Has anyone had experience with OBD II Readers that connect to your laptop computer? I have an older laptop that I could dedicate for this purpose. eBay has a bunch of these readers for sale around $30. The smarts reside in the computer and these devices are basically interface units between the computer and the vehicle.

I've also looked at unit from Scan Tool - their ElmScan 5 USB ScanXL. The software that comes with this unit looks pretty comprehensive.

Are they any good?

Thanks. Tom

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Tom Evans
69 280SE 91K (wish I still had it)
73 220D 98K
78 300D 134K
78 300D 185K
81 300SD 301K (still have)
82 300SD 321K (still have)
84 300D 268K
84 6.2 Diesel GMC Suburban 225K (a whole different story!)

My belief is that the laptop type and the scan guage only work on cars built for the 1996 model year and newer.There were a few 95 GM cars that had OBD2.i have one for my laptop by "Enginuity" it workd good but i no longer have any gasoline OBD2 cars,but my neighbors do so it still comes in handy from time to time. Don

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Red Green "This is only temporary,Unless it works!"

97 E300D 157000 miles
87 300TD ?141k? miles

Don's correct. Not applicable to any of your vehicles.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

Maybe he wants it for other vehicles he is working on.

ForcedInduction is right. I didn't list all of my vehicles. We have a 2002 Taurus with the Vulcan engine (3.0L) as well as a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban (5.3L gas). I'm looking for the OBD II device to keep tabs on the Taurus and the Suburban.

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Tom Evans
69 280SE 91K (wish I still had it)
73 220D 98K
78 300D 134K
78 300D 185K
81 300SD 301K (still have)
82 300SD 321K (still have)
84 300D 268K
84 6.2 Diesel GMC Suburban 225K (a whole different story!)

Be aware that there is not one OBD-II protocol. There are currently four protocols and not all scanners support all four.

The newest protocol is called CAN (I'm sure that you can guess why) and is mandated for 2008 cars. Thus, if I were going to buy one of these things, I would ensure that it could understand CAN as well as the three legacy protocols.

I have a vag-com for my VW tdi. By ross-tech http://ross-tech.com
It seems to work good ..I don't use it to it's full capability.

Forget the cost of buying an interface and downloading all the data to run on your old laptop! For under $39.00 I bought a brand-new AUTO-XRAY 700 code reader/reset device. It works great! And does all current OBD2 protocols for any '96 and later foreign or domestic.

The ElmScan 5 USB accommodates all of the four protocols. The reason I wanted to use a computer is that the ScanXL software has a lot more capability than a scanner/reader. It also has the ability to be updated as new cars come out. ScanTool (maker of the ElmScan) also sells manufacturer-specific software to read and diagnose DTCs for Body, Air Bag, ABS and Climate Control systems, something that most scanner/readers can't do.

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Tom Evans
69 280SE 91K (wish I still had it)
73 220D 98K
78 300D 134K
78 300D 185K
81 300SD 301K (still have)
82 300SD 321K (still have)
84 300D 268K
84 6.2 Diesel GMC Suburban 225K (a whole different story!)

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but did you end up getting the elmscan interface? I'm looking at a scanning device and trying to decide between the scanguage ii and the newer version of the elmscan (obdlink). The scanguage looks like it's more compact, the obdlink a little cheaper with maybe more functionality (?), but with the main downside that I need to haul over my laptop to use it.

Don't apologize for bringing back an old thread that is most relevant to your topic.
1) shows you search
2) keeps a stream of consciousness alive, building on and providing answers to long outstanding topics or questions
3) prevents threat multiplicity clutter, which dilutes future searches

If moderators could apply points systems to posters, rewards should be applied to thread resurrection like this.


And I don't know why I felt it was important for me to spout on about this today.

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Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

Whunter would win.

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/10414-help-i-need-check-stretch.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

I have had my Scanguage for over 2 years now, and have found it to be a fantastic little device. It will read and clear most codes, and gives you a real time picture of whats happening with your engine. It has about 19 different real time parameters you can set to show up on the gauge such as water temp, voltage, rpms, mpg, etc. It also has a trip computer that will estimate the amount of fuel used between fillups. I don't know about the obdlink in regards to reading the Mercedes transmission codes, but the Scanguage does not have that capability. I have my Scanguage "installed" on the top of the steering wheel post, using velcro to hold it in place. It can easily be removed if needed to use on another vehicle if so desired.

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96 E300d