Looking for Code Scanner Reccomendations...

My wife's uncle has a couple of cars with check engine lights on and he's looking for suggestions for a code scanner.

First vehicle is an 04 Chevy Express van

Second vehicle is an 02 Chrysler Concorde

He's looking for something relatively inexpensive.... my guess is that means < $500. It's a plus if the scanner is pretty flexible, because they are constantly getting 'new" cars... lol.


Thanks in advance....

Is he looking just to read the codes & clear the CEL?

Check ebay for a OBDI or II scanner, I picked up a code scanner for ~$40 bucks.

Go to Autozone. They'll do it for free.

Quote: Originally Posted by BRAZEN06GTO... Is he looking just to read the codes & clear the CEL? Check ebay for a OBDI or II scanner, I picked up a code scanner for ~$40 bucks.

Yep, he just wants something with enough horsepower to tell him the code and to be able to clear it.

Quote: Originally Posted by elpuerco... Yep, he just wants something with enough horsepower to tell him the code and to be able to clear it.

Here's what I have.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CAN-B...%3D5%26ps%3D63

Looks like it'll work on the '04 Chevy van & '02 Chrysler Concorde.

Quote: Originally Posted by Sabraxas... Go to Autozone. They'll do it for free.

This.
And there are plenty of cheap code readers if that's all the functionality you need. Just be sure that you get one that is CAN-bus capable as many of the later model vehicles are using it (including the 05-06 GTO), and all of the new ones are. As long as all of their "new" cars are '96 and later, any OBDII/CAN reader should work with them although there are sometimes exceptions especially with the super-cheap ones.
If the budget is actually up to $500 then you can get much more than a basic reader, for that price you can get a scanner that will also read other useful data such as freeze-frame (OBDII parameters captured when a code is set, useful for troubleshooting), readiness monitor status (good for prepping for an OBDII state inspection), and real-time live PCM data.
Take a look at the offerings from AutoXray at www.autoxray.com

BTW, there's a tech section for these types of questions.

smurfing noob.

Quote: Originally Posted by BRAZEN06GTO... BTW, there's a tech section for these type of questions. smurfing noob.

Quote: Originally Posted by elpuerco... Yep, he just wants something with enough horsepower to tell him the code and to be able to clear it.

Something with this level of functionality should cost no more than $100.