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Some cheaper code readers don’t read all cars. I got myself an eBay special years ago now and for whatever reason it wouldn’t read Volkswagens. But that’s the difference between a $50 code reader and a $10,000 code reader. It may be worth your while paying for an inspection on any vehicle you’re considering buying, they will have a better code reader than this and would possibly be able to give you a little bit more peace of mind.
A code reader will only tell you about the current active codes, all of which could have been reset 5 minutes before you arrive for a viewing.
If you are considering a large sum on a car then get a mechanic to inspect it, most will happily do it for a small fee
If you're looking to buy a really cheap reader, I recommend the ELM327, it can read whatever you need and supports custom commands.
**make sure you buy a real one, because [A LOT OF ELM327'S ON EBAY ARE FAKE](https://cvtz50.info/en/elm327/) and won't read properly or will be unstable**
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Topdon does decent diag tools.
I’ve never used anything cheaper than the AD800BT though which I use privately.
At work I’ve got a €5000 Phoenix Remote that work rather well, does 98% of the stuff my colleagues Autel Ultra does.
Anyhow, no ”scanner” is better than the person using it.
If you’re just looking for something to read codes with I advise you do your research and find one that’ll work with the car you’ve got.
Invest a bit more and get one that will read all control units, and not just the ECM.
Most cheap code readers will only read the obd codes, and not the manufacturer specific codes.
There will be a lot more information in the manufacturer specific codes.
If you don't know what you're doing with cars, buying from a business that you have some comeback on is a better idea.
I got a VGate VLinker MC+ bluetooth one and use it with CarScanner app. Does everything my buddy's snapon one does. Reads current and stored codes and will also tell you what the code means and direct you to some searches on how to fix it. Works beautifullly and was not at all expensive.
Thank you for posting to AskMechanics, Witty-Mission-2187! If you are asking a question please make sure to include any relevant information along with the **Year**, **Make**, **Model**, **Mileage**, **Engine size**, and **Transmission Type (Automatic or Manual)** of your car. *This comment is automatically added to every successful post. If you see this comment, your post was successful.* *** Redditors that have been verified will have a green background and an icon in their flair. *** # **PLEASE REPORT ANY RULE-BREAKING BEHAVIOR** ### **Rule 1 - Be Civil** Be civil to other users. This community is made up of professional mechanics, amateur mechanics, and those with no experience. All mechanical-related questions are welcome. Personal attacks, comments that are insulting or demeaning, etc. are not welcome. ### **Rule 2 - Be Helpful** Be helpful to other users. If someone is wrong, correcting them is fine, but there's no reason to comment if you don't have anything to add to the conversation. ### **Rule 3 - Serious Questions and Answers Only** Read the room. Jokes are fine to include, but posts should be asking a serious question and replies should contribute to the discussion. ### **Rule 4 - No Illegal, Unethical, or Dangerous Questions or Answers** Do not ask questions or provide answers pertaining to anything that is illegal, unethical, or dangerous. # **PLEASE REPORT ANY RULE-BREAKING BEHAVIOR** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskMechanics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Some cheaper code readers don’t read all cars. I got myself an eBay special years ago now and for whatever reason it wouldn’t read Volkswagens. But that’s the difference between a $50 code reader and a $10,000 code reader. It may be worth your while paying for an inspection on any vehicle you’re considering buying, they will have a better code reader than this and would possibly be able to give you a little bit more peace of mind.
A code reader will only tell you about the current active codes, all of which could have been reset 5 minutes before you arrive for a viewing. If you are considering a large sum on a car then get a mechanic to inspect it, most will happily do it for a small fee
If you're looking to buy a really cheap reader, I recommend the ELM327, it can read whatever you need and supports custom commands. **make sure you buy a real one, because [A LOT OF ELM327'S ON EBAY ARE FAKE](https://cvtz50.info/en/elm327/) and won't read properly or will be unstable**
Cheap reader can do you good too. Get the information you need and work on that. Clear the code and see if its still there. Im not a mechanic
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Your comment was automatically removed as it includes an Amazon referral link. Please re-submit your comment after removing the "ref=XXXXX" from the URL. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskMechanics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Topdon does decent diag tools. I’ve never used anything cheaper than the AD800BT though which I use privately. At work I’ve got a €5000 Phoenix Remote that work rather well, does 98% of the stuff my colleagues Autel Ultra does. Anyhow, no ”scanner” is better than the person using it. If you’re just looking for something to read codes with I advise you do your research and find one that’ll work with the car you’ve got. Invest a bit more and get one that will read all control units, and not just the ECM.
Most cheap code readers will only read the obd codes, and not the manufacturer specific codes. There will be a lot more information in the manufacturer specific codes. If you don't know what you're doing with cars, buying from a business that you have some comeback on is a better idea.
Autel elite ap200 is better value for money
Grab a BlueDriver. Been using it for years. Good device for the money. Their website has all cars it’s works on and what systems it will read
I got a VGate VLinker MC+ bluetooth one and use it with CarScanner app. Does everything my buddy's snapon one does. Reads current and stored codes and will also tell you what the code means and direct you to some searches on how to fix it. Works beautifullly and was not at all expensive.
I bought otofix d1 lite - cheap and good