Lost $200 on a cheap scan tool that couldn't read ABS codes

I bought one of those $50 generic OBD2 scanners off Amazon last month to diagnose a customer's Honda Accord with the ABS light on. It read engine codes just fine, but when I plugged it into the ABS module it just said "no communication" and did nothing. I spent three hours chasing wiring issues and swapping relays before I borrowed a buddy's Autel that cost $800. The first thing it did was show a bad wheel speed sensor. I could have saved all that time and frustration if I'd just bought a real scan tool upfront. Has anyone else been burned by those cheap scanners not handling manufacturer-specific systems?

3 comments

3 Comments

chen.fiona1mo ago

Seen @the_elizabeth mention airbag stuff too, that's a whole other nightmare with the cheap ones. Honestly though, for $50 what did you really expect? An $800 tool that talks to everything? Gotta pay to play with those manufacturer-specific codes.

the_elizabeth1mo ago

Thought the same thing until my Fords airbag light flashed.

robert_smith365d agoTop Commenter

Friend of mine bought a $60 scanner last year for his BMW. It read the check engine light fine until the transmission started acting up. The cheap thing just sat there blinking like it was confused, meanwhile his car was stuck in limp mode on the highway. He ended up paying a shop $150 just to read the code and it was a simple speed sensor. So yeah, those bargain scanners are basically paperweights once you step outside basic engine stuff.