I've recently got myself an Xtool D7 scan tool for under $500. Unfortunately, I had trouble communicating with several cars I work on. The tool just wouldn't communicate with my 1997 Lexus ES300. It was able to connect to my 1998 Honda CRV, but some basic data like engine coolant temperature was absent. Tried it on a 2003 Toyota Highlander V6; would connect but the software would hang and crash after a few minutes. The only vehicle I was able to get it working reliably on was a 2007 Toyota RAV4 V6. I'm not even going to try my dad's 1997 Toyota Tacoma.
It appears the scan tool only works for newer vehicles from my experience, which defeats the purpose of having a scan tool because why would you need a scan tool on a newer vehicle if it's... "newish"?? If your newer car has that big of a problem to need a scan tool like this, junk the damn thing!! I spent an hour in the 2003 Highlander trying to get this damn tool to work so I can get a report without it crashing every 5 minutes. My $35 scan tool never had issues with these vehicles.
I need a scan tool that is able to view accurate data and work reliably with older vehicles. I spend time fixing older vehicles because they are EXPECTED to have problems, NOT newer vehicles. No need to fix newer vehicles unless they are complete pieces of plastic junk. If anyone has experience with a good but affordable bi-directional scan tool they know works with older vehicles, I would greatly appreciate that. Thanks.
If you check posts on the board you'll find plenty of late-model vehicles with problems. They have greater complexity and thus greater opportunity for early failure. Older vehicles don't provide as much data, may not even have sensors for the info you're looking for, and are more prone to wiring or computer faults causing communications failures. (My own older vehicles, none made in this century, have far fewer problems than many of the late-models discussed here.)
Scan tool questions come up here constantly and there is lots of information available by searching and by reading the FAQ.
Thank you for your response. I am not expecting older vehicles to have a ton of data, just the essentials like fuel trim, engine coolant temp, etc. I just need something that works and is compatible with older vehicles. Most scan tool reviews are only done with late model vehicles. It's just like advertising a car polish on a brand new Corvette. Try polishing a 30 year old neglected Honda Civic, now THAT would be impressive! Tangent over, but thanks, I'll check out the FAQ page.
which defeats the purpose of having a scan tool because why would you need a scan tool on a newer vehicle if it's... "newish"?? If your newer car has that big of a problem to need a scan tool like this, junk the damn thing!!
Newer vehicles unfortunately have more problems than the older ones and sometimes they throw codes.
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With all due respect, that’s a silly thing to say to junk a car because you need to use a scan tool on it.
See our FAQ for scan tool recommendations. I own several scan tools from cheap to super expensive and the reality is you won’t know what it can and cannot do as well as what data it covers for vehicles until you actually get the scan tool and plug it in to use it. In other words, trial and error unfortunately. Just make sure the scantool has a good return policy in place.
That's my experience too. With all the different models of cars and scan tools out there, it's often a crapshoot.