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Re: Best (cheap) OBDII reader? Posted by Doug W [Email]  (#2371) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Doug W) on Thu, 1 Oct 2015 18:55:44
In Reply to: Best (cheap) OBDII reader?, Nemo, Thu, 1 Oct 2015 13:56:29 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Cheap isn't necessarily best. Remember that your car was built in 2003. The readers that run on your phone are 12 years newer and certainly will work but are unnecessary IMO. OBD II is also just that. It will read OBD engine codes and do nothing for any of the other systems in the vehicle that require a TechII to read - and there are MANY other codes that a cheap OBD II reader can't touch.
I scoured eBay for a computer contemporary with our '05 car. I made sure it has a REAL serial port. You won't find one of those on new ones. I found an old Dell Precision M60 Laptop for less than $50 (but then installed a new display and more RAM - total investment was about $100). When new it was >$2k. It came with Windows XP and will stay that way. The reason for that is the Saab WIS (Workshop Information System) runs best on XP. Saab WIS explains ALL the codes your car can throw at you. You can find it on fleaBay for under $50 (Look up Saab 9 5 WIS). It's indispensable if you do your own work.
To read codes you want OpCom. Search these boards for it. OpCom reads ALL the codes in your car and can clear them. I've used it to diagnose and fix my ESP (stability mgt)system as well as my headlights. You can't do that with an ODB II code reader. You can get OpCom at places like xCar360 or from an offshore vendor on fleeBay. It's made for European GM cars but does Saabs too. It includes a box that plugs in your OBD port, a USB cable, and software. I downloaded the software from a link on these boards as the software supplied with it may not unlock.
The reason I wanted a real serial port is that my '00 BMW can be similarly completely diagnosed with software and a connection that demands a serial port.
To recap what you'll need:
Vintage high power laptop computer with WindoesXP: ~$100
WIS software: ~$40
OpCom: ~$35
Working knowledge of Windows to install the software.
So for less than $200 you'll be able to read and interpret ALL the codes your car can put out. Then again if all you care about is OBD II codes, I like the the Launch C-Reader 6.
Good luck.
posted by 75.38.241...
_______________________________________ '03 Aero 5Spd, Krona, 290 bhp (son's) Sold: '04 Aero Sport Kombi, Sport Tek, BSR '03 Linear 5 spd. Krona Mods, 350 bhp
, Fri, 2 Oct 2015 05:58:47, Thu, 1 Oct 2015 18:55:44 <-- Viewing This Message, Thu, 1 Oct 2015 15:16:27, Thu, 1 Oct 2015 21:07:15
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