From: Mike Linksvayer (ml@gondwanaland.com)
Date: Mon Feb 10 2003 - 15:32:53 MST
On Mon, Feb 10, 2003 at 01:52:13PM -0800, Mike Lorrey wrote:
> It is highly extropic to be one's own mechanic. Claiming that cars are
> too computerized now is no excuse, because the computers actually make
> it EASIER for the armchair mechanic to diagnose complex problems.
>
> You can buy, at any AutoZone or other auto parts store (or Sears
> Roebuck, or eBay) online or offline, a code reader that you can plug
> into your car to read the diagnostics codes. These readers are
> generally about $100-200 bucks, and can save you thousands in mechanics
> fees over time.
>
> If you have a Handspring Visor PDA, you can purchase Mac Tools' ODBII
> scan tool kit, which plugs into the Visor slot and turns it into an
> even more feature packed code scanner that works with just about any
> car built since 1992. Retail price for this kit is $350 US (Handspring
> Visor not included). Mac also produces an occilloscope kit for the
> Visor ($450) that allows you to track two separate signal sources on
> the screen up to +/- 50 VDC.
Neat info. I've never owned (nor leased) a car for lack of need
and to avoid the psychological and financial drain. Effective DIY
computer diagnosis of problems would lessen my perception of "drain".
I gather from a few minutes of surfing that all 1996 and newer
vehicles (and a few slightly older ones) are "OBD II" compliant,
and an OBD II code reader like http://www.iequus.com/3100.asp?CatShort=3100
sells for ~$125. One plugs the reader in and looks up the code on
the readout via something like
http://www.iequus.com/3100.asp?CatShort=CodeDef, right? What other
features can a code reader (is a code scanner the same thing?) have?
-- Mike Linksvayer http://gondwanaland.com/ml/
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Mon Feb 10 2003 - 15:36:07 MST