Question about those cheap code readers from the auto parts store

I always thought they were junk, but a friend let me borrow his to check a random misfire on a 2012 Camry. It pulled a pending P0304 that my old scanner missed, saving me an hour of guesswork. Has anyone else found a specific cheap tool that actually works well?

3 comments

3 Comments

rileygonzalez1mo ago

Read that elizabeth_chen81, some can pull manufacturer codes.

elizabeth_chen811mo ago

What brand was the cheap reader your friend had? I've seen some that only show generic codes and others that can pull manufacturer specific ones.

the_reese26d ago

Totally get that, my cheap one found a weird transmission code my fancy scanner ignored. Sometimes the simple tools just Work.