I picked up a diagnostic code scanner today. I'm happier than a pig in POOP[sm=lockeddance.gif]
I bought the Actron CP9145. It can also read ECU data.

I'm open for business. Free code reading and clearing.

 

That looks good, but we got better scanners at our school. For like $200 we got a scanner that hooks up to a laptop. I think that the scanner you have retails for like $200 so they are about the same price. The only thing is that you need a laptop, but my teacher scored a couple old *** ones that the school doesn't use anymore. Its pretty cool since you can look at like 10 sensors at the same time and it has graphs. I know that when i buy a scanner its gonna be a laptop scanner. I like the laptop scanner because it lets you do so much more stuff than the code readers. I dunno what the one you have does, but i think that scanners that let you see live sensor data with graphing capabilities really help when you have to diagnose a problem. I actually have one of our scanners from my school with me, this one hooks up to a PDA. Its pretty good, but i don't think its as cool as the laptop one. I find that the laptop scanner takes a little more time to load and takes a little more practice to use it easily.

Edit: I found the scan tool that our school uses, its called AutoEnginuity and its costs $249.95. I think that you can actually flash the PCM if you have the new ROM which is a pretty cool feature.

 

personally i would think an all purpose obd+ scan tool would be better, especially if you plan on switching from obd2 to 1 or 0. After all, most people dont chip obd2's at least that anyone is throwing around that fact.

 

All purpose OBD scanners are really goo because you can scan any car. The only problem with these scanners is that they are extremely expensive. I know that the Snap-On MT2500 can read a whole bunch of OBD I and older cars but it costs somewhere in the $2500. And you also need to buy different adapters for different cars since every company used different ports. I don't know of any scanners that hook onto laptops or PDAs that are OBD I. I don't even think the code readers come in OBD I since they would have to come with like 20 different connectors. I know a couple people that have chipped OBD II cars. My friend tells me that lots of the GTi guys chip thier cars and it would be a good buisness to buy a scanner like the AutoEnginiuity scanner and flash PCMs with the high performance program.

 

That's what I was going for - a universal scanner. This one does read sensor and ECU data real time. It's upgradeable thru the PC but I'm not sure it I can export the data. I'll check it out.
It can also do OBD-I (Pre 1996) vehicles. You need a different cable for each type: Ford, GM, Chrysler and import though. But that's with anything.
Mine was $259.

 

I like that your scanner has both live data, codes, and OBD I compatability. But your scan tool does one sensor at a time right? The one i want can do like 10-15 at one time.