OBD Reader/Scanner … Help!

I’ve been meaning to proactively get an OBD reader/scanner for a good while now.

Turned the key in the car this morning to be greeted by a dashboard light. Handbook/google suggests that it’s likely MAF or O2 sensor.

Car is running fine – possible misread of issue?

MAF would be easy to change, O2 less so.

Now a reader would be handy, ideally one that could clear codes.

I like the look* of the Carly option as it looks simple and user friendly but with a years membership it’s circa £100.

There are lots on Amazon but it’s not always obvious how detailed/specific the diagnosis is, nor as to whether codes can be cleared.

Soooooo … any recommendations?

Car is a 2014 Seat if that makes any difference?

*it is also probably one of the only pieces of YouTube/Google ads that has made me go … “oooh”.

I have an Autel Maxlink ML629 and it even scans and resets airbags. Mine was just over £100 and way better than the bluetooth one I had before due to airbag and ABS interrogation, which isn’t on the cheap ones.

Worth reading and clearing the code and seeing if it comes back.

Used mine to diagnose airbag fault.

Carista is a bit cheaper sub and the reader itself is cheap. I think I’ve got a Carista and a generic one lying around.

Not all cars get the full options offered by some of these apps – you need to check your make and model.

I asked my tame petrolhead this a while back and his response was “whichever Autel fits your budget.”

I brought this one for £10 and used their app to translate the error code.

No membership to pay.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/r.html?C=2X8R0PK3LTH9J&K=1HS6DNTJ8LJ8O&M=urn:rtn:msg:2022030202385912faf910b7054ded97407d2ebbf0p0eu&R=8OQ38860UZPG&T=C&U=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2Fdp%2FB07CP632CL%2Fref%3Dpe_27063361_487055811_TE_dp_1&H=SCBVWQTRAHHT1BMZFZGAN8NXKLYA&ref_=pe_27063361_487055811_TE_dp_1

I then took it to a garage to fix.

All readers can pull the main code set from the main ecu. Posher readers can often interrogate the individual ecus and pull more realtime data.

I’d get a £10 one to leave in the car and try to read/clear the codes, and if that’s not enough info get a posher one

I managed to trigger my airbag warning light on my T5, by turning on the ignition while fitting the stereo. Easily done, it seems.

Anyway, I got a Veepeak OBD reader from Amazon for about £15.

For clearing codes there’s a free VAGErase app for VW. That might work with the Seat.

The ability to clear codes is very useful, as if you clear it a few times and you keep getting the same error then you know you’ve got an issue rather than a random glitch.

Ones that do manufacture specific codes that cover your car are best.

You still have to read between the lines a little bit though.. For example a faulty sensor code might be a bad cable that connects the sensor

Rather than the sensor itself, etc.

@letmetalktomark : probably a bit late but I’ve found the generic reader I have lying around. Happy to post it to you

@politecameraaction – If the OP is sorted I could be interested, how much are you looking for it?

I have an Autel, about £50 I think, which you can borrow if you are near Southampton.

@snax – nothing! Its a generic one so it won’t have cost me more than £15 to start with. If its any use to you I’d rather send it than bin it. You need to download the free app that they all use – Torque? PM your address and I’ll post it.

@politecameraaction That would be awesome, thank you! I’m struggling however to get to your profile in order to send you a PM. It seems the STW Forum doesn’t like me this week! Can you send me a PM, then I should be able to respond to that.

@politecameraaction – The Plot Thickens! Thanks for your message, I got that okay and can read it, but for some reason, I’m blocked from replying.