Can anybody recommend a quality scan tool? To be used on any car, all models OBD 1/2. Budget 3 hundred or so, assuming I even need to spend that much. There's quite a few brands and prices out there, kinda lost as to the differences. I'm not afraid to spend more money on a nice product if it's really worth it.

If you want one that does both and is an excellent tool, much more in depth than the handheld crap

Snap On MT2500

i have the innova 3130 and it's great. I can see live data, just plug it in, hit the button and it gives you all the sensor readings live and will snapshot the data when it reads a problem. I paid like 250 for it at Kragen. I believe it reads obdI & II but i only have the II connector so i have to order the I.

Okay, let's just talk about OBDI 3rd Gens. Snap-On MT2500(old brick) is no longer supported and that's why they are going fairly cheap on CL and if it breaks then......it's broken. You can't really do much with the MT2500 on OBDI vehicle other than scan codes and see slow data. I have personally worked on Snap-on and OTC scanner and I prefer the Snap-on. Since you can't really do much with the scanner on the OBDI vehicle, any decent scanner will do and I definitely recommend you invest on a graphing meter like the Snap-on Vantage. Or better yet, if you can afford a lab scope, that would be even better. When it comes to OBDI, the graphing meter will come in very handy diagnosing all the sensors in your car, any car that is. TRUST me.

i have this one,http://buy1.snapon.com/products/diag...IN&dir=catalogand the vantage pro

I would rather get my car professionally dyno tuned, and buy another car for over 7k... haha

you are right but i did that all that already.

That just seems like alot to drop on a scanner tool. Do you own a car shop or anything?

Edit: Just looked at your profile... Work for GM... That I can see very reasonable.

Dude, you don't even know what a MODIS is. If you learn what it is capable of, you'll find out why it cost 8 grand. It also cost at least a grand to keep it updated yearly. In case you didn't know. It's a real BAD *** tool especially if it's in a real technician hands. But if it's in your hand and don't have experience with it then it nothing but a........ah well, nothing. I have been eyeing one of those. I'll get one someday when I become a BAD *** tech. For now, I'll keep my hands busy with my Snap-On Solus and Vantage. Cost me over 6 grand back in 2004.

all them scan tools are overpriced i have the solus i couldnt bring myself to spend 10k on a modis.

please go a little more in depth for the knowledge seekers here?

Go a little more in depth! You can't just go "a little more in depth" about it. There a class you or anyone can take that Snap-On offers and it's 2 day course. Ok, I'll give you a little more in depth.

It's a:
scanner--retrieves DTC just like the other scanners
DVOM--you should know what that is
4 channel lab scope--you can check your primary or secondary ignition pattern. If you have a misfire, you'll see which cylinder(s).
It can also.....ah I'm done. You said a little more in depth.

I really liked the trouble shooting help the MODIS gives in addition to all of the scan data. It was always a big hand to me and well worth the price paid for someone wrenching professionally, but it certainly is pricey for the guy who just wants to work with his own stuff. The Innova 3130 does a descent job with computer codes, but you usually have to buy one with the OBDII connector then order your OBDI seperately, unless they've changed their offering in the past couple years. I used one several times before getting access to a MODIS, and was pretty happy with the results.

modis deffinately a great tool but our shop couldnt bring themselves to spend that much when we do not do that many diagnostics. i have used it tho. and it is a great tool.

i borrow this one from my teacher all the time http://diagnostics.snapon.com/ethos

its so insanely good.

i am using this one right now not sure of the model. This is not exactly what the one i am using looks like but the design is pretty close

He wants one to use on his car guys. Will spending thousands of dollars justify itself when he is only working on his own car, and maybe few others. The answer is and always will be no. We recently acquired a modis in addition to our vantage in our shop but we work on dozens of cars per day with customers willing to pay top dollar.

300$ should be more than enough to get yourself a obd1 and 2 scan tool with live data graphing and stored data. Our small go to scanner is actually a craftsman that does both obd1 and 2. We have a few Equus handheld lying around the shop aswell.

You're both about a year and half late to this thread. herbz28 - looks like a pic of an older OTC scantool.