Piston Slap: Better Than Onomatopoeias?

Sajeev Mehta
by Sajeev Mehta

TTAC commentator Toy Maker writes:

Hi again Sajeev,

Steven Lang’s post buying quality tools piked my interest again on getting myself an OBDII scanner. But which one is right for me? Even the Autel brand mentioned by Steve have readers ranging from $30 to the $350 Autel MD802 mentioned in Steve’s post.

I don’t plan on working on my cars much, just want to use more than onomatopoeias to converse with my mechanics. (Nice. – SM)

Though I did read online “Scanners” can give you more real-time diagnostic than “Code Reader”. Is there guideline to say when should someone spring for a Scanner , and when can they settle for a Reader? My budget for this month is under $100. Will be less after Christmas time, but much more when the CEL comes on again.

Thanks!

Sajeev answers:

In theory, you want the tool that pulls the most codes for your car(s), but the cheaper tools pull basic powertrain codes and little else. Which kinda makes them useless as our cars get more complicated with more fail points. Damn those proprietary software codes from each manufacturer!

In reality, you can go to any parts store and they’ll pull most engine codes for free. Or get a super cheap one from Harbor Freight if you are too lazy/uppity to go to said retail establishment.

If you need to reprogram some obscure VW Transmission after doing a fluid change, a super special tool (i.e. VAG-COM) is necessary. But if you have a late-model GM pickup, buying a normal code scanner with the additional GM software isn’t a bad idea. It all depends on how “smart” you want to look.

Speaking of, OBD-II works nicely with most WiFi enabled smart phones. Which is super cool if you (like me) are wired to these damn things. What’s not to love about a little plug for your OBD-II port and an app on your phone to give you an ungodly amount of data? If you have an uber-tuned machine, a fancypants phone and the desire to know everything, the show-off factor available gives you ultimate bragging rights.

To wrap things up, the value proposition of owning your own scan tool depends on a few salient points:

  • Brand loyalty to a single manufacturer. (GM, Ford, VAG, etc.)
  • Interest in fixing problems with a repair manual and extensive searching on brand specific forums.
  • Desire for another plastic box that’ll collect dust in your garage and/or ability to wow your mechanic with non-onomatopoeia based communication
  • Interest in using the free tool at the parts store, or the (somewhat) better rent-able tool (deposit required) when needed.

Quite honestly, communication via onomatopoeia isn’t the end of the world. This is why we pay for mechanics, and why they (usually) add value to our society.

[Image: Shutterstock user Africa Studio]

Send your queries to sajeev@thetruthaboutcars.com. Spare no details and ask for a speedy resolution if you’re in a hurry…but be realistic, and use your make/model specific forums instead of TTAC for more timely advice.

Sajeev Mehta
Sajeev Mehta

More by Sajeev Mehta

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 24 comments
  • Bumpy ii Bumpy ii on Feb 19, 2014

    A Scangauge or Ultragauge are also alternatives for people who want some real-time data monitoring and don't want to use their phone for that.

  • PandaBear PandaBear on Feb 19, 2014

    If you are just trying to check what's throwing a CEL, a lot of cars have diagnostic connector that you can jump with a paper clip bent into an arc or a wire to read blinking lights. I've done enough diagnostic (misfire, SRS failure, etc) and clearing without buying a tool.

  • TheMrFreeze That new Ferrari looks nice but other than that, nothing.And VW having to put an air-cooled Beetle in its display to try and make the ID.Buzz look cool makes this classic VW owner sad 😢
  • Wolfwagen Is it me or have auto shows just turned to meh? To me, there isn't much excitement anymore. it's like we have hit a second malaise era. Every new vehicle is some cookie-cutter CUV. No cutting-edge designs. No talk of any great powertrains, or technological achievements. It's sort of expected with the push to EVs but there is no news on that front either. No new battery tech, no new charging tech. Nothing.
  • CanadaCraig You can just imagine how quickly the tires are going to wear out on a 5,800 lbs AWD 2024 Dodge Charger.
  • Luke42 I tried FSD for a month in December 2022 on my Model Y and wasn’t impressed.The building-blocks were amazing but sum of the all of those amazing parts was about as useful as Honda Sensing in terms of reducing the driver’s workload.I have a list of fixes I need to see in Autopilot before I blow another $200 renting FSD. But I will try it for free for a month.I would love it if FSD v12 lived up to the hype and my mind were changed. But I have no reason to believe I might be wrong at this point, based on the reviews I’ve read so far. [shrug]. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it once I get to test it.
  • FormerFF We bought three new and one used car last year, so we won't be visiting any showrooms this year unless a meteor hits one of them. Sorry to hear that Mini has terminated the manual transmission, a Mini could be a fun car to drive with a stick.It appears that 2025 is going to see a significant decrease in the number of models that can be had with a stick. The used car we bought is a Mk 7 GTI with a six speed manual, and my younger daughter and I are enjoying it quite a lot. We'll be hanging on to it for many years.
Next