Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Color:
Image not available

To view this video download Flash Player

 
$139.95 + $3.98 shipping
In Stock. Sold by The General Store!

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here

CarMD 2100 Vehicle Health System and Diagnostic Code Reader for OBDII Vehicles

by CarMD
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (194 customer reviews)


List Price: $139.99
Price: $139.95
You Save: $0.04
  Special Offers Available
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Only 1 left in stock.
Ships from and sold by The General Store!.
  • Find out why your check engine light is on
  • Know what needs to be fixed and what it should cost before seeing a mechanic, save money by fixing simple problems yourself
  • Gives estimated parts and labor costs by geographic region
  • Great to solve check engine light problems, double check mechanic estimates, get road-trip ready and inspect used cars
  • Designed to work with 1996 and newer OBD2 compliant cars, trucks, SUV's & minivans both Foreign and Domestic
See more product details
Great Gifts for Gadget Dads
Celebrate the dad in your life with a gift he can use like a new PC or tablet, that perfect peripheral, or a handful of high-tech accessories. Learn more.

Frequently Bought Together

CarMD 2100 Vehicle Health System and Diagnostic Code Reader for OBDII Vehicles + OBDII Extension Cable, 5ft (144201) + OBD-II & Electronic Engine Management Systems Techbook (Haynes Techbook)
Price for all three: $169.30

These items are shipped from and sold by different sellers.

Buy the selected items together


Special Offers and Product Promotions

  • Save 10% each on Qualifying Items offered by The General Store! when you purchase 5 or more. Here's how (restrictions apply)

Product Information

Technical Details
BrandCarMD
Model2100
Item Weight1 pounds
Product Dimensions8.2 x 3.2 x 6 inches
Item model number2100
Batteries:2 AAA batteries required. (included)
Manufacturer Part Number2100
  
Additional Information
ASINB005G5EAGE
Best Sellers Rank #45,352 in Automotive (See top 100)
Shipping Weight1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
ShippingThis item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
Date First AvailableFebruary 25, 2010
  
Feedback
Would you like to give feedback on images?
 

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

In easy-to-understand English, see what's causing your check engine light to come on, get repair details, and see how much it costs to get it fixed. It's easy and fast, anyone using CarMD can go from their car to their report in minutes.

Powerful Technology Made Easy

Made for Anyone to Use
It takes only easy 3 steps to from your car to your report
In 3 simple steps, get the health of your vehicle without knowing anything about cars.
Plugs in easily from the comfort of your front seat.
Image of corner of report

Your Vehicle Health Answers, All in One Place

Complete Solutions for Check Engine Lights

The CarMD database saves you the hassle of looking up codes and basing repair decisions on questionable sources. Our solutions come straight from working mechanics specializing in your vehicle and double checked by Master Technicians. It's like having thousands mechanics look at your vehicle and agreeing how it should be fixed.

Accurate Repair Estimation

CarMD's report accurately itemizes the expected cost of your repair. So you know how much you should be paying for each part as well as the labor. Know what repairs should cost and protect yourself from being overcharged.

Instant vehicle health check

CarMD can quickly tell you if it is safe to drive. With CarMD:

  • You avoid riding in unsafe vehicles
  • Make sure your vehicle is road trip worthy
  • You are protected from buying a lemon while shopping for used cars
  • You keep your family and other drivers safe on the road

FAQ

What cars does CarMD work with?

All vehicles (including light trucks, SUVs, minivans and hybrids) made 1996 or later.

Can I use it with my PC/Mac?

Yes both, CarMD works with both PCs and Macs.

How is CarMD better than:
  • Code Readers
  • Free Code Checks at Auto Parts Stores
  • Phone OBD2 Apps

CarMD is often compared with code readers and OBD2 apps. While it is true CarMD and all those tools read data from the OBD2 port, the similarities stop there. CarMD specializes in providing consumers a complete vehicle health solution in an easy-to-understand way. Not only has this never been done before, there is no other product on the market that does the same thing.

CarMD goes beyond simply defining trouble codes by using vehicle type, freeze frame engine data, and mileage to statistically determine the solution. When CarMD presents the fix, its database is sifting through more than a half-million real-life fixes made by thousands of skilled Automotive Service Excellence(ASE)-certified technicians who work on cars just like yours every day. Each fix is checked (peer reviewed) by ASE-certified Master Technicians and internally reviewed by our own ASE-certified Technicians to make sure it is the best possible solution. Our database frequently updates to ensure our customers receive the most up to date accurate fix for their vehicle from the most knowledgeable experienced professionals in the nation.

The average code reader, free code check, or phone app doesn't do any of that. The chart below illustrates why CarMD has over 250,000 happy customers, and counting.

