Cheap OBDII reader

[knochgoon24]

Any clue if this will work with a 97 Talon?
eBay Motors: OBD ELM327 1.2 USB CAN-BUS Tool Interface Scanner U327 (item 370022331932 end time Feb-12-08 15:32:59 PST)

I'm just looking for something cheap to monitor my car. Mostly basic benchmarking. I kick up a CEL every once in a while and I'm tired of going to Advance Auto Parts and using their reader to check and reset it. I like to keep track of the CELs so I can figure out exactly when they trip.

I have a laptop and it seems this will connect right up. It seems like you can use any one of the listed pieces of freeware to connect to it.

And before anyone suggests, I don't have the money to invest in PocketLogger or DSMLink right now. Poor college student...

 

[talonalex92]

Hm. I would just goto harbor freight and get one that displays on the reader itself. I got mine from my snap on guy, but its the same style. Small screen, 2 buttons. I love it. Heres a harbor freight version, but you get the idea. Mines the same only black w/ red buttons. Came with a little booklet too, I love it.

 

[jemsoccer]

That looks like it would work... I'm in the same position as you, poor college student, but I'm getting my tax refund soon and it should be nearly 900... So I'm thinking about getting Link, or at least a good logger.

 

[talonalex92]

I still stick with my unit. Best bet for your money. Most user friendly. Yadda, yadda.

 

[Nofear20]

Unless I am mistaken it looks like the ebay logger has way more features then the harbor freight one. The ebay one has the ability to act as a pocket logger on a laptop while all the harbor freight one does is check engine codes. Am I right or wrong?

 

[knochgoon24]

Yeah, the ebay one looks like it will act as a pocket logger, just with a laptop instead. It has a nice list of freeware to use with it. Some of them look like they aren't half bad.

The Harbor Freight one looks like it's just a reader. I would like to get basic logs out of it too.

Apparantly, it uses an ELM327 integrated circuit chip to decode the ECU codes and send them to the computer via USB. It's then up to the software to deal with the info from there.

I was just wondering if this looks like it's worth $40. Does anyone use something similar to this?

If it don't get any negative feeds against getting it, I might get it to try and later write up a thing on here about it.

Anyone want to pitch into the fund? -->Total outside funds >$20 guarantee a write up and software reviews!

 

[talonalex92]

Unless I am mistaken it looks like the ebay logger has way more features then the harbor freight one. The ebay one has the ability to act as a pocket logger on a laptop while all the harbor freight one does is check engine codes. Am I right or wrong?

No, thats all it does. Thats all he said he wanted at first, plus most people dont have there lap tops in their car at all times. And I wouldnt buy the harbor freight one, I was just giving an idea. My snap on unit, was about 10 dollars more.

 

[knochgoon24]

Since my car is still almost completely stock, all I really need/want is a logger. Anything else would be overkill. My sister has a 98 eclipse so i'm betting that the logging feature will be nice when it starts acting up too.

An OBDII reader from walmart would cost me $50, so even if this only works for reading codes (which it should do and more) it would still be a save.

Has anyone use something this simple or does everyone jump from nothing to DSMLink?

 

[Nofear20]

I think a lot of people just buy PDA's and use them as loggers. But the laptop would have all the same features, if it worked. I wouldn't mind trying it out.

 

[talonalex92]

Its more or less a space saver. I keep my lil reader in my glove box, and my pda at home so I dont risk looksing or hurting it. We dont need it in the car at all times, ya know?

 

[knochgoon24]

Yeah, besides checking CELs, I'd like to be able to go out and do a few runs, just to keep track of preformance every once in a while. I wouldn't be keeping it permanately in my car. I don't have the time or the need for that.

I liked it because it works with a laptop, which I already have. If I wanted something for a PDA, I would probally just get PocketLogger.

Once I get my paycheck Thurs, I think I'll order one and tell you all how it goes. It might be a cheap monitor for us noobs.