Customer Reviews

Equus 3110 Innova Diagnostic Code Scanner with Freeze Frame Data for OBDII Vehicles

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is a straight-forward, easy-to-use tool. I am not a "car guy" really, but I thought it may be good to start to learn about how things work, how to fix things myself, and take better care of my car. Let's face it, a lot of mechanics are untrustworthy, over-priced, and won't hesitate to stick you. Not all, but finding a good mechanic can prove difficult. And it is often easier to fix things yourself than you think.

I don't want to bore you with a long story about how this product has saved me money fixing my car, but it has. Most mechanics want $60-80 just to hook up this device and clear the check engine light. 2-3 times using this tool, and it's paid for itself. It is also competitively priced, with similar products prices ranging from $130-200, but those items are not CAN OBD compliant. Because this tool is CAN enabled, it will work on newer cars that come out in the next few years, and will add to the longevity of this device. Granted, many of these tools claim to be "updateable" and I don't know if you can update them later to be CAN compliant, but it reassuring to know that this one is ready to go right now.

This tool also allows me to double check mechanics, rather than just go blindly on what they say is wrong. I have also been able to fix problems myself using this tool and some internet research, which has saved me money and given me an education. I've actually come across a few instances before where mechanics claim to replace something, when they really haven't- using this tool and doing it myself I am SURE that things get fixed.

The only reason I did not give it 5 stars, which it may deserve, is that it cannot send commands to the on-board computer. I guess I shouldn't expect this, as none of the other similar devices seem to do this either. The $1000+ units the dealerships and mechanics use can though. It is probably best to not have some features available if you are the average person, like me, working on a car. You could probably do more damage than good with some of the features.

I highly recommend this item, and am very pleased with it.

Oh yeah, Midway Auto got the device to me very quickly too. I was pleased with their service.

As a New York resident this tool is essential for anyone who does their own car repair. When my "MIL" (check engine light) came on in my car I thought, "now I've got to make an appointment at the shop!" Instead, I bought this tool and figured I'd give it a try. I found two codes for my car which led me to the problem, the front oxygen sensor was no longer working, it was nice to not guess which one as they are expensive! I replaced the sensor, reset my "MIL" light and did two drive-cycles and the scanner reported that all monitors had run their respective tests and that my car would likely pass New York State emissions inspection. I could leave the scanner attached to my "DLC" connector while driving as the scanner did "auto-linking" while driving, thereby indicating when my readiness monitors had run their tests. For the money, this kit is the most complete I've seen, CAN compliant, and the PC based software enables me to upload scanned codes from the scanner to my PC. The scanned codes can be maintained on your PC and the database is retrievable in a number of ways, VIN, License plate, etc., this can be helpful as you can maintain notes and actions taken as a result of the scanned data giving you a history of the cars you maintain. My Brother-in-Law was so impressed by the scanner he ordered one as soon as he got home! I feel that this tool is good for anyone working on 1996 or newer cars and light trucks (less than 8500 lbs GVW) or, if you are looking at a used car, whether it be private sale or at a dealer's lot, You can determine if the car's "MIL" light is off because it has no codes or if it has simply been reset that morning with a tool such as this! The PC software is designed to be used by people who range from minimal PC experience to exprienced PC users. The scanner can be updated with the linking software as updates become available from the manufacturer. The "green-yellow-red" LED system is a nice plus and after having taken the time to read the instructions I realize that the display gives the most comprehensive and well laid out explanation of readiness of monitors, type of OBD-II code, number of codes stored, priority of code and freeze-frame information explaining the conditions accompanying the setting of the most critical code. This tool requires no automotive experience; however, in the hands of a capable shade tree mechanic it will likely pay for itself the first time you need it! Remember, If your gasoline cap is missing, loose or has a leak you will set a code that will illuminate your "MIL" light! It's alot more pleasant to discover something like that in a few minutes at your convenience than to pay a shop $100.00... $80.00 to scan, $20.00 for a gas cap!! I really enjoy this tool and I am getting one as a gift for someone who will appreciate it too! The only reason I didn't rate it "six stars" is because Amazon doesn't have a rating that high! This tool is an excellent value!

I was completely satisfied with this product and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have piece of mind and greater insight when it comes to trouble shooting your own car. I purchased this product after my nanny's car's check engine light came on and she was worried about passing the vehicle emissions tests. She had taken her car to four different mechanics and none of them could figure out what the problem was. Three shops told her nothing was wrong with the car and that the check engine light was probably just a short, and one shop only told her that the car was "running lean" and that the problem could be anything. A mechanic friend of mine had an older code scanner but it could not read my nanny's 2000 Cadillac Catera. I purchased the Innova, hooked it up, and downloaded the codes with the press of a button. Two codes came up indicating that both banks (bank 1 and bank 2) of the vehicle's oxygen sensors detected that the system was too lean. I was able to clear the check engine light to allow for the car to run through its diagnostics again. The check engine light came back on and using the scanner I downloaded the same codes. I[...]. I located the mass airflow sensor on the car and tried to clean the sensor, but this turned out to immediately make the care run worse. I hooked up the code sensor again and downloaded codes, which showed that I was having random misfires on multiple cylinders. I immediately ordered a new MAF sensor from rockauto.com, installed it the day after it arrived, and the car runs great and passed the emissions test. The scanner also downloads information from the engine (fuel mixture, engine load, speed, etc.) if the onboard diagnostics has stored such data. The user manual does a great job of explaining how your car's onboard diagnostics works, and the scanner also comes with software for your computer so you can download the data from the scanner and print out reports. One glitch with the software though was that the printouts are inverted and transposed if you print to a Brother laser printer. Innova's customer service responded to my email inquiry about the problem within 24 hours and provided a patch to fix the problem. Four mechanics couldn't figure this problem out but the code scanner along with the website obd-codes.com pinpointed the problem and rockauto.com delivered the part next day (the website also included a photo of the part you ordered so you knew you were getting the right part). I've already used the scanner on my brother's car and was able to clear his check engine light after a single misfire. The light has not come back on. Buy this product if you want to know what's going on with your car if your check engine light has come on!

