Recommend me an OBD code reader, please

Recommend me an OBD code reader, please

Author
Discussion

ChickenvanGuy

Original Poster:

334 posts

185 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
Afternoon all,

A check engine light popped up on my 2005 mk7 Accord yesterday. It runs absolutely fine but I need to get it sorted. It was MOT'd last week, so there's no imminent pressure, but it's something that needs investigation - could it be being out in the snow? I doubt it!

There are loads of code readers on Amazon and eBay - so many it's hard to choose.

Please recommend decent, reasonably priced ones - or are they all pretty much the same?

I use an Android phone, so happy to use a bluetooth one, or a wired one. Running older cars as we do, it'd be a good thing to have in the garage in any event, but for now just looking to read the CEL code and clear it, see if comes back.


Thanks.

d_a_n1979

11,441 posts

86 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
My pal who has a Subaru, Mitsubishi Evo, Honda Civic FD2 and Accord Type S estate uses this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ANCEL-Automotive-Japanese...

He said it's been great for simple code checks and diagnostics etc and rarely has he needed to reach for his SanpOn 'stupidly expensive' reader etc...

Said it was only £50 when he bought it; prices have upped, but looks like there's 10% off via the tick box

ChickenvanGuy

Original Poster:

334 posts

185 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
d_a_n1979 said:
My pal who has a Subaru, Mitsubishi Evo, Honda Civic FD2 and Accord Type S estate uses this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ANCEL-Automotive-Japanese...

He said it's been great for simple code checks and diagnostics etc and rarely has he needed to reach for his SanpOn 'stupidly expensive' reader etc...

Said it was only £50 when he bought it; prices have upped, but looks like there's 10% off via the tick box
Thanks, I'll have a look at that one. We have two Hondas and a Toyota in the family, so could be worth the outlay.

Jordie Barretts sock

6,018 posts

33 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
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I paid a tenner on ebay for one.

Works fine.

Pitre

5,262 posts

248 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
Jordie Barretts sock said:
I paid a tenner on ebay for one.

Works fine.
yes

Triumph Man

9,092 posts

182 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
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Not long ago I bought an Autel AP200 reader - at the time it was £50 and you get one lot of vehicle software free, and it's then £20 for any additional. It paid for itself on its first use! Plus it can regen DPFs, adjust suspension calibration, reset service lights, EPB service mode, tell the car it's got a new battery etc.

It's a bluetooth one and you can get it for ios or android. Worth pointing out that my cheapie £10 reader didn't pick up a code (when the car had thrown an EML and gone into limp mode!) whereas the AP200 did.

Veryoldbear

241 posts

118 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
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Most cheap OBD readers can give you a code and a way of cancelling it. However, you may need to Google to find out what the code actually means ...

ChickenvanGuy

Original Poster:

334 posts

185 months

Tuesday 13th December 2022
quotequote all
Thanks guys, ordered one for delivery on Thursday.

CraigyMc

17,857 posts

250 months

Wednesday 14th December 2022
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Pitre said:
Jordie Barretts sock said:
I paid a tenner on ebay for one.

Works fine.
yes
Mine was £3.88 delivered iirc. Elm327 bluetooth obd reader, talking to a free app on my phone (the app is the free version of 'torque')

tight fart

3,220 posts

287 months

Wednesday 14th December 2022
quotequote all
Aldi do one for £18, in stock from the 15th.