What Automotive Scan Tool Should I Get?
Deciding on the right scan tool for your automotive repair needs depends largely upon what the scan tool will be used for. Will you be performing diagnostic repair services at work? Perhaps the scan tool will be used at home to self diagnose your own vehicle's engine troubles. The range of available scan tools can be overwhelming, even for auto repair professionals.
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Professional Scanning Tools: Snap On
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Snap On Tools offers a number of specialty vehicle scanners which plug into a car's OBDII port. The benefit of utilizing professional grade scanning tools such as those offered by Snap On is that they work with multiple vehicles and can scan the entire car for problems. Professional Snap On scanning tools include additional adapters for use with vehicles manufactured after 1980 as well as upgrade capability. Snap On diagnostic scanning tools can be updated every year to include new cars manufactured in the current model year. The greatest drawback to professional scanning tools is the price; Snap On diagnostic tools cost in excess of $1,000 (as of 2011), often making them a feasible idea only for professionals.
Professional Scanning Tools: Matco
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Professional diagnostic scanning tools from Matco are priced about the same as Snap On tools, and provide the same level of diagnostics. Matco scan tools also plug into the OBDII port of the car to be checked. Matco scanning tools can be updated every year to cover new cars -- in the same way that Snap On tools can -- as well.
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Amateur Automotive Scanning Tools
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Amateur automotive scanning tools are available from a range of companies. While these scanners do not have the capabilities of the more expensive professional scanners, they do bear a much lower price. Expect to pay between $200-400 for a quality diagnostic scanning tool from companies such as Equus, Actron or AutoXray. These units are similar in many respects in that all the units plug into the OBDII port on your car and provide readings for many of the computer's functions; they differ mostly in the packaging of the diagnostic tools. All three allow you to clear trouble codes as well as scan a vehicle's computer.
Scanning Tools to Avoid
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Scanning tools, by their very nature, are expensive to purchase and own. For this reason, it is important to be aware not only that there are new scan tools of dubious quality on the market, but also secondhand scanning tools that should be avoided. Any automotive scan tool priced below $100 should be suspect. Even among used tools, prices below that point tend to indicate that there is some problem with the unit. While professional scan tools might occasionally be offered for sale in secondhand stores such as pawn shops for low prices, a professional scan tool offered for a price that is too good to be true could be stolen.
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References
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