Features CarMD Vehicle Health System Free Scans & Cheaper Code Readers
Defines trouble codes
Reports are in plain English (not 'technical')
Solutions for check engine lights
Free certified mechanic support by phone*
Shows car repair details & costs
Reports likely causes for vehicle issues
Finds service bulletins(TSB) related to vehicle trouble codes
Provides vehicle safety recalls
Offers vehicle scheduled maintenance reminders
Brakes & Airbag coverage

*All CarMD mechanics are ASE Certified

Product Description

This product offers peace of mind for anyone who has ever worried about car maintenance and repairs. The easy-to-use device, which fits inside a purse or glove compartment, empowers drivers to monitor their vehicles health. The CarMD tool can be used to quick-check an unlimited number of vehicles. Within seconds, its color-coded (green, yellow, red) vehicle health monitor LED's tell you if your vehicle has any hidden problems, which is beneficial when inspecting a used car, preparing for a road trip or to find out if you will pass your emissions test. Plug the tool into your Mac or PC using the included USB cable and software plus your own internet connection, to generate a detailed report with most likely fix and estimated repair costs. By knowing which parts are needed and the labor costs, you can decide whether to tackle repairs yourself or better speak your mechanics language.


Customer Reviews

What I like This is a simple to use device that will help you know what is wrong with your car. Tim E Robertson  |  45 reviewers made a similar statement
The product was easy to use and the instructions were very simple. P. Rankin  |  44 reviewers made a similar statement
Each reader is limited to 3 registered vehicles. A. Campati  |  16 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
435 of 454 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Owen Rubin's MyMac.com Review May 11, 2010
Style Name:Without Extension Cable
The CarMD diagnostic tool is a "Do It Yourself" (and sadly, "As Seen on TV") device that connects to your vehicle's On Board Diagnostic Port (OBD2) and lets you understand what is going on under the hood. Unlike some devices that read and display data from the OBD2 connector real-time (like real time gauges), this device has one function, and one function only: To help you understand what, if anything, is wrong with your car using this device and your computer, and it supports Mac and PC alike.

The device is fairly easy to use, but I suggest reading the small instruction booklet before you start. I didn't (who reads instructions these days?), and I ended up entering some bogus info into the CarMD database for my car, which I could not remove.

To get started, one would think you should start by installing the software that comes with the unit. You would think, but this is not the case. Of course, not reading the instructions, as I said, I did what most people would do after opening the box, inserting the batteries, and playing with the hardware for a few minutes, I started by installing the software onto my Mac. I then created my account on the CarMD web site as it instructed, it then asked me to connect the device to "marry it" to my account, and BAM, the data already inside the device, which was NOT for my car, was immediately transferred to my account and counted as the first of the limited 6 monthly reports one is allowed. It was also telling me that my car had unusual problems, which the hybrid car I own could not have. Obviously, some test data was still in the device and got downloaded to my account.

OK, not knowing how this incorrect data might be used in reference to my car in the future (can CarFax see this?) and since you are limited to just six reports a month, I decided to email customer support to get this removed. I am sorry to say, customer service was not good! After a number of email exchanges where it was obvious either the person had language problems, or I was simply asking for something that their email scripts did not allow for, and after them offering me a number of solutions that had nothing to do with my request, they finally told me basically, "too bad, we will not remove it." OK, we ALL know that people never read instructions, installing software is typically the first step, so I am sure this was not a unique problem, and yet they have no a procedure to correct an incorrect recording when it occurs. Oh well... it was time to try it out correctly ( and this time I will read the instructions. )

I was supposed to start by installing the batteries and pressing the small button on the device's front to turn it on. The LEDs will flash, the display SHOULD show a 0 (although not an issue if it shows something else), and the green LED will light. It is ready. NOW, before installing the CD software, take the unit out to you car, connect it to the OBD2 connector, record the car's diagnostic data, and THEN bring it back to your computer to register.

OK, lets start again. Since i was already powered up and ready to go, I connected the device the my car. If you know where your OBD2 connector is, your ready to go. If not, CarMD has a guide on their web site to display the connector location for your car, looking up my make, model, and year.

I plugged the CarMD unit into the OBD2 connector of my Prius, turned on the ignition, and waited a few seconds. The CarMD read the status of my vehicle's on-board diagnostic system, beeped to indicate it was done, and then one of three LEDs lit up. On my Prius, the light was green and the display read zero. I repeated a second test on my wife's VW Turbo Beetle, was it was also green and displayed zero.

These LEDs tell you something right away. If green lights, your vehicle is OK and the device didn't detect any stored diagnostic codes in your car. CarMD also claims from this data that your vehicle should pass an emissions test. Not an issue for my Prius, it is exempt from emission tests, but good news on my wife's VW!

