I have a 2021 Kia and a 2011 Hyundai. All right stop laughing. They get me around and a Toyota is way out of my price league. What's the best scan tool for an amateur home mechanic like me. You had a cheap one in one of your videos that was model specific. You can read this in one of your videos.
Just don't tell my wife 🤩Â
For a basic scan tool, go under tools and look at scan tools $100 or less. Â The Bluedriver is a good choice since it pairs with your smartphone (IOS and Android).
https://www.amazon.com/shop/scottykilmer?listId=2XW7WGTYW92WE
If you find yourself needing a more advanced scan tool (that can scan every computer module on the vehicle and want bidirectional control) I’d go with Autel.
For scanning every computer module, I strongly recommend the Autel Maxicheck MX808 which is about $400, and the cheapest tablet-style scan tool. However, it does not have bi-directional control.
If you do buy an expensive scan tool (several hundred to past $1,000), I strongly recommend you buy from one of the company’s authorized dealers if you care about support, service, and warranty, and to make sure you don’t get scammed.  Some of those expensive ones from Amazon are not North American models and if you need to have it serviced you have to send to China!  And Amazon is NOT an authorized dealer for Autel.
link to tool: https://www.autel.com/mk2/3223.jhtml
One place I recommend buying from: Â they are an authorized Autel dealer
https://www.aeswave.com/MaxiCheck-mx808-Scan-Tool-p9590.html
I got e-mail from Autel North America on their authorized scan tool list. Here is what they said: (Quote)
“The list of authorized diagnostic tablets [in North America] is short.
MX808
MX808TS
TS608
MS906BT
MS906TS
MS908 (includes the P, S, and S Pro)
Elite
MS909
MS919
Ultra
IM508
IM608
Anything that is MP or MK is not a US tool. Also the abaove tools can be sold by unAuthorized US dealers can will NOT receive warranty or support from Autel US. They will also not be able to bypass the security gateway in 2018+ Chrylser vehicles.“
BlueDriver is good for home uses.Â
Some advanced scanning tools(still can only read the data, cannot write) are overkill.
Autel makes excellent scan tools for reasonable prices. I would look into them. They are available on Amazon.
First of all Hyundai and Kia are excellent cars, it’s a great fit for anyone that doesn’t plan or doesn’t want to want to to use the same car for 200,000 or 300,000 miles.
On scan tools, as long as you don’t plan on using actuation tests or using very advanced features the regular ones they sell on amazon are great.
The one I got is the best selling one on amazon and I’ve been using it for a very long time, Although if you’re just getting into auto-diagnostics, I’m warning you that often the codes you get car often just add confusion.
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when my battery was going out on my Ford Focus, the tool was throwing out transmission control module codes just because the battery was too weak to power it up properly.
So keep that vert often codes are symptoms of an issue and not the issue it self.
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Good luck on your car mechanic journeys.Â
@billybob 👀 as I said, only if you aren’t planing to keep them for long.
Until 120k-130k or 10-15 years, they are dependable vehicles.
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I’ve been working on their automatics and those definitely blow the TOYOTA CVTs out of the water. I can invite you to my local junkyard and show you a pile of broken Corollas/Aurises/Avensis with all good expect for the damned Aisin K-series CVT.
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On the other hand, rebuilding a 4 speed auto from Hyundai? 1,000 bucks and after that they usually go for another 120k mil.
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You can find a lot of critique I have against Hyundai for their DCTs and crappy SmartStream engines but for the most part, as someone who works on them I can definitely tell you they’re good for their category (budget viechles, like Ford and Mitsubishi)
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It’s how I never ever had a costumer complain about a Peugeot 2008 diesel i advised, cause they are solid.
Now if you’d listen to all the keyboard warriors online, you’d think they’re the devil but with a 1.6L DV6 HDi and a EAT8 AISIN TG-81SC the powertrain will outlast any other one out there. And so far I’ve seen multiple with over 150k mil and counting with 0 issues since new.
I bought a Foxwell 530 with Hyundai Kia preloaded as one car. Was 159 + tax. Seems to work. Won't know until I have a problem but it reads everything in my 2021 Kia and my 2011 Hyundai. Go to the web site and specify the car make. Took three days to get.
When you say everything does it read most (if not all) of the computer modules in that car?