Even before the OBD-II standards were enacted, various tool manufacturers were making scanners / monitors to isolate problems in vehicles. On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) was even more complicated for the automotive service technician. OTC and Snap-On led the way with expensive cables and software to help diagnose customer complaints.
Each vehicle had its own cable and its own software. Every year there were software updates and perhaps even new cables. Since 1996 vehicles sold in the United States have used a standardized 16-pin connector to hook-up to a scan tool.
The tools are still expensive. Snap-On charges $1,000 per update. The OBD-II diagnostic connector has not changed, but the car manufacturers have had the opportunity to use these connectors to their discretion.
There are some low-cost alternatives to Snap-On and OTC. The new Launch Creader Professional model 123 has become extremely popular. Distributors and dealers are indicating that the updates are free. This is not uncommon for the lower priced alternatives.
The first thing the technician needs to do is download the software to use the product. According to some distributors, a U.S. serial number is needed to download the appropriate software used in the United States. There have been complains from users who have imported the Launch directly from China.
The models sold by Best Value Company have U.S. serial numbers and are shipped Priority Mail (expedited) directly from the United States. Here is a link to our product:
Each vehicle had its own cable and its own software. Every year there were software updates and perhaps even new cables. Since 1996 vehicles sold in the United States have used a standardized 16-pin connector to hook-up to a scan tool.
