obd usb cable scanner

[Magnu420]

can anyone recomend an obd scanner/reader for a kia rio 04 plate
first time i had a car with obd connector and just want to keep things in check
with electrics,engine etc etc

seen this ELM 327 CAR DIAGNOSTIC CODE READER SCANNER V.1.3A 2010! on eBay (end time 25-Apr-10 22:44:54 BST)


or this USB Car Diagnostic Scanner with EngineCheck Software on eBay (end time 10-Apr-10 16:33:34 BST)


also i want it to workwith a laptop ...any advice

 

[fes_786]

those code readers will give u a basic code
wont have much detail and can access ecu but not much else

 

[Magnu420]

what other types of code readerss scanners is there

 

[phawk754]

this type will do 99.99999% of thing that a home diy would need it to do ,you can go nuts and buy one for 100000 of pounds that will over right the setting on a cars ecu but if you are not 100% sure what you are doing you can kill your car and most d.i.y,s will not need this

the only thing better with the 2nd one is that is has a copy of EngineCheck Software , i am sure if you look round you could find this Software or something like it for free

 

[Magnu420]

ive found a copy of palmer performance scanxl.elm scan s/ware
would a cheeper version of a scanner do or is it best staying away from them

 

[fes_786]

i cant help much as i have specialist dealer level equipement that costs lots ££££

but i would think that any generic obd scanner like a elm will do the trick for engine related faults

i would try to get something that specalises a bit in jap cars

 

[thebigman]

If you want overkill, here's the tool that KIA dealers would use to access all systems. No idea of cost though (main dealers were charged about £1500 by kia/hyundai when they came out, these'll be clones).

Either of the tools in your first post will access the engine sensors and clear engine fault codes.

thebigman

 

[digidude]

sorry for the hijack, but does anyone know would the one in the top link work on a 97 BMW 318iSE?

 

[witchy]

sorry for the hijack, but does anyone know would the one in the top link work on a 97 BMW 318iSE?

ELM327 based devices work with almost every engine available mate.

 

[digidude]

ELM327 based devices work with almost every engine available mate.

cheers m8, any ideas where the socket may be on my car? lol

ive recently had a new engine dropped into my car by a rally prep place thats not too far from me, same engine as the one that blew up in it, but what i have noticed is that the limiter no longer causes the engine to 'bubble?' at about 6300 rpm, i noticed this when pulling off from a round about a bit quick alongside another car, and i never look at the dash, but as i changed into 3rd, glanced at the rev counter to fild it falling back towards 7000, only 7k on the clock lol so it was off the scale. ive also noticed that it has a lot more 'oomph' when you floor it than it used to, it now goes like fook lol

so really its just out of interest id get one of these to see what the cars computer says is going on if i decided to take the car for a spin over some empty mountain roads

 

[witchy]

Check here mate, looks as though your car uses the old round style adapter.

Compatibility

 

[digidude]

yeh, nothing under by the pedals, ahh well, i wont get one then lol, cheers for th info though

 

[fes_786]

the connector will be in engine bay its a round connector
i dont think ur car is obd compliant

or u could try with a adapter for it:

so if u got around £50 - £60 to burn then its worth a go