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[terry paget]

Three of my cars are now OBD2 compliant. I see some very cheap OBD2 readers on e-bay. My two 2.2s do not give paper clip codes, so I fancy a reader. I recall in the past some of the cheap readers were deemed illegal, and possibly could cause ECU damage. Which one should I buy?

[Nick W]

Don't buy a really cheap one, as they're very limited. Ensure that whatever you get displays live data, as that enables you to do proper diagnosis. I had good results from a Maxiscan for the last 6 years, but that model is no longer available. You need to be spending about £50 to £60.

[tunnie]

I need to get a code reader myself, I remember a few posts around an Android based app reader.

You get a bluetooth reader, which plugs into the dash, then an App to read. Must re-research it....

That said, I would prefer a hand held tech2 style unit for the garage, due to oils and other stuff that always get everywhere

[aaronjb]

I, too, have a Maxiscan MS509 and have had no problems with it personally - though as Nick says, I think that model is now discontinued..

[tunnie]

I, too, have a Maxiscan MS509 and have had no problems with it personally - though as Nick says, I think that model is now discontinued..

Yeah, looks so, shame looks good:


http://www.amazon.co.uk/BW-MS509-Autel-Maxiscan/dp/B001LHXTO0

[YZ250]

I, too, have a Maxiscan MS509 and have had no problems with it personally - though as Nick says, I think that model is now discontinued..

Yeah, looks so, shame looks good:


http://www.amazon.co.uk/BW-MS509-Autel-Maxiscan/dp/B001LHXTO0

I have the Autel Maxiscan MS509 as well.  It reads/clears codes and does live data and fuel trim readings. Works fine on my 3.2, my son's Navara and daughters Pug so it is good enough for what I need it for. I only bought it to read and clear codes as the other stuff is gobbledegook to me.
There are loads of copies of these around though. If you go to the settings menu and search for the serial number and see a load of hyphens,dashes and general nonsense, it will be a copy as the legit product has a proper serial number. Oh, and on the fake one the battery unit for storing live data until you put it on your laptop will probably not work either. 

[terry paget]

I gain the impression from the internet that the MS509 is no longer made, so now all versions sold are counterfeit. ASlso the MS509 only does engine codes, not ABS or airbag, whereas the MS605 does them all. Please advise.

[Andy H]

A Bluetooth dongle and Android app works for me in my facelift 2.6.

Torque can read codes and show live values.

The Torque developer gives some advice on adapters here Bluetooth adapters. You can get one for £6 or £7 but it will probably a Chinese clone with issues. I paid £15 for mine and it seems OK.

ScanMyOpel reads codes and live data on my engine, gearbox and ABS ECUs. It also claims to work with the Airbag ECU but I haven't managed to get that to work yet.