OBD II Scanner

[mtgjudge]

Thanks!

The weird thing is....I just got off the phone with a rep at Actron and they said their line does not work on Asian cars unless they are CAN equipped (not OBD II) - which I guess is what the newer models are. Mine is a 2004 and he said it would not work. What year is your Mazda?

I went to AutoZone and I am pretty sure they used an Actron on my car last time....so this confuses me.

 

[jred321]

my mazda is a 2008 but i bought the actron to be used with my 2005 mitsubishi and it worked fine there.

it's weird that they would say that. i thought all cars 96+ had to be OBDII so a generic reader like that should work on any of them. i know companies like VW have extra functionality with their vagcom stuff but i would think any vehicle post 96 would be able to work with a generic OBDII reader

 

[mtgjudge]

Hey folks!

I'm in the market for an OBD II Scanner for my 2004 Mazda 3 - could someone recommend a good one?

Thanks in advance!

 

[jred321]

i have one of these https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned) cheap, easy, works. nothing fancy and you have to look up the codes it gives you in a book but you end up with the same result as the more expensive ones

 

[mtgjudge]

Thanks - maybe I'll just buy one and see how it goes!

 

[anubis]

I cannot tell from the pictures or datasheets how many pins are on the connector. The OBD connector in my 2004 Mazda 3 has five pins instead of the usual 16 pins that is on a standard OBD-II connector. Will these tools work with my car?

 

[jred321]

are you sure that's the OBD port and not another port?

 

[anubis]

I do not know but this is why I assumed it is an OBD-II port. This port is located to the right of the steering wheel, just below the dash and above and in front of the gas pedal. I was under the impression that the law requires an OBD-II port to be accessible in the cage, no more than 3 feet from the driver on either the driver or passenger side. Thanks.

 

[jred321]

it could be in the same location but a different plug. i haven't bothered to plug in this car yet but my last car had a few different plugs in the same area, 1 of which was the OBDII port.

 

[jamesk]

I recently bought the actron cp9180 at autozone in the summer time for $160. Its the cheapest model that can view live sensor data. Very useful and works for old obdII and new CAN operations.

This is the best one to buy. The better model has a graph which is kind of useless for 100 bucks extra and the one below can view live data and is a waste of money.

 

[anubis]

it could be in the same location but a different plug. i haven't bothered to plug in this car yet but my last car had a few different plugs in the same area, 1 of which was the OBDII port.

I took a look under the dash of both driver and passenger and even looked under the seats, in my glove compartment, and under the hood. The only thing close to resembling a computer connector is the 5-pin port under the driver's dash.

 

[anubis]

I recently bought the actron cp9180 at autozone in the summer time for $160. Its the cheapest model that can view live sensor data. Very useful and works for old obdII and new CAN operations.

This is the best one to buy. The better model has a graph which is kind of useless for 100 bucks extra and the one below can view live data and is a waste of money.

I checked the user's manual for this reader and the connector is the standard 16-pin OBD-II, not the 5-pin I have in my car. Does your car contain the 16-pin type connector?

 

[jred321]

I took a look under the dash of both driver and passenger and even looked under the seats, in my glove compartment, and under the hood. The only thing close to resembling a computer connector is the 5-pin port under the driver's dash.

as far as i know all cars from 96+ have a standard OBD port. look in your manual it should tell you the location.

 

[jred321]

assuming you are in the US of course. your manual should be able to help you out either way.

 

[jred321]

from another post

below and to the left of the steering column. there is a small "cubby" and the connector is in the "roof" of that cubby.

hope this helps

and a picture with the accessport plugged in

is that where you were looking?

 

[anubis]

Thanks. Right where you said it is. Mine is a little different from your picture. It was hiding in plain sight.