HF OBDII Is it worth it?

[charlie56]

Anyone out there have one from Harbor Freight? Is it worth buying one for the tool box or is it a POS?

Replaced tiff with jpg

[daveb]

Probably as good as a scan gauge. Zeta's got the real McCoy

[86Scotty]

Why pay so much? I got this one a year or so ago and it works fine for basic code reading.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[JWA]

Which ever scan tool you choose should be based more on what you want it to do. If simply read codes the $20-60 versions are fine I'm sure.

For a bit more money (>$200) you'd get powertrain and ABS code reading plus the ability to cancel codes if you're effected a repair. I bought an Actron CP9580 a few years ago and with all its features tends to be a lot smarter than I am!

Since I do most of my own repairs as well as diagnostics too the CP9580 works perfectly. Its database can be updated to cover later year vehicles so that it doesn't become obsolete when upgrading to a newer vehicle.

If the budget is key to choice then stick with the best you need for what you want to spend.

[Ford_6L_E350]

I still like the ScanGuage for everyday use.

And just got the AutoEnginuity for real, in-depth scanning and diagnosis.

Mike

[boywonder]

Amazon and Newegg both sell sub $20 OBDII scanners that will do basic scanning and erasing of codes.......

I'm not sure that I see the value in a $60 HF scanner, although perhaps it has a bell/whistle not in the cheap units.

I have 2 cheapies, and they work fine for basic code scans and are can-bus compliant, etc.

[Millerfish]

I have that same HF scanner for a couple years now. On sale with a coupon think it was just over $30. It has worked perfect on all but one vehicle. That was a Volvo.

[Zeta]

Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350

I still like the ScanGuage for everyday use.

And just got the AutoEnginuity for real, in-depth scanning and diagnosis.

Mike

Have you tried the power balance test?--super cool.

Z

[rob_gendreau]

The Scan Gauge is really quite a different beast. Many of us use it as a realtime monitor...the "gauges" part. Like real speed, trans temp, etc. Kind of hard, if not impossible, to do with the HF unit. In addition, you can program in custom gauges, and do lots of other stuff. More involved than the HF, but frankly I'd go with either a basic unit or up to the Scan Gauge end.

Or look for a module that works with a smartphone. Esp. in Android; there are wifi and bluetooth ones that work with phones, and it's great cuz they can save and/or record data, show pretty graphs, etc. If you've already got a phone they might not cost that much more than the HF thing.

[tsbrewers]

Originally Posted by 86Scotty

Why pay so much? I got this one a year or so ago and it works fine for basic code reading.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the one I started out with and it works fine. I "upgraded" to a $20 bluetooth adapter and the torque app on my android phone for about $8 and it is a much better solution.