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Lost $200 on a cheap scan tool that couldn't read ABS codes
I bought one of those $50 generic OBD2 scanners off Amazon last month to diagnose a customer's Honda Accord with the ABS light on. It read engine codes just fine, but when I plugged it into the ABS module it just said "no communication" and did nothing. I spent three hours chasing wiring issues and swapping relays before I borrowed a buddy's Autel that cost $800. The first thing it did was show a bad wheel speed sensor. I could have saved all that time and frustration if I'd just bought a real scan tool upfront. Has anyone else been burned by those cheap scanners not handling manufacturer-specific systems?
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chen.fiona20d ago
Seen @the_elizabeth mention airbag stuff too, that's a whole other nightmare with the cheap ones. Honestly though, for $50 what did you really expect? An $800 tool that talks to everything? Gotta pay to play with those manufacturer-specific codes.
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