Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting OBD II reader for 1999 SVT

I'm looking for a relatively inexpensive OBD II reader for my '99 SVT. It should be able to reset the "Check Engine" light. I have a laptop available if that would save me some money.

I'm not much of a mechanic but I'm thinking that I will save enough with just one or two uses. Is that correct or am I way off base. TIA.

Luke Miller

Armed with the codes at hand, you can diagnose and narrow down problems to AT LEAST the proper AREA of the engine. not having to purchase parts "willy-nilly" and toss them at the problem HOPING it will help is BOUND to be cheaper!

Using a laptop, you can use Alex Pepper's OBD-II software (google it) by purchasing only an adapter and the software itself.


That would be MY personal choice over an actual OBD-II reader as Pepper's software allows tons more things!

I use a Matco 9620 OBD-II code reader. It's FANTASTIC!

They are about $400 new ...but are also on ebay for a lot less.

Just remember ...when you clear a CEL ...you ALSO set all the emissions-related 'readiness monitors' to OFF -- and thus, you will FAIL a state inspection because the car will be -- yes u guessed it -- "not ready".

The car needs to go thru' a series of 'drive cycles' before all readiness monitors become 'set'. You run the risk, thus, of a recurring CEL as these readiness monitors are being set during said drive cycles.

G.

I bought an Auto tap brand scanner (software for laptop with adapter). Nice setup, does everything that I can think of, cost---->199.95+99.95 for Ford Enhanced data. The only thing I do not like about it is it does not tell you what parameters the sensors SHOULD read, only displays what they are. Take a look at www.Autotap.com

I've used one of these for about 3 years now, its fairly cheap and I use a cheap laptop with it. I haven't seen any of other laptop types so I can't compare it with them, but this beats the handheld code-only type of readers.

Linky