best OBD II scanner for 2003 Accord or newer Hondas

I'm thinking of buying a scanner for my 2003 4cyl Accord LX but also
want to be able to use it on any newer Hondas I might buy. Any
recommendations for a non-mechanic ?

Also, on the 2003 Accord, where will this plug in? Thanks.

"Guy" > wrote in message
...
> I'm thinking of buying a scanner for my 2003 4cyl Accord LX but also
> want to be able to use it on any newer Hondas I might buy. Any
> recommendations for a non-mechanic ?
>
> Also, on the 2003 Accord, where will this plug in? Thanks.


I'm using a ScanGaugeII. Little pricey for what it does as a OBD II
Scanner, but also can be left plugged in for real-time system monitoring.

Plug should be in the drivers side footwell tucked up under the dash. On my
2001 it is closest to the left kick-panel.

"Guy" > wrote in message
...
> I'm thinking of buying a scanner for my 2003 4cyl Accord LX but also
> want to be able to use it on any newer Hondas I might buy. Any
> recommendations for a non-mechanic ?
>
> Also, on the 2003 Accord, where will this plug in? Thanks.

I wonder why they just don't put a USB interface in the cars already,
then distribute a program that would read the codes and dive directly
into the troubleshooting of the code based on the car ID.

On 12/23/2009 07:57 AM, Stewart wrote:
> > wrote in message
> ...
>> I'm thinking of buying a scanner for my 2003 4cyl Accord LX but also
>> want to be able to use it on any newer Hondas I might buy. Any
>> recommendations for a non-mechanic ?
>>
>> Also, on the 2003 Accord, where will this plug in? Thanks.
>
> I wonder why they just don't put a USB interface in the cars already,
> then distribute a program that would read the codes and dive directly
> into the troubleshooting of the code based on the car ID.
>
>

car manufacturers fought a common obd standard tooth and nail. its
existence is one of the few instances where government actually got it
right and could see that fully proprietary coding would be the ultimate
in lock-in device and end up costing the consumer up the wazoo. it
would also put all the independent repair shops out of business
overnight, which is ultimately why we have what we have today.

but the car manufacturers still don't like it. the intent of obd has
been diluted with all the tier two codes, the "proprietary" codes, which
are completely inconsistent. iow, manufacturers, with constant lobbying
and back-door influence, want to make it difficult and more expensive
for a mom & pop garage to exist, and keep the vehicle coming back to the
dealer. you can expect that trend to continue - the nature of politics,
influence and business interests being what they are, a fully
"universal", accessible-by-anyone software interface will simply never
exist.

On 12/23/09 9:57 AM, in article ,
"Stewart" > wrote:

>
> "Guy" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I'm thinking of buying a scanner for my 2003 4cyl Accord LX but also
>> want to be able to use it on any newer Hondas I might buy. Any
>> recommendations for a non-mechanic ?
>>
>> Also, on the 2003 Accord, where will this plug in? Thanks.
>
> I wonder why they just don't put a USB interface in the cars already,
> then distribute a program that would read the codes and dive directly
> into the troubleshooting of the code based on the car ID.
>
>

I suspect the reason is that they don't WANT a widely distributed program
out there that can do that.

On Wed, 23 Dec 2009 07:57:05 -0800, Stewart > wrote:

>"Guy" > wrote in message
.. .
>> I'm thinking of buying a scanner for my 2003 4cyl Accord LX but also
>> want to be able to use it on any newer Hondas I might buy. Any
>> recommendations for a non-mechanic ?
>>
>> Also, on the 2003 Accord, where will this plug in? Thanks.

>I wonder why they just don't put a USB interface in the cars already,
>then distribute a program that would read the codes and dive directly
>into the troubleshooting of the code based on the car ID.

It is the same reason they don't include shop manuals or free lifetime
maintainance with every car. They have no motivation to do so.

"E. Meyer" > wrote in
:

> On 12/23/09 9:57 AM, in article ,
> "Stewart" > wrote:
>
>>
>> "Guy" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> I'm thinking of buying a scanner for my 2003 4cyl Accord LX but also
>>> want to be able to use it on any newer Hondas I might buy. Any
>>> recommendations for a non-mechanic ?
>>>
>>> Also, on the 2003 Accord, where will this plug in? Thanks.
>>
>> I wonder why they just don't put a USB interface in the cars already,
>> then distribute a program that would read the codes and dive directly
>> into the troubleshooting of the code based on the car ID.
>>
>>
>
> I suspect the reason is that they don't WANT a widely distributed program
> out there that can do that.
>
>

Google and you will find programs and interface cables to allow your laptop
to read the OBD-II codes.They aren't free,however.


for starters; http://www.thinkythings.org/obdii/

it has links to some commercial products.


--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
localnet
dot com

"AZ Nomad" > wrote in message
...
> On Wed, 23 Dec 2009 07:57:05 -0800, Stewart >
> wrote:
>
>>"Guy" > wrote in message
. ..
>>> I'm thinking of buying a scanner for my 2003 4cyl Accord LX but
>>> also
>>> want to be able to use it on any newer Hondas I might buy. Any
>>> recommendations for a non-mechanic ?
>>>
>>> Also, on the 2003 Accord, where will this plug in? Thanks.
>
>>I wonder why they just don't put a USB interface in the cars
>>already,
>>then distribute a program that would read the codes and dive
>>directly
>>into the troubleshooting of the code based on the car ID.
>
> It is the same reason they don't include shop manuals or free
> lifetime
> maintainance with every car. They have no motivation to do so.
>

Maybe it will require an act of congress.....

For the budget-conscious, consider jumping terminals 4 and 9 of the
OBDII Data Link Connector and counting flashes of CEL, per
http://hondatuning.info/how-to-read-...dii-scan-tool/.

The same method may be used to read ABS and SRS codes when the ABS
light or SRS light is on.

On 12/23/2009 08:21 AM, jim beam wrote:
> On 12/23/2009 07:57 AM, Stewart wrote:
>> > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> I'm thinking of buying a scanner for my 2003 4cyl Accord LX but also
>>> want to be able to use it on any newer Hondas I might buy. Any
>>> recommendations for a non-mechanic ?
>>>
>>> Also, on the 2003 Accord, where will this plug in? Thanks.
>>
>> I wonder why they just don't put a USB interface in the cars already,
>> then distribute a program that would read the codes and dive directly
>> into the troubleshooting of the code based on the car ID.
>>
>>
>
> car manufacturers fought a common obd standard tooth and nail. its
> existence is one of the few instances where government actually got it
> right and could see that fully proprietary coding would be the ultimate
> in lock-in device and end up costing the consumer up the wazoo. it would
> also put all the independent repair shops out of business overnight,
> which is ultimately why we have what we have today.
>
> but the car manufacturers still don't like it. the intent of obd has
> been diluted with all the tier two codes, the "proprietary" codes, which
> are completely inconsistent. iow, manufacturers, with constant lobbying
> and back-door influence, want to make it difficult and more expensive
> for a mom & pop garage to exist, and keep the vehicle coming back to the
> dealer. you can expect that trend to continue - the nature of politics,
> influence and business interests being what they are, a fully
> "universal", accessible-by-anyone software interface will simply never
> exist.
>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091226/...dent_mechanics