What scan tool should I buy?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 197
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From: Ridgefield CT
What scan tool should I buy?
The C4 Store is selling the Auto Xray EZ Link scanner for $165 which is $35 less than suggested retail. This seems like a good deal and I need a scanner for my 89. Does anyone have good or bad experience with this tool or vendor? Is there another brand I should consider? I've never used a scanner before. :confused:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,388
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From: X
Re: What scan tool should I buy? (skidmark)
I usually use a paper clip and my manual http://www.helminc.com/helm/homepage.asp
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 8,540
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From: And on the fifth day, subpoenas were served to Obama senior staff
Re: What scan tool should I buy? (skidmark)
That sounds like a good little scanner, I have the upgraded one for OBDI and OBDII. You can't beat that deal.
You can learn a lot with a paper clip, but it sure makes a world of difference to see what the sensors are reporting (or what the ecm THINKS the sensors are reporting).
I never would have found my bad ecm w/o that scanner, or at least it saved me a forturn in process of elimination.
Pete
You can learn a lot with a paper clip, but it sure makes a world of difference to see what the sensors are reporting (or what the ecm THINKS the sensors are reporting).
I never would have found my bad ecm w/o that scanner, or at least it saved me a forturn in process of elimination.
Pete
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,200
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Re: What scan tool should I buy? (PeteL)
I have the AutoXray EZ Link and i paid more that $165. Get the Xray! You will not be sorry, I use mine on my 94 and and because it will scan Chevy,Dodge,Ford you can help your friends from time to time.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 197
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From: Ridgefield CT
Re: What scan tool should I buy? (Rich_01659)
Thanks for the quick replies. I'll order it in the am. Jon M., i'm afraid if I tried the paper clip trick I'd look like one of those spiked hair rock freaks. :D
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: X
Re: What scan tool should I buy? (Pete89)
I'm pretty sure advanced auto parts is selling it for 89 bucks
Drifting
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,801
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From: St. Paul MN
Re: What scan tool should I buy? (skidmark)
I went around and around about this topic a few months ago. I ended up buying this tool. 
It is way better than the autoxray, okay, now that statement is going to start a big fight, hahahaha. If you get it through your Mac tools guy it is only $700. Why buy a tool that you can use on your car now but now on your C5 when you get it? Just charge your buddies $25 whenever they want their cars scanned and fault codes cleared and you will pay for it. Here is the full link to the description. http://www.actron.com/cgi-bin/web_st...d=4421081_6007
It is way better than the autoxray, okay, now that statement is going to start a big fight, hahahaha. If you get it through your Mac tools guy it is only $700. Why buy a tool that you can use on your car now but now on your C5 when you get it? Just charge your buddies $25 whenever they want their cars scanned and fault codes cleared and you will pay for it. Here is the full link to the description. http://www.actron.com/cgi-bin/web_st...d=4421081_6007
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: And on the fifth day, subpoenas were served to Obama senior staff
Re: What scan tool should I buy? (Bob86ZZ4)
Bob that is a bad comparison; however if you must that is almost as good as the $500 x-ray that does all those things and more. Way better, do more homework! For $170 vs $700, give me a break. Different applications, and the full featured x-ray is less expensive and is downloadable to a pc for export to excel and other programs for analysis (plus it's own analysis software).
However for an OBDI scanner for the price of $170.00 the x-ray cannot be beat.
I was going to buy a Tech I equiv. with all the modules, but the x-ray was close enough for a back yard guy - heck for most work.
However for an OBDI scanner for the price of $170.00 the x-ray cannot be beat.
I was going to buy a Tech I equiv. with all the modules, but the x-ray was close enough for a back yard guy - heck for most work.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,679
Likes: 2
From: Honolulu HI
Re: What scan tool should I buy? (skidmark)
The C4 Store is selling the Auto Xray EZ Link scanner for $165 which is $35 less than suggested retail. This seems like a good deal and I need a scanner for my 89. Does anyone have good or bad experience with this tool or vendor? Is there another brand I should consider? I've never used a scanner before. :confused:
Aloha,
Larry
Racer
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 269
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From: woodstock, Ga
Re: What scan tool should I buy? (skidmark)
I have an exray and it worked great on my 90, however it will not work on an 86 I had. the technology on the early c4s ECMs is not compatible with the tool. I understand the early c4s had a slower computor..... ( i think they were revised in 87?) but count on it, it wont work on an 86, the 90 was great. The company has a website and they are very helpfu, leave them a message and theyll call you back, good outfit. You will still need diag. flow charts to trouble shoot a code.
i paid $159 from On Tool in Cali.
i paid $159 from On Tool in Cali.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 197
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From: Ridgefield CT
Re: What scan tool should I buy? (frank moran)
Thanks guys, I ordered the xray from the C4 Store this am. Larry, your tool looks great but $700 is more than I want to spend and I have no intention of getting a C5 in the near future. Frank, I checked the On Tool site and they do have it for $159. That's a great site.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 4
From: Mexico Beach FL
Re: What scan tool should I buy? (PeteL)
I was going to buy a Tech I equiv. with all the modules, but the x-ray was close enough for a back yard guy - heck for most work.
As just one other example, with the car in the air, you can command the ABS active on one wheel and have someone turn that wheel by hand while your foot is firmly planted on the brake pedal with the engine running -- if the ABS is working, that wheel can be turned by hand. You can read the individual wheel speed from each wheel speed sensor and compare it to the speedometer -- going down a straight road, they better all read the same.
But, I paid over $1000 for all the software and the unit.
Tom Piper
[Modified by Tom Piper, 12:40 PM 1/23/2002]
Drifting
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,801
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From: St. Paul MN
Re: What scan tool should I buy? (PeteL)
Look what I predicted in my first post "that'll start a fight."
Okay Pete, you think the Auto Xray is a better unit. That's fine for you. I think the Kal is better. I would be willing to bet that you have never held a Kal unit in your hands. They are clearly better made than the Auto Xray. If Auto Xray has "the best warranty in the business" how come it is only for defects that "appear within the first 365 days and are reported within 455 days"? My Kal warranty is for 3 years. I just wish you wouldn't have tried to insult me by slamming my post. I put up the post to offer Skidmarks some more ideas on a scanner. I think buying a $165 scanner is just fine if that's what he wants to do. But I'll bet he also owns an OBD II car, or two. And if he doesn't yet he soon will. Maybe not a C5 tho. I did my homework and bought what I wanted to buy and I am happy with it. Now, I can't say that about my transmission, but that's a different story. Good Luck.
[Modified by Bob86ZZ4, 11:40 AM 1/23/2002]
Okay Pete, you think the Auto Xray is a better unit. That's fine for you. I think the Kal is better. I would be willing to bet that you have never held a Kal unit in your hands. They are clearly better made than the Auto Xray. If Auto Xray has "the best warranty in the business" how come it is only for defects that "appear within the first 365 days and are reported within 455 days"? My Kal warranty is for 3 years. I just wish you wouldn't have tried to insult me by slamming my post. I put up the post to offer Skidmarks some more ideas on a scanner. I think buying a $165 scanner is just fine if that's what he wants to do. But I'll bet he also owns an OBD II car, or two. And if he doesn't yet he soon will. Maybe not a C5 tho. I did my homework and bought what I wanted to buy and I am happy with it. Now, I can't say that about my transmission, but that's a different story. Good Luck.
[Modified by Bob86ZZ4, 11:40 AM 1/23/2002]
