Product Description Item #: AXRCP9180.
Features & Benefits
- Displays and records live sensor data
- State OBD II Check (emissions)
- Reads codes on all 1996 and newer vehicles including CAN
- Displays freeze frame data - engine data at the time of the fault
- Bilingual tool: English and Spanish options
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Amazon.com
The Actron CP9180 OBD II AutoScanner Plus Diagnostic Code Scanner encompasses many professional features in an inexpensive scan tool. If you are new to diagnostic scanners, this handy tool connects to your vehicle, scans various parts of your car, truck or SUV, and retrieves a list of diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) and code definitions from your vehicle's computer. But even if you're a veteran to scanners and auto repair, you'll be impressed with the new functionality that Actron has added to the CP9180. This device not only scans your vehicle, it also allows you to freeze-frame live timing and pinpoint your vehicle's problem. Instead of having to recreate a scenario over and over again, you can now playback the timing to scrutinize all the data and make a clear diagnosis. Combine this with Internet connectivity and the ability to interface with a PC, and you have a powerful, professional diagnostic scanner in the palm of your hand. This device is compatible with all OBD II (On-Board Diagnosis II) compliant vehicles manufactured in North America, Asia, and Europe from 1996 to the present.
Customer Reviews
Good Tool
I got this scanner and am initially pleased with the capabilities of it as a diagnostic tool. There are, however, some things you need to be aware of. Some of the advanced monitoring functions do not work on all cars. For example, the vehicle identification data does not work for pre-2000 vehicles (but then, I did not need that function anyway). I was able to pull the DTC's from my car, see what it meant (I had one DTC that turned on the CEL), then I was able to read what the sensors were seeing at the time of failure, as well as a great deal of engine data from the "Freeze Frame Data" function. The live sensor data function works partially for my car, again, this is a function that may not work on older cars. The advertisement leads one to believe that this will work for all cars - be aware of this. It can print the results using the USB cable that comes with the unit. The printing function can be enhanced by copying the displayed data into the clipboard and pasting it into an editor program (like Notepad). I found this to be a better way to print the results. The software on the CD is VERY basic - not much help with the codes. There is a LOT more data available on the internet.
The tool is easy to use and easily connects to and from different cars. Some of the advanced diagnostic data that it will capture is not easily understood unless you get some detailed instructions from the car manufacturer. There is a good wikipedia with the PID codes for those who want more information to go through (look up OBD-II PIDS).
This is good. Just what I expected.
I am not an expert, but I researched these quite a bit and have used other cheaper OBDII readers before. This has nice advanced features like freeze frame capture and real time sensor monitors. The advanced features are probably only useful if you know what the readings should be, so this is not a beginner's tool. This seems to be in the "sweet spot" of these products before the prices go up exponentially with higher-end models. It supports the newest CAN bus. This is a good tool for the advanced home mechanic.
I give it only 4 stars because unlike the Equus products, there is no "quick view" summary screen when you first hook it up. It is also a little slower to connect and retrieve data. The display is not as clear as the Equus model and the menus also take a lot more clicking on buttons to navigate the various menus/levels, BUT you can see more lines of data that way once you're there compared to the Equus product. A minor irritation is that although it is USB, it is not real USB. It is some kind of serial over USB and installs a bunch of drivers that assign an old-fashioned COM port. I was trying to avoid that with the equivalent Equus product which is very similar. A final nit is that the case supplied is some generic case and no way fits the tool. It is about 3X too big so the tool and cables sort of flop around inside.
Other recommendations: You can get better/more detailed code info off the Internet. If all you want to do is pull codes or reset them to spare yourself from getting ripped off at the dealer, then there are cheaper products that will do that. If you want to diagnose things yourself, then this is a good choice.
Performs as advertised
No, this thing won't fix your vehicle for you. But, it does tell you what code is making your Check Engine Light come on. That information, and some research in a shop manual or on the web (or by asking the right friend), can lead you to a faulty component without paying a dealer $75 or more just to scan your computer and tell you what code(s) are set. Two or three problems solved and your purchase is paid for.
I have used a professional scan tool (Matco) that a mechanic friend lent me. This product is not as ruggedly built; but, I'm not going to be using it day-in day-out like my friend does with his scanner. The Actron unit is certainly rugged enough for the do-it-yourselfer. The supplied case will protect it from being knocked around in your tool box. The case is big enough to hold the scanner, OBD cable, USB cable, owners manual, and the CD that has the software.
Functionally, it does everything the professional unit does and then some.
Reading the stored code told me that I had a "long term fuel trim" fault. The Record Data function allowed me to record six different engine conditions while driving, view them on my PC, copy them into an e-mail, and send them to my buddy to analyze.
After looking at the data, he said to clean my mass air flow sensor. That took 10 minutes, and half a can of brake cleaner. Result, my truck runs better, and the check engine light doesn't come on anymore.
I figure I have the unit half paid for already.
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