Quote (FMX_89 @ Jul 3 2014 10:17pm)
All a fancy OBDII reader does that a cheap one doesn't is give you a longer description of the fault. The rest of the features are useless as far as codes go. They do things like start up protocol tests and real time data viewing. Even cheap ones do that now. If you are going to spend $$$ in one get one that reads abs codes too. That comes in handy.
Incorrect, most of the cheap ones can't read manufacturer specific codes.
Not to mention more expensive OBDII readers can display graphs of sensors in real time. My MODIS II can show you upstream and downstream O2 sensor data overlayed on the same graph. Show you sensor readings and actuator statuses.
They're not essential and the price is kind of steep, but you can't say that more expensive OBDII readers don't do anything.