If yellow lights up, it means one of two things. Either it indicates your diagnostic system was recently reset and the internal monitors have not completed their tests, or there is a problem pending in your car, but not yet serious enough to turn on the check engine light.

If red lights up, your check engine light is probably also lit, and there are problem codes stored in your car. The LCD display will show "FAIL" and any of the stored codes can be viewed on the device by pressing the large button to scroll through the codes.

The LCD shows the diagnostic codes found, if any, the total number of error codes found (in the upper right of the display), and it may also display a series of icons in the upper left that indicate emission control problems. But what do these all mean? The booklet that comes with the device does not list any of these codes or icons, and while I can find some of them on the web, it would still take me hours to figure out what it all meant. But fear not, this is where CarMD really shines.

BUT, when using this device, it is really not very useful unless your Check Engine Light is actually on, as that indicates a problem with the car. Well, given that our two cars showed green, meaning no problems, I need to find a car with problems to really check this out. Since you are allowed to register up to three cars with one device (a limitation in my view) I needed to find another car with a problem.

Lucky for me, along came my friend Andy in his 2001 Mercedes SLK, and his check-engine light WAS on! Perfect. We looked up his connector location (hidden behind a small panel) and plugged in the device, and turned on the key. A few second later, it beeped and immediately turned on the red LED. The LCD display showed 3 error codes, P0455, PO300 and P0303 and some of those little icons along the top left of the display were also blinking.

So now that I have some real data in the device, its was back to my computer to find out what it all means. I connected the device to my Mac with the provided USB cable. The software was already installed, but this would have been the time to install it if I had not. The installer adds a small software application that acts as a conduit which connects your device to the CardMD website. The software must be running, and is installed to launch at start-up. When you connect the CarMD device, the small application should open a browser window to CarMD diagnostic website, although a few time I had to bring it to the front to get it to activate, this typically works. The first time you connect you will create an account and register/pair your device. After that, future connections will promote you to login to your account.

The CarMD device will then upload all its data to the website, including your car's vehicle identification number (VIN), which will be used on later scans to make sure the data goes to the right car. Once the data is transferred, you will be presented with a basic summary and the ability to run a full report. You get to do 6 full reports a month, and only "red light" reports count against this limit, but then again, if you got a green light, why would you need a report?

If there were problems, as in the case of the Mercedes, running a report will present you a summary report, as well as a cost estimate to repair. CarMD has a very large database of problem codes cross-referenced to a large number of repair shops, data they have been collecting for over 10 years now, and gives a fairly accurate summary of the costs to repair. This can be quite valuable if you take the car in for repair, as you will know if the estimate given is reasonable or not. The site also gives you a breakdown of parts needs as well by pressing the View Details, or going to the "My Cure" tab in the report.

In the MyCure view, you will see a parts cost, and an estimate of the labor based your car, your zip code and the diagnostic codes reported. Keep in mind that this is just an guess based on the codes and their experience, but that large database means it has a good chance of being correct.

On the MyDiagnosis tab, you will see detailed explanation of each of your problem codes, and suggestions as to what may have caused that code to fire. For example, in the picture above, the unit reported there was a "Major Leak in Purge Control System", and a detailed explanation of what that means, and some possible causes of that error.

Conclusion
So what does this all mean? With all this information at hand, you may find some problems that can be fixed yourself. For example, a bad gas cap can cause the Check Engine light to turn on, and this device will tell you to check for that. A $5 gas cap, or maybe one that is just loose, is a lot cheaper than a $125hour service call to discover the same thing. And it will make taking it to the shop a lot easier as well, and will even print a full report for you to take with you. This could save you hundreds of dollars in unnecessary repair costs.

Many problems, when solved, will cause the check engine light to go off after a short time, however, some may not, and this device will not turn it off for you. In fact, it will not send any codes into your car at all, and will not make adjustments to any car features. If that is what you are looking for, consider something like ScanGuage II, or other OBD device that can alter you car's functions.

And even though you can only register 3 cars, you can still plug the device into any car you like and see what codes appear. If you are shopping for a used car, for example, carry this with you and check them out. Read more ›
Was this review helpful to you?
161 of 166 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars A lot of hype, but just another ODB2 scanner... January 2, 2011
Style Name:Without Extension Cable
This device is nothing new, and is what mechanics know as an ODB2 diagnostic scanner. AutoZone/Checkers/O'Reily/Pep Boys/etc. often have these available to borrow for free to see what error code (check engine light) your vehicle is producing. There are varying models and makes of these scanners, and the more advanced ones can reset/remove the error codes from the car. This is a useful tool, and can save you money, but it is not the only tool you should have. Common sense should also be in everybody's toolbox as well. If your car is running rough, if you brakes squeal or become spongy (when you depress the pedal), or if you have a burned out bulb - all of these things will NOT register on this device, nor any other ODB2 scanner, but should be repaired. The scanner can also be very ambiguous about the problem, or completely misdiagnose the problem completely; but will generally point you in the direction of what needs to be repaired. The oxygen (O2) sensor is a good example of this, where it could be a bad sensor or a more severe/complicated issue.

