Fault Code Readers

[Bluebottle]

I'm thinking of buying one and would like to know if anyone has any recommendations. I've seen them from around £60 upwards for self-contained devices which tell you the code number and can reset the light on the dash and I've also seen one for just under £100, which interfaces with a pc, made by Gendan Automotive Products.
The reason I want one is that the local Toyota dealer wants £57 for just plugging in their computer to tell me what's wrong before they even think about fixing it. There's a problem with Previa's y'see, the Malfunction Indicator Light comes on around 40000 (43000 in our case) because of a small problem with one of the 4 oxygen sensors. I got a local chap to look at it for less money, it's the 'bank 2' sensor on the exhaust manifold, one of 2 sensors before the cat. he reset the ligh but it came on again soon afterwards.
Now that I know what the problem is I'm not too bothered by it but....
How do I know there isn't something else wrong now? I could be looking at the light thinking "it's just that sensor' when, for example, all the oil has fallen out or something daft like that

So, that's why I want my own fault code reader

[The STIG]

In this day and age, it sounds like a worthwhile investement.

have you tried a motor factors? you never know...

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by Bluebottle

The reason I want one is that the local Toyota dealer wants £57 for just plugging in their computer to tell me what's wrong before they even think about fixing it.

That's because he has invested thousands and thousands of pounds in premises, equipment and staff so he can plug into your car.
Are you sure that something that costs £60 will do the job?
My uncle has spent a fortune on code readers and still has to send some cars into main dealers to find out what the problem is, sometimes even for them to be baffled.
This is one of the downsides of modern technology.

[Bluebottle]

Originally Posted by falcemob

Are you sure that something that costs £60 will do the job?

No

That's why I'm asking

[StuiE]

Oxygen sensor faults are often (but no always) a fault with something else that affects the mixture, IE: air leaks, air mass meter

[Bluebottle]

What I want it for is not as a substitute for professional maintainance but so that I can be sure the MIL isn't indicating something other than the existing minor problem. It's a known problem amongst Previas of that age and dealers are 'fixing' it by replacing all 4 sensors and the cat as well as reprogramming the ECU! There's a really long thread about it on the Toyota Owner's Club forum.


Warrenty's expired of course

[icemachine]

Don't know if its same other there but all OEM cars sold post '96 in N. America requires that they can be plugged into an OBD II - type reader.

These are priced from about $50 CAD to $500+. Basic readers just give you a code number, which you can then look up in books or online to find out what it means for your car, fancier ones with LCD screens can tell display that information, some have outputs for you to connect to your laptop. You can get all sorts of information from these including emissions data.