will do this. ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scanner-tool-for-check-engine-light-diagnostics/790797/12 "2017-07-09T23:37:33Z")
Note that it will be hit or miss when purchasing any of those compact ELM327 code readers on eBay. I know from experience. As long as you get a quality, full feature, Non-bluetooth one, you should be good to go. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scanner-tool-for-check-engine-light-diagnostics/790797/13 "2017-07-10T18:28:26Z")
I bought this from [Harbor Freight](https://www.harborfreight.com/can-obd-ii-deluxe-scan-tool-60693.html)several years ago and have been very, very pleased with it. It has saved me well over the purchase price in repairs during that time (of course, I maintain 6 vehicles for my family). They have cheaper ones as well, but I like the additional features in this model like manufacturer specific codes (both active and pending) and emission module readiness check. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2017, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scanner-tool-for-check-engine-light-diagnostics/790797/14 "2017-07-10T19:37:26Z")
slight -but on-topic- hijack: Isn’t there an app for this? Sure, I’d have to buy a cable, but isn’t there an app or computer program that can process that OBDII data? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scanner-tool-for-check-engine-light-diagnostics/790797/15 "2017-07-10T20:09:33Z")
I use [BAFX 34t5](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NLQAHS/)based on reviews. Pair with Torque ($free) or Torque Pro ($5) on Android. Places like Autozone are surprisingly willing to do things for free without holding their hands out. If you only need to do it once, it’s the easiest way. I bought mine though because I like tinkering/exploring.