Hi guys,

As per title, Im looking to get a fault code reader as the wife has been done twice now for the garage to look at faults. I could have got a reader for the money she has spent (but I didnt have the time)

So Im looking for a reasonably good locost reader which will work on diesel and petrol engines (2004 diesel a must) and I need to get one fairly quick.

Anyone had good or bad experience with the usual e-bay offerings?? I do have a budget but want to see what the locost world have done.

Thanks chaps and chapesses......


edited to add "is this any good link"


Andy

[Edited on 17/4/12 by AndyW]

If you have an android phone then a dongle and torque works well.

I have this one

Also I have a U581

[Edited on 17/4/12 by big_wasa]

I've just bought an AUTEL MS509 on the recommendation of Britshtrident on here and i'm very pleased with it

It reads live data and has a graphing and recording facility also hooks up to a computer for printing data

Bought mine from Autel direct in the UK and cost about £55 iirc

For hand held scanners it is best to stick to Autel or Memoscan makes as these known to a wide range of vehicles, to be useful you want one that covers pending codes and live data if graphing and print out via a computer are also available all the better. The scanner should cover all current protocols including can bus.

If you want to spend a bit more look at the Autel MS310 Autel MS509 or Memoscan U581
If you have a VW/Seat/Audi in the flleet look at the Memscan U585 --- it cover the same as the U581 but in addition has specialist VW features

Another vote for Autel, they do some nice kit. One of their cheapest ones just gets and resets fault codes, and costs about the same as that Ebay link.

Alternatively, you could try the really cheap option and get an ELM327 lead to work with a laptop (or pad if you get a bluetooth version). The problem is that most of the cheap ones are fakes and are a little unreliable. I got lucky, but many others end up with duds.