Autel OBD2 Scanner MS309 Automotive Check Engine Code Reader, Check Emission Monitor Status, CAN Diagnostic Scan Tool for All OBDII Protocol Vehicles After 1996

This tool (and other tools like it) do NOT teach you to repair automobiles! Further, they do NOT allow you to pass most state inspection just be resetting codes. This tool will show you the current generic and manufacturer specific codes that have been triggered, as well as pending codes. It WILL reset the codes, INCLUDING the monitor codes, however, you can't make the car pass inspection by just resetting the codes. All of the, I/M Readiness," monitors MUST re-test and show, "Ready" before you can inspect the vehicle. This scanner WILL show I/M Readiness status, however, so you KNOW that he vehicle has re-run all of the required monitor tests AND PASSED them before you waste time trying to get your vehicle inspected only to fail the inspection. It is back-lit and the back light works well. It is built very well and should give YEARS of trouble free service is not overly abused. (Hey, we all drop stuff form time to time, and this little guy can take it) It is very easy to use and to navigate the menus. More often than not, when someone is considering purchasing this type of, "Stored Code," scanner, they are purchasing it because they have a, "Check Engine," light, (or MIL - Malfunction Indicator Light -same thing, just different terms for it), that they'd like to resolve, and often are addressing this before their vehicle inspection runs out. Though just resetting the codes will NOT help you pass inspection, it WILL help you to determine if repairs made are going to ALLOW you to pass inspection more quickly. Here's how: You read the codes, and PROPERLY DIAGNOSE the cause. After making what you believe to be the corrections needed to resolve the issue that caused the code(s), you use this to reset the ECU. Now, search the internet for your year, make and model vehicle and the term, "Drive cycle." For example, 2005 Subaru Forrester drive cycle." What you are looking for in the search results is instruction for driving the vehicle in such a way as to provide all of the operating conditions needed for all of your vehicle's I/M readiness monitor checks to complete their testing and report the status in the shortest time possible. Every manufacturer creates these, "Drive Cycle," routines so that the factory automotive technicians in the dealerships can make repairs and assure the vehicle's compliance with local emissions laws as quickly as possible. An example of a possible drive cycle (that I'm just making us as an example), might look like: "Allow vehicle to completely cool overnight. (All that really matters here is that the engine be stone-cold before beginning the drive cycle on that particular year make and model. Not all vehicles require this first step, or any other step I make up here. This is just and example) 1.) Start vehicle. 2.) Accelerate slowly to 30 MPH, and maintain speed for 45 seconds. 3.) accelerate slowly to 55 MPH and maintain speed for 30 seconds. 3.) slow to 40 MPH without using the brake or downshifting, and maintain speed for 45 seconds. 4.) Accelerate to 55 mph and maintain speed for 4 minutes. 5.) From 55 mph, come to a complete stop, and place the shift leaver into the "Park" position with your foot off he brake and off the accelerator within 30 seconds. 6.) Allow the engine to idle for 1 minute . . . " Etc. Some drive cycles are fairly involved, and some are very short and simple. None the less, if you can complete the drive cycle without the check engine light coming back on, that's a good sign. Now, follow the instructions that come with Autel MaxiScan309 to connect the unit. You'll have to shut the engine off. (In the industry we call this, "engine off - key out," as this eliminates any confusion about what position the key is in. If the key comes out, you're good) Put he key back in once connected, turn to the RUN position, and check the "I/M Readiness" codes. If all I/M Readiness indicators are reporting either, "OK," "Pass," or, "N/A" your car will now pass that portion of the state inspection. If any say they are incomplete, (I think this scanner says, "INC" for those if memory serves), you need to do the drive cycle again to get them to report. Some of the monitors will say, "N/A." That is FINE. Manufacturers have choices in how to approach emissions compliance on different models, and often several of the monitors do not need to be used, just so long as the ones the manufacturer DID choose to employ do enough testing to ensure compliance with Federal Regulations. One last tip, and this is a real important one. If you don't have the background to decipher diagnostic codes and interpret the likely causes of them, DON'T FRET! Let's say your 2010 Ford Whatchamacallit is throwing a P0442 code, as reported by the scanner. Just search the internet for, "2010 Ford Whatchamacallit P0442 code causes," and you will begin to find all of the information needed to further diagnose the fault, AND are also likely to read the most PROBABLE causes in many cases. Consider the information you find carefully, as there is not test information needs to pas in order to be posted on the internet! lol When you have done enough research about the code's appearance on YOUR specific vehicle, you will easily see trends that point to the most LIKELY causes too. From there, you can start researching how to accurately TEST each suspected part to find out if it really IS the cause or not. Before too long, you should be able to find the REAL cause, and PROVE the part defective for yourself so you are not performing unneeded repairs hoping a, "shot in the dark," will fix whatever is wrong. If you find this review and the other information helpful in full or in part, please click the "YES" box where it asks if it was helpful or not.

