Anyone have any recommendations for a good after market code scanner for working on my 2003 Protege that is affordable and doesn't require an engineering degree to operate? I rally have no idea of what is out there on the market and figure some of the folks on this forum would have some first-hand experience. What about an engine analyzer? Do I need one of these also, or is this functionality incorporated into most code scanners? Thanks.[align=left] [/align]

 

Well, I did some research on automotive code readers and purchased an Innova 3030 Car Reader for $70. What a wonderful device! It allowed me to determine which of the 11 OBD2 monitors my 2003 Protege is equipped with, whether they are working correctly and whether there were any Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) stored in the on-board computer. I simply plugged it into the keyed DLC (Data Link Connector) under the instrument panel to the left of the steering column and turned on the ignition (without starting the engine). In a matter of seconds I learned that no trouble codes were stored on my vehicle's computer, that my vehicle was equipped with 8 of the 11 supported Monitors and that all 8 monitors were working correctly.

If you are thinking about getting one of these devices, here are the basics: [ol][*]All vehicles for model years 1996 to present support the OBD (On Board Diagnostics) 2 standard.[*]Some 1994 and 1995 vehicles also support the standard.[*]All OBD 2 compliant vehicles have a standard 16-pin connector that is easily accessible from inside the vehicle.[*]An additional feature to look for in a reader or scanner is CAN (Controller Area Network) compliance, which helps ensure that the scanner you're getting will work with any OBD 2 compliant vehicle.[*]For 1993 models and earlier you will need a scanner that supports OBD1 and/or some other proprietary standard.[*]The OBD DTCs alone usually are not enough to definitively diagnose the problem, but they narrow it down to a specific area. To complete the diagnoses, you usually have to perform a trouble shooting procedure specified by the manufacturer.[*]Make sure the device allows you to erase any trouble codes after you diagnose and fix the problem(s). This will turn off the Check Engine light.[*]DO NOT CONNECT OR DISCONNECT THE DEVICE WHEN THE IGNITION IS ON![*]DO NOT START THE ENGINE WITH THE DEVICE CONNECTED. [/ol]
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