OBD Scanner recommendation

Sshabir

Hi,
I have got a steady orange Engine Management light on my Juke and was wondering what is a tried and recommended product to scan OBD codes?  Sorry i am very new to this OBD stuff hence any advice is much appreciated or is it just worth taking it straight to the garage?
Many Thanks in advance.

AdrianC

One of these plus the free version of ScanMaster on my Android phone does me just fine.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184583075093

But will you know what you're looking at when you get the code?

Supersonos

I'd just take it to the garage.  I think the OBD will just give you a code and, unless you know what that code means (and then how to fix it), it'll be a bit of a waste of time.

JustAnotherSaver

At least with a code reader you know if the garage starts saying you have this that and the other wrong then you can question it if yours only says one thing. 

Note: some code readers won't detect fault codes that others do. I have a Bluetooth one that isn't as detailed as the one I connect to my laptop. 
But at least it gives me an idea of what's flagging and I can erase codes and anything that comes back is probably faulty. 

Some pieces of kit and software give more info which is even more helpful such as coolant temp reading on my wife's Astra... As Vauxhall had the bright idea of not fitting a temp gauge. 

AdrianC

JustAnotherSaver said:

At least with a code reader you know if the garage starts saying you have this that and the other wrong then you can question it if yours only says one thing. 

Note: some code readers won't detect fault codes that others do. I have a Bluetooth one that isn't as detailed as the one I connect to my laptop.

EOBD is a standard set of powertrain-only codes that must, legally, be supported by all petrol cars after 2001 and all diesels after 2003. If the EML is on, it'll be an EOBD code.

On top of that minimum, every manufacturer has their own codes to cover a whole raft of other stuff - including ABS/stability, transmission, HVAC, etc etc. That will need manufacturer-specific software and probably hardware.

Some pieces of kit and software give more info which is even more helpful such as coolant temp reading on my wife's Astra... As Vauxhall had the bright idea of not fitting a temp gauge. 

Even if it did have, temp gauges these days don't tell you the actual temp. They tell you that it's "about right", unless it really isn't - and a light does that just as well. They don't want to worry you with detail...

JustAnotherSaver

Yeah I only use the gauge as a guide, but on my Astra that guide told me that when it was rock bottom and only moved when in traffic but then when I got moving it dropped again - I needed to look at changing the thermostat. The car ran perfectly fine with no signs that it needed replacing other than that. Similar with my Mondeo. 

Though anyone with a MK5 Astra and the standard head unit - there is a way to get the temp on the display and if you do this then don't be alarmed when it's over 100 degrees. Apparently normal for that car. 

Sshabir

I am trying to educate myself as I do have interest in cars.  After finding the code I probably will Google it.  I am a bit fortunate as one of my neighbor is a mechanic and I usually get my car quoted/ fixed there and today he will be popping over with the OBD scanner to find out the fault code and give me a quote.  Hopefully a good starting guide to get quotes.  Thanks for all the replies.
If anyone is wondering which car it is guess what it's a Juke.  Terrible car.

facade

One of the £15 scanners will be fine for what you want.

It could be literally anything, but if it drives perfectly, and isn't using excessive fuel it is most likely the post cat lambda sensor indicating a catalyst fault, probably caused by an exhaust leak.

There are gazillions of people who think the Joke is a great car, so many that it is Nissan's second best seller after the qashqai, and several other manufacturers are copying the style

AdrianC

facade said:

There are gazillions of people who think the Joke is a great car, so many that it is Nissan's second best seller after the qashqai, and several other manufacturers are copying the style

...when all it is is a Clio on stilts that's been battered with the ugly stick.

fred246

I remember talking to a man who owned a garage. He bought a scanner for £30 and charged customers £70 for 'diagnositics'. He said it was unbelievable the amount of money he had made from it.

facade

AdrianC said:

facade said:

There are gazillions of people who think the Joke is a great car, so many that it is Nissan's second best seller after the qashqai, and several other manufacturers are copying the style

...when all it is is a Clio on stilts that's been battered with the ugly stick.

I'd have to do a count to be sure, but I reckon Jokes outnumber Audis round here