I've come the realization that any vehicle built for the US market since 1996 is way smarter than I am.  Since older vehicles are getting older all the time, there may come a day when driving '96 or newer cars is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.  If I've gott'a drive one, I want to be able to tap into it's brain . . . remember, it's smarter than I am.

Anyway, I'm looking into buying one of the those code readers.  Anything in particular I need to look for?  Any brands I need to avoid?  Some on eBay seem to marketed specifically for VW/Audi . . . will any OBD2 reader work with a VW?  I've been looking at them in stores and on eBay.  Prices and features are all over the place.  I don't have to have the best as I won't be making a living with it, but I don't want to waste my money on a piece of junk.

Any recomendations?

Get a ScanguageII. Its primary purpose is to calculate fuel consumption and MPG, but it will also give you up to 12 digital gauges like battery voltage, coolant temp, etc. and it will also show you diagnostic codes.

The only problem I see with the one above is it's VW specific.  It works on almost any VW, AUDI, SKODA and SEAT vehicles from 1990 to present, but it doesn't work with any other makes.

The generic ones I've looked at are cheaper and will work with almost any make, but they mostly read the generic codes associated with the check engine light.  Auto Zone will read those codes for you for free . . . so whatever I spend would be simply for the conveniance of not having to drive to Auto Zone and being able to read codes myself anytime, anywhere.  I'm kind'a lazy, so I like conveniance, but I'm kind'a cheap too . . . why pay for something you can get free?   :?

I'd really like to have one like that first one I was looking at, but I can't quite talk myself into spending money I don't really have to spend on something I don't really need to buy . . . but I'm still talking to myself . . .    :lol:

If you don't need to use it often, just go to Autozone - they have them to rent, or you can just use it in the parking lot for free.  The one they have told me my Jeep had both a minor AND major EGR leak at the same time.  Two days later the check engine light magically went off!  Luckily I had it emissions tested about 2 weeks prior...