Works Great! Good price too! Works like it should!

I give this a 4 stars would give 5 except u do have to look up what codes are online but I already knew this b4 buying . It was easy to open hook up and operate. It took just about two minutes to scan and read code and cleared code and turned off check engine light . I purchased mine because I purchased a after market locking gas cap and has problems after a few months to get it to tighten good because they are designed to spin a little in order to lock. I knew when I saw my dash read check gas cap and I didn't have n e where to safely pull over so couldn't stop and tighten it and had to leave it loose for about 20 miles my check engine light came on. I pulled to auto zone had them double check and was as I thought there scanner read problem with gas cap . So I stopped in and purchased a oem gas cap as I drive a Pontiac with only 50,000 miles so was pretty certain I did not have a major problem , but places will not turn your check engine lights off for u n e more. So now I was easily able to do it myself with this scanner and I'm a blonde . So if I can use it n e body can! Plus my husband is a mechanic and appreciated having it at home for such a great price compared to auto parts store plus was shipped and delivered in 2 1/2 days.

Since this warning is buried in instructions, I'll lead with it: only connect it to your car when the ignition is off. I have no tale of woe around this, but the manual heavily emphasizes it after inexplicably putting this warning WAAAY down in the instructions (as well as near the end of page 2's disclaimers to the effect that hot objects can cause burns). Finding the connector was immediate on one of my cars and took some Googling on my Toyota Tundra. Neither the manual nor the web site has a search function for this. You'd think it'd be obvious, since it has to be within a couple feet of the steering column, but it may not be. On one car, the unit said it couldn't connect properly when I turned the ignition on then waited for something to happen. After disconnecting/reconnecting a couple times, I tried cranking the engine and suddenly all was well. On the other, just turning on the ignition started the analysis. Since no codes were found - or anything else of note other than the basic info the unit is designed to supply - I have no feedback about resetting codes or using them to solve some automotive mystery. The unit comes with a USB cable, about which the manual says little. Plug the AL309 into your computer, and you're likely to find that the 309's readout says something to the effect of not being able to link up. If you go to the Autel web site, to the 309 page and with the 309 still connected, you'll see a green-highlighted message that, yes, the 309's connected (if the 309's not connected, a red-highlighted message confirms that), then a couple boxes asking you to select which file to install from your documents directory. After scratching your head and making sure there's nothing on the supplied CDROM or in the appropriate Program File directory you're supposed to install, you'll figure out that it's asking about update files which you supposedly already downloaded from the web site. You then go to the download page and see very highlighted updates to download. You click on them...and get "404 page not found" errors (as of this writing 01/2012). Calling the toll-free number, I got a very pleasant fellow who informed me that there were no updates, hence my perplexing experiences when connecting the 309 to my computer. So, the unit, itself, gets high marks. Customer support seems to work well. I guess it's easier to have people call customer service than modify the web site or the written instructions or include a note on the CDROM about why they bother with the USB connection and cord. Or let people like me get the word out.

Me gusto por la facilidad para usuarlo, yo soy principiante en el manejo de scanner, se que es básico, pero para empezar estuvo muy bien.

Good prodect but some car is not sacing

im happy with this maxiscan its work with no problem

Bon rapport qualite prix

Nice scanner