CAN Scanner recommendation?

Tiny
BLAZ85
  • MEMBER
  • 2020 NISSAN ROGUE
  • 2.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 18,912 MILES
Often when assisting people in diagnosing their problems, you recommend that a CAN scan be done. Along with that recommendation, you almost always state "there is one available on Amazon. Com that will perform this function on most vehicles". Could you identify the scanner you referring to? I may be interested in purchasing one.

Thank you in advance for your reply.
Tuesday, November 19th, 2024 AT 10:17 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,573 POSTS
There are multiple scan tools out there these days. It comes down to what you want to be able to do as far as repairs. The basic code readers will generally give you the powertrain codes and possibly limited live data. The next step up will give you that but will pull codes from more modules and will offer limited bi-directional controls, like oil life resets or brake service modes. Then you get into the units that do a lot more but are not quite a full on do everything possible tool. Then there are the top end scan tools, those are the OEM equivalent machines that can do as much or more than the factory tools and include module programming and cloning to be able to do pretty much all the repairs on the vehicle. Last you have the actual OE tools, which are generally not a DIY tool because they are actually limited by the brand. So you might have the tool for Ford, it works on anything under that brand but hook it to a GM and all the advanced items vanish. These are also insanely priced, and you need to pay monthly fees for each one just to be able to use them.
As far as the aftermarket brands are concerned, there are three brands that I generally refer folks to. All three have various tool levels from a simple code reader on up to full out professional tools.
The brands are Autel (https://autel.us/), Launch (https://www.launchtechusa.com/) and TopDon (https://www.topdon.us/). I tell folks to avoid the cell phone-based tools where you put the software on the phone to use it. While those work for some things the tiny screen can make them difficult. Plus, they are sometimes limited to one or two vehicles, and you have to buy coverage for other vehicles, and they may not offer that. I suggest going to those sites and looking at what they have in the price range you desire and compare what each one does and select the one you like. I would also caution you about buying from an unknown online seller, there are a lot of them out there but in many cases they may not be supported very well.
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Wednesday, November 20th, 2024 AT 6:48 AM

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