It depends on what else you want to do with it. The dealer's scanner was the DRB2 for models up to 1995. It required a cartridge for the model you were working on. There were dozens of cartridges, but by 1994 there was a "Supercartridge" with a yellow sticker that matched the color of the service manual covers for that year. That cartridge was also used for 1995 models since nothing changed between those two years. That one cartridge covered all models back to 1983.
For a 1999 model, the dealer's scanner was the DRB3. You can find both of these on eBay. Depending on the year it was built, it will work directly on all Chrysler models back to 1996 or 1998. The first models this went obsolete on was the 2004 Durango / Dakota. The last models it worked on were some 2008 Jeeps. No cartridge is needed with the DRB3, but you can insert an extra cartridge to make it work on models from 1983 through 1993. A different add-on cartridge is available for 1994 through 1997 models. The nice thing about that one is it allows you to do emissions testing on all brands of vehicles sold in the U.S. Starting with '96 models. For that reason, a lot of independent shops bought them. Today, since they are obsolete for the newer stuff, many of those shops want to sell theirs to buy something newer. A used DRB3 will typically bring around $2000.00, but the cost should be coming down now as there's less call for them. They had an entire kit available online for $6200.00. You don't need all the extras that came in that kit. There's just one cable for the '96 and newer models, and another cable for use with the "Supercard 2" if you want to use it on '95 and older models. I've had one of these for many years for all of my older vehicles.
If you're made of money, look at a Snapon Solus Edge. When you buy these new, they charge extra for European import coverage, and extra for Asian imports. Then they charge a huge fee for every annual update. You do not need to buy those updates as long as it is updated new enough to cover everything you want to work on. Another sore point is if you find one that is, say, five years out of date, you have to buy every year if you want to bring it current. To say that a different way, mine is updated through 2018. To make mine current, I'd have to buy the 2019 update before I can buy the 2020 update, etc. That can work in your favor. By the time a shop lets theirs get five or six years out-of-date, it would be less expensive to just buy a brand new one with the latest updates. Being so far out-of-date lowers the value to other shops. The last time I looked, these were on eBay for as little as $700.00 updated through around 2014 models.
A better option if you want to go with an aftermarket scanner is something by Autel. One of our other experts bought one about a year ago and told us he is very happy with it. Based on his glowing testimonial, I bought one about a month ago, but it needs to have the scanner software downloaded over the internet. I haven't done that yet. The fellow I bought mine from on eBay has hundreds of them listed covering around a dozen different models. I think they have something that might satisfy you for a little over $400.00. I got a more expensive model that is supposed to let me program key fobs and some computer modules. This appears to be a very high-quality unit with tough cases and padding.
Other experts may chime in with their recommendations too. Typically no aftermarket scanner will do everything the dealer's scanner will do, but the aftermarket ones will do it on more brands and models. I only own Chrysler products, but I use my Solus Edge more on friends' cars. My scanner gets the most use on Fords and on GM trucks. A friend has this same scanner, but he keeps his updated. He has spent three times more on those updates alone than I paid for my scanner, (used), in 2018.
Be aware too, there's a lot of very inexpensive code readers available online that are far superior to what was out there just a few years ago. The older ones could only read codes in the Engine Computers, and if they could display live data, the screens updated painfully slowly, as in once every couple of seconds. I found one recently that can read codes in a number of other computers including Air Bag and Anti-Lock Brakes, and the live data displays refresh very quickly. Some of these cost less than 20 bucks. Most of these inexpensive units just read and display data. Full scanners are "bidirectional", meaning you can talk back to the computers and command them to run tests and do other things like turn relays and solenoids on and off.
Let me know if you have other questions or if you need help setting something up. Most of the newer scanners just get plugged in and you start punching buttons. Some, like the Solus Edge include code tips and troubleshooting steps built in so you don't have to find a service manual for every problem.
Saturday, October 21st, 2023 AT 1:24 PM
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