This is what people need to understand; this product is designed to read the diagnostic codes of your car and tell you what the CAR THINKS it is. The device itself does NO ACTUAL DIAGNOSTIC work, only reading the code that the vehicle produces. The only real benefits of THIS device compared to other ODB2 scanners is the fact that it can print some fancy reports, break down what the diagnostic code means into layman terms, and give a basic cost analysis of what it would take to fix the problem assuming the diagnostic code properly reflects the issue; in a single package. You can find the diagnostic codes and what they mean, as well as parts prices via a quick search on Google/Bing/Yahoo/Alta Vista/Webcrawler/Ask Jeeves/Whatever. This product packages it together, which is a nice feature. However, the more advanced features such as resetting codes, history, trip time, etc. are not available on this unit, and for the price you pay on this guy, you may be better served spending the extra 30 minutes looking the information up online and simply getting a better qualilty ODB2 scanner that doesn't limit you on the number of vehicles you can sync to. Recalls are also available online for you to access as well, without having to purchase this particular product. However, if time is an issue and the limitation to sync reports to only 3 automobiles is not a deal breaker, the report function is a nice feature.

The market that this device is catering to is for those who have little automechanical experience. I should warn you, most lemonlot salesmen will not leave a check engine light on in a vehicle they plan to sell. They will simply "reset" the codes if the car is having a problem, effectively preventing the car from displaying the check engine light and the malady that affects it. Sorry to say, this device is unlikely to save you from a bad buy from a used car dealership.

Save some money and do the following if you want to save on repairs:
1) Buy an ODB2 code scanner, a Hayne's/Chilton's manual, and a tool set that includes a quality socket set.
2) If your car "tells" you there is something wrong (see first paragraph for non-code registering repairs), and you feel comfortable fixing it with assistance from the afforementioned items above, do so.
3) If not, take it to a quality mechanic. If a code was available, it at least saves you the diagnostic fee ($50-$100) and pointed you in the general direction of the repair (engine/transmission/electrical/exhaust/etc).
Was this review helpful to you?
174 of 187 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Works OK - There are other options March 13, 2009
Style Name:Without Extension Cable
Works fine.. BUT.. The potentially best feature is the website and they have a number of limitations on how you can use it. I bought one and just read the codes and Google what they mean. I've found it useful, but I wouldn't buy this again. There are a number of other code readers out there and the big downside of CarMD (aside from the limitations on use of the web site) is that it cannot reset your codes. Shop around... you can do better.
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great item
I have a brand new car - but I got this anyhow - I don't ever want to feel like I'm being taken advantage of when my car does need servicing - this is something I am certain has... Read more
Published 1 month ago by D. McKay
4.0 out of 5 stars Cool
Wish it would reset lights but it is a good thing to have around the house. Good quality. Great item.
Published 2 months ago by ARTHUR J UPHOLD
5.0 out of 5 stars gracias
me llego la orden exelentemente bien y a tiempo gracias por el exelente servicio y por la rapidez del mismo.
Published 3 months ago by sary
5.0 out of 5 stars CarMD is the real deal !!
This comes as advertised, it is a good tool to diagnose whats wrong with your vehicle .. It gives you a very detail report & estimate cost of repairs really helps so there are no... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Leonard Alvarez
5.0 out of 5 stars CarMD are great
safe pack

I love it

It is helpful to save money to buy part or repair and information on computer

It is time to order becasue of problem with red... Read more
Published 3 months ago by John Barber
4.0 out of 5 stars good product
it is a good product it is easy to use and accurate when it comes to readings. very helpful in diagnosing problem with vehicles
Published 4 months ago by Tekvati Narine
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful
Great for the serious hobby mechanic. My son can now diagnose problems in his car, my car and his friends' cars.
Published 4 months ago by Betty Noack
1.0 out of 5 stars it not that good
it not like what tv show it suck if you or thinking of buy it dont do it.....( you will be sending it back )
Published 4 months ago by rafael
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Diagnostic Tool,
A Very Good Diagnostic Tool For Todays Auto,s Helps You Diagnose Problems, With your Autos Engine Problems,
And tells You How To Solve Them,
Published 4 months ago by seagle
1.0 out of 5 stars information invasive registration process
My dad purchased this product after watching an advert on the TV. I installed the software so he can start using the product. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mark R. Hicks
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Customer Questions & Answers
Please make sure that your post is a question about the product. Edit your question or post anyway.


Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

So You'd Like to...


Create a guide