|  |
| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 271 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
189 of 194 found the following review helpful:
 Easy to use trouble code reader at great price Jan 27, 2006
By Lane10
As a backyard mechanic I was frustrated with the new cars and the check engine light that results in a $60 charge to read at a garage. Now that the price of a reader is less than $80 it makes sense to try the Equus Innova 3030 car reader and I was happy I did. It works great and is easy to use but does have a minor problem I discovered. My Subaru would not communicate with the 3030. The tech support phone line was tied up, but they quickly responded to my email and sent me a new Innova 3030 with a new chip set. Apparently Subarus, Mazdas and Volkswagons tend to have a problem in communication and in this case require a newer chip set in the 3030 which apparently works on all brands (I checked my Honda and toyota OK), so if you have one of the former car brands ask for the newer chip set. The manual has one misprint and the key must be turned to on position before plugging the 3030 into the car. Tech support at the website was great and called back later. I had already saved $60 on reading my codes plus saved $80 labor by installing a failed sensor myself although I think many other codes require a shop manual to actually track down the problem part. In summary a great tool for backyard mechanics to read the codes, fix the car and turn off the check engine light.
146 of 150 found the following review helpful:
 Paid for itself instantly! Dec 03, 2007
By R. Al-Kazily
Recently the "Check Engine" light illuminated on the dashboard of my 2002 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, and I used this as an excuse to purchase a code reader. I chose the Equus 3030 based on price, richness of user interface, and sophistication of the company's website (Innova).
I was not looking for a high-end tool, with battery-backed up memory and an internal list of code descriptions. Ideally, I will seldom use this tool, and using the manual (or even better, the company's website) to look up codes works fine for me. So I have to write down the code on a piece of paper, and take that to my computer, rather than the unit remembering it for me. Plus, no batteries to go dead while the tool sits in my toolbox.
I did appreciate the extra indicators on the LCD display, and the Green/Yellow/Red LEDs for quickly checking the status of the system. Other inexpensive code readers have a single line of text displayed, with very little else, and you need to scroll around to get information. With the Equus 3030, icons are displayed to indicate which tests have run, or have not returned good status. Also, a count of codes, pending status, and the status of the check engine light are all displayed along with the code itself.
The CD included with the unit is designed for Windows users. However, it contains the manual in PDF form, plus an instructional video that played just fine on my Mac. I cannot comment on anything else on the CD, but it's certainly not required to use the tool. And as I mentioned, code lookup can easily be done on the Innova website, with the URL printed on the front of the tool. I have the hope that they will keep their database of trouble codes up-to-date, which is often better than software on a CD.
I was able to plug the tool in to my car's OBDII connector, turn on the ignition switch (without starting the engine), press the "link" button, and in seconds had a code displayed. I noted the code, and looked through the user manual. Unfortunately, they only list common codes in the user manual, and didn't have my code. So I typed it in to the search box on their web page and found that I had a fault in my #2 cylinder glowplug. It was a simple test to verify that (check the resistance of each plug), and indeed that was the fault. I have glow plugs on order, and will replace them myself on the weekend.
This device is cheaper than even having a mechanic look at my car these days. Even if I wasn't able to fix the problem myself, I feel more confident going to a mechanic if I have a good idea of what the problem is. The price I spent was well worth it to me, and now I have the tool in case similar issues come up in the future. With today's car electronics, there is no other reasonable way to diagnose trouble.
96 of 97 found the following review helpful:
Future Proof Sep 25, 2008
By John
This is what it is and does what it does. It is a basic bare bones code reader (doesn't give you any live telemetry data) but has the advantage of being future proof. This is one of the most affordable code readers that works with the older On-Board Diagnostics (OBDII) and the newer Controller-area network (CAN or CAN-bus). CAN has been in use by some car manufacturers since the 1990's but as of 2008 all new cars sold in the U.S. are required to use CAN. Both protocols use the same type of connector on most cars. Even if you have a car that is OBDII don't be tempted to save a few bucks on an OBDII only reader; you're bound to have a CAN type car in the future.
It is well made, the LCD and status lights are highly readable and the controls are simple and easy to learn. Amazon is shipping the updated 3030a model that is virtually the same as the one pictured except for a slightly different button placement and a newer processor that apparently is more compatible with all car manufacturers.
59 of 62 found the following review helpful:
Very good OBDII CAN compliant scanner for the money Oct 14, 2006
By CS
I did my research and I don't think you'll find a better featured OBDII compliant code scanner for the money. Comes with complete instructions and a bonus CD with more information. It plugged right in and ran its diagnostics without any problems. This unit will probably pay for itself after one or two uses to check stored codes if your vehicle's MIL comes on. Even if you don't do the repairs yourself, you'll be in more of a position to know and understand what needs to be done when you take it in for service. Certainly less chance of being misled as well. Highly recommended. Obviously, before you buy, make sure you are buying it for use on OBDII compliant vehicle(s)-generally 1996 and later. Otherwise it won't do you any good.
21 of 21 found the following review helpful:
Good Diagnostic Tool May 31, 2009
By David Jones
A code reader is a must have item in your tool kit if you're going to do any automotive work. The Equus 3030 is an excellent low to mid-range OBDII code reader. I purchased this item for about $60 and I've used it to pull codes from Fords, GMs, and Saabs. The process is simple and straight-forward as outlined in the instruction booklet. It comes with a CD for Windows PCs. Mac users can use Bootcamp or some other emulator if they desire to peruse the CD. I myself didn't find the CD that useful. While the instruction booklet has explanations of the codes, I've found the best practice is to google the code(s) and you'll get a wealth of info as to meanings, causes, and how to fix the problem. Generally someone else has had the same problem and has posted a pretty good fix that can save you time and quite a bit of money.
See all 271 customer reviews on Amazon.com
|
| | |
