Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I got this to diagnose a P0420 code that my car had been throwing intermittently for about 6 months. I had it scanned at an auto parts store and got the initial code, but to get a definite diagnosis I would have had to take it to the shop for $45 an hour (I get a discount). I did some looking around for a scan tool, but I did some YouTubing and found these things that did all the same things for a fraction of the cost. I researched for a few weeks to find a good one, and this came up as one of the better low-cost ones and BAFX seemed like a good company so I got it. The tool came in a plain white box with packing peanuts, a setup and troubleshooting guide, and a tiny compact disc that I suppose goes in a CD-ROM drive (never tried it). The instructions were pretty good for getting a basic idea of initial setup. No issues with them at all. You need an Android smartphone or tablet to run the tool, and any smartphone or tablet will be fine (even older ones). Basically you plug it into the car's DLC port (under the dash), wait until the red light comes on, turn on your Bluetooth, and search for the device. It should come up as some weird name or OBD scanner. To connect you put in the password 1,2,3,4 and that's it. Simple. You need an app (this only works on Android, no iOS!) for this to work. They recommended Torque Pro, so that's what I got for $4.99 (well worth it, the lite version is pretty much useless). There's other apps this works with, but Torque is the best. Once the app is running, it go into settings and configure the adapter. It will connect and start transmitting info from the vehicle's computer. This thing is amazing for costing under $30. It reads every single PID from the vehicle computer, so every sensor that the computer monitors will be read. Now this is only an OBD II (for 1996 and newer cars only) reader, so it reads generic and vehicle-specific emissions and power train data. It won't read chassis and SRS codes for ABS and airbags. You need a higher-end dedicated tool for that. For my Subaru, it read all the engine sensors except oil pressure and DC voltage. It reads codes too, and you can clear them as well. The sensor data refresh was pretty quick. I didn't have any connection issues with this since I had it. My car's head gaskets are leaking, so I use it to keep tabs on the coolant temps. If you have a P0420 code, you can monitor the oxygen sensor data to see if your catalytic converters are bad. Use it to diagnose a P0430 for a bad o2 sensor heater. This tool will pay for itself 4 times over the first time you use it to do a repair yourself over paying a shop or dealership. It's invaluable to the DIY mechanic like myself. Pros Inexpensive Quick sensor refresh High quality 1 year warranty Reads and clears codes Reads live data Reliable connections Cons Only reads OBD sensors and codes No support for SRS/ABS/or chassis codes No support for iOS This is a great tool to have in your toolbox or glove box. Good for a DIY or a professional. I love it. It does everything it says it will for a fraction of the cost of a dedicated scan tool. Yes, you have to have a tablet or smartphone to use it, so if you don't then there's an argument for getting a handheld scanner, but for those who have a tablet or smartphone, this is a great tool.