I have my sights on a 2009 IS350. What scan tool would be good to detect any major problems before I buy it? I'd like to use the same scan tool when I maintain the car myself.
Thank you! 😀
You want something that will scan every computer module on board and give you live data. For that (and without breaking the bank) I would recommend the following: Innova Carscan Pro 5610 ($330) - also does some bidirectional; Autel MX808 ($400) - does not do bidirectional; Autel MaxiDiag MD808 Pro ($250) - does not do bidirectional. For the Innova tool, buy direct from their website (preferred) or from one of their authorized dealer; for Autel, buy from one of their authorized dealers (Autel does not sell direct), and for that I recommend aeswave.com (Amazon is NOT an authorized for Autel) to avoid getting counterfeit or faulty unit as well as getting service, warranty coverage, and updates (only recognized units from authorized dealers qualify).
Check Innova and Autel websites to make sure the vehicle is covered as well as what services those tools offer.
Having said that, these recommendations are useless if you can’t interpret all the live data from the scan tool. This is not something you can suddenly learn; it takes time and lots of experience working on cars. I would still recommend having a mechanic like Scotty well versed in reading such data examine the car before you buy. However, these tools should still help you if you are a DIYer and want to do as much of the maintenance/repairs yourself after purchase.
Here's what Scotty recommends. I'd go with the Blue Driver https://www.amazon.com/shop/scottykilmer?listId=2XW7WGTYW92WE
