Customer Reviews

Actron CP9410 PocketScan Plus Diagnostic Code Reader for OBDII Vehicles

5 star:		(90)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I wanted a simple, inexpensive code reader, and the PocketScan itself is a great solution. Works as advertised, relatively easy to use, helped me diagnose and reset my check engine light. BUT, one of the reasons I picked this product over several other, less expensive readers was the promise of Actron's website for looking up more detail on the codes. Well, what they DON'T tell you is that you only get five free lookups, then you have to pay a monthly subscription for more! I don't mind that, but they should say so up front. Then, when I registered on the website for my free lookups, it didn't work. I complained to customer service, and they manually set me up on a completely different website. So if the code lookup website is important to you, don't be taken in by a marketing promise. Finally, I have yet to find any place on Actron's website that includes the promised updates that you can download to the code reader itself. Might be another empty promise.

I am a complete novice with OBD tools. I have never used one before. I have an old truck that's check engine light came on some months ago. A mechanic turned it off for me and it did not come back on again until recently. I needed a tool to find out if I had a real problem or an anomaly, so I bought this tool.
The owner's manual directions that come with it are explicit and clear, thus making the tool extremely user friendly. Within a matter of moments I had the troubles diagnosed and then, seeing that they were the same codes as before, I turned the check engine light off again myself. The tool does that as well, which is wonderful. The tool's display is back lit so it is easy to read the codes in a dimly lit environment such as a gagage.
NOTE However. I had difficulty disconnecting the tool from the truck. I figured there was some sort of mechanical snap lock holding it on, but I could not find it. I had to call the 1-800 help line number they have in the users manual to find out how to disconnect it. It turns out that ALL OBD II connectors are, by law, a friction fit and there is no snap lock holding it on. All one must do is hold the vehicle's part of the connection and wiggle and pull the tool's connector part off. This information is not the owner's manual.

First scanner I received was faulty - the display had a lot of dead pixels. Amazon replaced it very quickly - as usual! Second unit is great. Reads codes and pending codes, can turn off the dreaded Check Engine Light. Extensive online resource from the manufacturer can assist in narrowing down the possible causes of the codes and Check Engine Light. Very easy to use, once you learn all the special lingo.
Probably not rugged enough for professional/daily use, but great for the average home user. I would say the "weakest link" would be the cable, where it joins the unit. The stress-reliever could be more robust. For the money I think it's the best, and I checked out dozens.

If you get the dreaded CEL and need to know what is causing it to illuminate, this is the tool for you. Designed for the home mechanic, it is complete with easy to use interface and large display. (great when you don't have your glasses on). I had a code in it that did not show up in their online database. I found it though, searching the internet for more Honda codes. Once you get the code, you have the option of clearing the MIL, which turns off the Light. Only shut off the CEL once you have solved the problem.
The tool also gives you all of the Readiness Monitors status. So, you can tell when it is OK to go for the emissions test.

I recently purchased the CP9410 because of its low cost and claimed ability to work with all OBD2 vehicles, including those with the newer CAN protocol. While it works fine with two pre-CAN Mazda vehicles, it failed to work with my wife's 2009 Hyundai Sonata which is CAN based. It keeps displaying a Link Error because it can't communicate with the vehicle's engine computer.

Actron's technical support asked me to go to Autozone to see if their scanner could read my wife's car. The local Autozone used an Actron CP9175 and it worked fine. Actron's tech support forwarded my problem to engineering to develop a new software release to correct this problem. Since this will take some time to develop, they offered to send me a CP9175 at no charge since we know it works with the 2009 Hyundai.

Actron's technical support was very helpful and their replacement of my unit with a more expensive model is superb customer support. It's refreshing to see a company that still stands behind their products and wants to keep their customers happy.

This is the first product that I had to send back to Amazon. First problem could not register item's serial number to get online support or software. Phone support recommended that I use Equus site for codes (their competitor). Contacted manager, which had 3-way call with their tech support no one could help. Item was uable to reset IM codes on 03 Explorer. Battery compartment latch was broken. Made in China with warning for lead on cable. Returned and purchased Equus 3100 for about $23 more. Great software, great tech support, all cables included and all codes in unit on the screen, updatable with included USB cable. New model Equus 3100e, latest greatest model w/software. Great tool.

One of the reasons I bought this particular scanner was because it had the USB port. In the description it said the units software and codes can be updated via the USB connection. It didn't come with a mini USB cable, and I know why. I plugged this into my PC. It wouldn't identify the scanner. It tried to find it, but came up as "Unknown USB Device". I emailed Actron support because I couldn't find drivers or a place to download updates for this unit on their website. They replied and said no updates are available and none are planned at this time. As far as I can see, the USB port is worthless as of August 2009. Maybe they will do something in the future.

It does read the codes. I tried it on four vehicles from 1998 to 2004. It gave me the "No Codes Stored" for the 2 vehicles that didn't have the Check Engine light lit. The 2 vehicles that had the Check Engine lights lit happened to have the same code, 0455. That's one of the most common codes referred to as the "loose gas cap" warning. The unit allowed me to reset the Check Engine lights on both, but they both came on again within a couple days. At least I can rescan the cars to make sure it isn't a different code causing the lights to come on.

Easy to use and doesn't require a battery (but you can add them if you want to save your codes). I was able to turn off my check engine light and then check back later to make sure that I had driven enough for all the sensors to acquire the necessary data to pass emissions testing (after a normal driving day to and from work). Even if I only need to use this once it's less than the cost of having the dealer plug in their code reader and tell me what's wrong.

I had a stupid "Check Engine" light on, for about two years. The truck ran worse and worse and finally was stalling out all the time. As you can tell, I hate bringing my truck in for servicing, just to get ripped off, my vehicle tampered with, and being treated badly. The Actron CP9410 is a handy little diagnostic tool. It told me that my Oxygen Sensor was not happy, which I researched on the Internet. I found out that the MAF (Mass Air Flow) should be cleaned, prior to looking into a problem with an Oxygen Sensor. So...... I cleaned the MAF. It took me 15 minutes to remove, clean and reinstall, and my truck is running like new. The CP9410 retrieves the OBD fault codes, and then, with installed batteries, you can sit in your home and examine the code(s) and information within the CP9410. Easy to use and very handy, since, due to strict, almost impossible government regulations, we are going to be stuck with "check engine" lights for a very long time.

This handy little device pays for itself after the first use. It is easy to use and sure beats paying a garage $100 to tell you why your Check Engine light is on.