OBD II Scanners And Used Cars
- Thread starter Charmet37
- Start date
Just bought a '96, had the scan done as part of the PPI. Agree, SOP.
I used a bafx obd2 scanner for a couple years and now a different WiFi one. They connect to your smartphone which may be more discrete for scanning on a car lot. I use them in my 05 Silverado which needs an instrument cluster (only the fuel gauge, tach and oil pressure still read correctly) but I am constantly scanning friends and families cars with it.
Just asking for a friend. If there is no check engine light can a scan bring up some issues?
Yes it could.
What OBD2 plugs are you guys using?
I looked up several brands, and the specs seem to be pretty much the same (but the prices vary) - I guess they all have the same electronics.
Is there anything I should look out for?
I looked up several brands, and the specs seem to be pretty much the same (but the prices vary) - I guess they all have the same electronics.
Is there anything I should look out for?
Yes, I do it
Yes- always. Suggest look at DTC readiness first to see if all good for fair number of miles or if someone just cleared the codes. Then if no check engine light I look for coolant temp, fuel trims voltages and pending codes to check the basics if things look good and it runs and shifts nice.
Yes. You want to ensure all readiness codes are set. You want to make sure there are no pending codes. You want to check your long term fuel trims - they should be +/- 5%.
There are some more things if your really keen - but those will get you 95% of the way.
I would not make an offer on a used car without plugging in to it. I ask. If they have a problem I say thank you and leave.
Its been 20 years, but the answer is Yes. I found a car in Long Island New York and I told the seller the only way I would by the car is if he got it inspected up there. The reason I did this was because when I brought it back to Maryland I would have to get the car inspected, since I only has like 30 day tags on this car. Of course it passed Maryland Inspection, but my thought was if Maryland said anything I could pull out the New York Inspection.
Lets be honest, a New York Inspection will be harder to pass than a Maryland Inspection. LOL
I have seen people buy cars for cheap money and they think they are getting a deal and it cannot pass inspection unless alot of money is spent. A case in point is a guy I knew who bought a particular car for like $500.00 and then found out it would need $2500.00 worth of work to pass Inspection. I am very sure on an Inspection that they check for Codes.
The car's computer will store pending codes that it thinks are a problem but hasn't confirmed.
f355spider
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You should also verify the CE light illuminates as you start the car, then go out. That is your confirmation an unscrupulous seller did not remove the bulb. That happens more often that you would think.
Yes, the check engine light is on only when an emissions related code is present.
It will also store old codes unless they've been cleared, especially in other modules besides the engine (ABS, headunit, transmission, etc).
But pending codes are a bigger concern.
Not necessarily. I wanted to do donuts in the snow in my 300, pulled the abs fuse, went out had my fun, then the CEL popped on. Can’t remember the exact code but it was for the ABS system.
But yes, a decent scan tool like an Autel HT200 from Walmart can scan pretty much any computer in a vehicle.
