When it comes to purchasing things for your car, you may have the right ideas in mind. You look for things that can help with minor issues, parts, and even air fresheners. But when it comes to high tech, you may be surprised by how easy it is to make a mistake. For instance, you’ll find that when looking for a car code reader, you could make a serious mistake.
It seems simple enough, right? You look for a code reader online, and you just buy one that seems to be well reviewed, and is durable. But that’s not enough.
In fact, you may find that not all cars respond well to these options, and you could end up spending money on something that is not going to work well for you.
Many people have spent money on car code readers, scanners, and solutions along those lines, only to find out that they cannot use them correctly.
This is something that is universally problematic, and something that you’re going to run into at one point or another, if you don’t avoid the following common mistakes.
Buying A Cloned ECU Scanner and Tuner
The first major problem that people run into is buying a cloned solution. This stems from the fact that the original ECU scanners and ODB elements weren’t outright patented.
That has left many individuals to buy a software element that has been cloned or made by taking the parts and putting them together after the fact. They even say that they have updated software by saying it’s the release 1.5 or something along those lines.
While these can work for a short time, they will not work long term, and you could end up spending money on something that will break, or showcase errors fast.
Cloned devices are inexpensive, look like the real thing, and can be procured in many arenas. Some people will even swear by them, but truth be told, they are not going to give you the same power or results that a legitimately licensed solution will give you.
Buying a cloned solution is a bad idea, no matter how you look at it.
Buying Generic Options For Volkswagen Vehicles
If you look for ODB-II or other types of code readers, but you have a Volkswagen vehicle that only responds to VAG-COM, you’re going to be sorely disappointed.
This is a common mistake because people assume that they can attach a generic ODB option to their Volkswagen or vehicles that are made by that manufacturer. It’s easy enough, right? There are a lot of cars that can take the generic or cloned solution outright.
Well, that’s not the case for this manufacturer. This company has a proprietary element that requires a specific software to get through.
In fact, more car companies are starting to do this, which means that you’ll need to spend a little more for the software that you decide to invest in, if you want to get the upper hand in fixing things outright.
If you do not purchase a specific solution for your make and model, you will not get the benefits that come with an OBD, simple as that.
Buying A Closed Updated Model Reader
Moving forward, people sometimes spend a great deal of money on car code readers only to find out that they are not fully updated, or they cannot update past the initial software release.
There are a lot of solutions on the market, just type in OBD reader online.
You’ll find that there’s a lot of handheld, high tech, and well-reviewed solutions out there.
But you’ll also find that amidst those options, there are some that are not going to get updated, haven’t been updated in a long time, and will probably not work with newer vehicles. You see, some software options aren’t getting updated, ever again.
Either the company is out of business, or the software element was only meant for a limited run of cars. If that’s the case, you’re going to be sorely disappointed with the purchase you make.
Even if you were to call the company, they may not be in business, or they may not even have support in place.
Buying a closed updated model means that the last update has been released, and there’s not a new one available.
That can be detrimental to your vehicle, as you’ll get no information, or no new information as to what is going on overall.
Avoiding Mistakes When Purchasing OBD Readers
If your goal is to get a good car OBD reader, then you don’t want to make the common mistakes mentioned above.
But moreover, you’re going to want to take a few tips and tricks to heart in regard to purchasing the “right” option for your car.
That being said, the most important thing that you can remember is to take your time. Take your time in assessing what your needs are.
Consider the make, model, and age of your vehicle. Consider reading reviews, and looking for the raw specifications of any OBD fault reader or scanner that you want to buy.
Those that have never used one of these before, purchase a solution that is for entry level users, and don’t spend a great deal of money on an option.
Instead, save money by going with an inexpensive, simple solution that you can later upgrade. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on a OBD2 reader, unless you’re buying a professional solution.
In the case that you need to purchase a proprietary option, then look for the type that is compatible with your vehicle’s age, brand, and model.
That will save you time, money, and effort. However, if you’re able to get a generic option to start, go that route, and see how these options work.
Once you get a handle on how they work, and what the codes mean, you can invest in options that are going to help you get a handle on all of the car’s issues that you may run into.
