I have about $250 or so to spend for a good scanner to buy for my 1997 XJ6. Does anybody have a scanner or a good company to purchase from?

Just some general code reading ect?

tks jake

 

I use the Innova 3130. Perfectly adequate for basic DIY stuff.

Cheers
DD

 

Innova 3160 i guess will do the work in 250 dollar budget.

 

What kind of basic things will the scanner do?
tks jake

 

Im using Launch Creader 5 on my 96 XJ6 just over $50 on the bay 111192715426.
shows me code and will read some live data engine speed,igniton timing,S t and L t fuel trim ,intake air temp, mass air flow ,throttle pos ext

 

Jake,
Depends if you are satisfied with Powertrain codes or if you want to read all the modules. You only need spend about $30 or less to read the "P" codes and even record some live data depending on what you get. However, the price rises rapidly if you want to read the "C" codes and diddle with other modules around the car. Thus far, with 2 S-Types and the X300, I've managed quite well* with my Android phone, Torque Pro ($5) and an ELM 327 Bluetooth adapter ($12-$30). The "complete solution" for me would be Autoenginuity with both Ford and Jag modules ~$500. I believe you can find that with just the Jaguar module for near your price point.
What are "C" codes? "Chassis" for instance.....say your ABS light illuminates a few hundred yards after you launch each morning and remains on. You won't see anything on the standard OBDII sweep because it won't set a P code. SO...you can methodically go round cleaning each wheel sensor and meticulously checking each connection and it's wiring and hope it doesn't return, or cut your ABS Module apart and solder the motor pins if it does and hope that does it.....Or, supposing you've gone high-end on the scanner, you hook up, read the codes, and if you have C1095, you can skip straight to the module. Alternatively, if a sensor issue, I believe it will tell you which one is causing the problem. Not sure what other modules can be read....but you can do things like turn drive-away-locking on or off et al. Search "OBDII" in either S-type or general tech forum - or maybe someone else will happen along who remembers exactly where it is....but there is a thread where everyone who had an OBDII scanner and was willing to loan it to other members weighed-in with their type and location, and I believe it spawned a discussion about the relative merits of the various brands. Maybe some of them are near you and you could try out a few before you buy?


*I also don't live too terribly far from Motorcarman who has bailed me out on several occasions with his WDS!!!

 

Today I used a Cen Tech 98614 OBDII/EOBD scanner that costs $120 at Harbor freight ( with coupon take 25% off, but on e-bay $59) that read the P codes and also gives some live data. As stated above, no C or chassis codes at this price.
I found the following codes with explanations:
-P1187 O2 sensor heater circuit short upstream
-P0138 O2 sensor circuit high voltage bank1, sensor 2
-P0400 Exhaust recirculation Flow (Probably the ECR valve needs to be cleaned)
-P0460 Fuel level sensor A Circuit ( My fuel gauge is working intermittently).
So for less than $60, you can get the basics!

 

Tks guys.... i will keep looking and shopping on line.....