Hey guys, What's the best code reader for a 5th gen out there? I bought one on Amazon - a Autel MaxiScan MS300 ( ) but it will not read the codes even when my check engine light is on. It will clear the code, but will not read it (I took the car to Advanced to verify that there was in fact a code in the system before I wrote this post).

I'm not looking for anything fancy at all - just the most basic code reader that will actually tell me what the code is will work for my purposes. I just don't want to go spend any more money than I have to to be able to read the codes. Are there any cheap/inexpensive code readers that you use with your 5th gen that do work?

Thanks for your help!

 

Is that a contradiction?

I'd go with any 20$ unit from AZ/O'reilly/Checker, etc.

 

What other purpose would you use it for that a free code scan from Autozone couldn't do?

Home convenience?

 

I hear in some states AutoZone or any of the other commercial places wont read them.

 

apparently some places won't do free scans anymore (canadialand and collie-four-nee-uh being two of them I've heard...)

There's a thread floating around the general max section on this very topic somewhere...I read it a few weeks back, had pros/cons/prices/features...

 

http://forums.maxima.org/search.php?searchid=2485700

 

News to me. Oh well, it's free in TX. I bought Cipher a few months back anyway so it'll never matter to me.

(to the OP, Cipher = non-cheap option)

 

Bought this one. Does the job.

 

Same here, all the places read it for free, but I'm like you, 200$ is a small price to pay considering what we get out of it.

Only crapper is that it doesn't do anything to the Pathfinder, just reads codes, that's IT.

 

Harbor Freight. Bought one and it works amazing!

 

I bought the Torque app for Android for $5, and bought a $25 bluetooth OBDII unit off of eBay. Does more than just read/erase codes

 

Thanks. This is the exact one that I have, but it will not read the code - only erase/reset it. Does this one read your codes? Maybe I got a dud. I haven't tried it with any of my other cars.


Thanks for all the answers so far...you've given me a lot to look at. The only reason I want one of these for the home is for convenience. That's why I didn't want to spend a lot, just something basic that I can use to check for codes.

Thanks again!

 

I have the same one as talltom. It works great, I was finally able to get a misfire code for cylinder six by plugging this thing in while driving. Before the cel would flash and then clear itself so by having a reader ready at any moment I was able to diagnose my problem.

 

This is what I used before I got cipher, Advanced Auto.......

 

So that works good for you? I had a 4th gen briefly and those guys didn't have much luck with them so I didn't get one but if they work good on these then I may. Love the idea of doing it with the phone.
Just curious, what else does it do?

 

I notice that App lags a bit as far as 0-60 times.....said my car did it in 9 seconds....garbage. But I'd rather have the actual reader.

 

I can confirm that MS300 does NOT read code on 2000 Maxima i.e. even though check engine light is on, the reader will say NO code :-(

But other higher level Autel or Centec (from Harbor Frieght) work fine on 2000 Maxima. I have MS4xx (with freeze frame support) and Centec 9xxx (with live data support) scanners and they both read 2000 Maxima fine.

 

Problem with Autozone is that they'll read the code, but won't erase it.

 

If you get in good with them they will. I know the manager and all the employees at mine because Im in there all the time and talking about my Maxima and then when it was finally done I took it there. Once you get in good with them they will erase the code.....

 

^ even easier where Im from. I walk up and hand them my license and ask for the reader. And I take it outside myself....or I did before I got my own anyways.

You would be amazed at the way people fall in line if you act confident like "I do this all the time."

 

I got a "CEN-TECH" #98614 (CAN, OBDII, EOBD) reader/scanner at "Harbor Freight". It has "live data" reading/recording abilities, great unit!