Diagnostics

topcatcustom · Post by **topcatcustom** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 4:41 pm

Right, I'm now attempting to move into the 21st century with car stuff, and am looking to buy a diagnostic tool, me and some friends all come accross cars now and again with lights on etc and sensors or whatever that need re-setting. I dont want to spend hundreds (up to 200?) but want something that will plug into anything and is capable of resetting things I know cheapo's wont, i.e. abs, airbags, service lights etc. So can someone comment on these I found on ebay?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Autel-MaxiScan-EU ... C294%3A200
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Autel-MaxiScan-MS ... C294%3A200
Or am I better off getting software (also available very cheap on ebay) and a cheap laptop? If so where do I get the leads and is there 1 or dozens of different types?

TC

HairbearTE · Post by **HairbearTE** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:36 pm

The hand held units are ok for basic use and to have in the toolbox if you're a mobile mechanic for example. If you're starting your own garage and intend to make a serious living then go with something from Vidis or Bosch, it will be thousands rather than hundreds though.

topcatcustom · Post by **topcatcustom** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 12:03 pm

Well I picked up a Panasonic Toughbook for £65 with warranty, with chargers and fully loaded 256meg of ram, AND a dvd drive! Sorted a basic kit for diagnostics too, just gotta wait for it to arrive!

topcatcustom · Post by **topcatcustom** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:21 pm

p.s. it has a pull out phone ariel too and a sim card slot

oh yea!!!

The pinnacle of modern technology though has a downfall, it uses windows 98, and does anyone know where to get a pdf viewer from that will run on it? Have looked at foxit reader (about 1/10 the size of adobe reader (as I only have a 6.5gig harddrive

)) but when I click on the link it comes up with version 3 which doesn't support win 98, I think v2 does but cant find it...

stu8 · Post by **stu8** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:20 pm

http://www.oldversion.com/Acrobat-Reader.html

Somewhere around version 4 I think.

or
http://download.chip.eu/en/RoboPDF-Home ... 92834.html

topcatcustom · Post by **topcatcustom** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:38 pm

Thanks, do you know if v4 will still open new pdf's ok?

Post by **katanaman** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:02 pm

Depends what version they have been saved in and what features the PDF contains. Anything with newer features than V4 wont work but you might be lucky with a straight PDF