Very easy to use and works great.

Great features include the ability of reviewing the results of the scan out of the vehicle, and the ability of uploading the scan results onto your PC for future review. Tool incldes long cable to attach to vehicle, the cable to attach to serial port on PC and a carry case for verything. The included software also keeps track of multiple vehicles and produces printed results sheets (could be used with a business).

Only drawback was the cable to connect to PC. My PC did not have a serial (DB9) connection, which required me to purchase a serial to USB converter.

This is a nice product, that sells itself on not needing to look up codes. However, they do not make it very clear, that this feature only works for Ford, GM, Chrysler and Toyota. If you have any other car, do not spend the extra money. Get the less expensive unit, since you will have to go on the web to look up the code definitions anyway.

Instructions were easy to follow and the scanner showed a code on the first scanned on my 2001 Honda Odyssey. The code related to the transmission. The car was on a 70,000 miles service and I mentioned to the service writer about the scan code I picked up with my scanner. He asked if the "Check Engine" light came on and I said no. He said not to worry about it. He did assigned a mechanic to test drive the car and I mentioned it to him. He didn't notice anything unusual but since my scanner picked up a code, he said he would assign his transmission specialist to look at it and perform another scan with their more expensive scanner. A couple of hours later, a call from the dealership service writer said the transmission specialist said I needed a new transmission because the bearing on third gear has worn out prematurely. Luckily my warranty was still in effect. If I had not run a scan myself, who knows when the "Check Engine" would have come on about the transmission issue. By then my warranty might have expired and I would have had to pay for a new transmission myself, a couple of thousand dollars. In short the money was well spent in my case. I have used the scanner on my other vehicles as well. I found it quick and easy. I will use periodically to check on my vehicle even if no "Check Engine" appears. No regrets buying it especially when the dealership charges $80 to scan and diagnois the problem. Code explanation was adequate in the manual but I found more detail explanations of the code online at various sites. Lots of code information out there on the internet. The print out was handy and I provided a copy to the mechanic which gave him a good reference point. I think I did his job for him. The tool has already paid for itself. The cost is a little higher when compared to other scanners available. But this model has more features than others and the $20 discounts that was available at the time was helpful in the decision process.

Nicely made tool, that saved me hundreds of dollars right out of the box. Showed me that the check engine light (that came in on my Honda Accord in the same month the state emissions test was due) was from a failed air/fuel sensor. So I bought a replacement sensor from a Honda dealer (using the internet), at a savings of $130 over my local place. Installed the new sensor (saving that $85/hr dealer labor rate), reset the car's computer and verified no codes present. Drove the car a short distance and watched on the display of the tool as all of the readiness codes cleared (reset). If a readiness code is blinking on the tester display that means the car is not ready for emissions testing because certain modules in the car computer have not been operated through a required set of conditions. The car manufacturers repair manual explains in excruciating detail the required sequence to set each readiness code, but typically all thats needed is a brief drive that includes periods of acceleration, deceleration, and idle. You can leave the tester plugged in to the car computer and it will automatically scan the car computer every 15 seconds or so. Eventually all the readiness codes in the car computer reset, and the tester verified readiness for emisssion testing. So I drove straight to a state emissions test facility and passed the test. Nice !!! Oh, it's worth mentioning that the tester comes complete with batteries, a nice storage case, a superbly written manual, and is of rugged design. A nicely made product for a fair price, what could be better ?

I'm no mechanic, but I can find my way around a car, and I like to DIY. Recently, I had a MIL light on my 2002 GMC Envoy, and really did not want to take it to a mechanic I didn't know as they are so untrustworthy. Fortunately, my dad is a master mechanic, but lives two hours away. So, I wanted to troubleshoot this problem and give him all the information I could gather to see if this was something I could handle myself. That's where the Innova came in. Within minutes, I had the diagnostic code and all the freeze frame data emailed to my dad. The problem just ended up being an oxygen sensor. $75 for the sensor, $10 for the socket to remove and install, and $138 for the Innova. And I easily saved a hundred bucks on top of all that doing it myself.

Strongly recommend the product.

Great Code Scanner. It's very easy to use and understand. You do not need the OBD II Code Refference Guide for $15 or even $1. The Equus comes with a CD that has them all plus more.

I have used this Scanner 4 times now, twice on my cars and twice on my friends. the first time it diagnosed a vacuum leak that I then located under the engine cover. The second time was on my sons Expedition. This diagnosed a faulty coil on #2 cylinder, $53 at Auto Zone up and running. The 3rd time it found a leak in the evap. system on my friends car, this was caused by a bad gas cap seal. Last week I used it to find a bad MAF sensor on my friends Maxima. This tool had well paid for itself after only its second use, it has also helped my friends save money on their car repair bills.