Inherited grandpa's "car collection" - need best obd2 scanner with abs and srs to assess what's salvageable

Restored 30+ barn finds over past decade and scanners only scratching surface. Those vehicles sitting 5+ years guaranteed got varnished fuel lines, dry-rotted vacuum hoses, seized calipers, and corroded grounds that no code reader will flag. Buddy spent $300 on fancy scanner just to miss rodent nest in air plenum that caused random stalling. Start with basics: fresh fluids, visual inspection, battery load test BEFORE getting excited about whatever codes pop up

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THE CHEAP AMAZON SPECIALS! They claim "universal compatibility" then fail to read half the systems. Bought three different sub-$100 units before finally investing in quality. Expensive lesson

Different manufacturers use different communication protocols especially for safety systems. Ford's abs codes need different scanner capabilities than lexus. Multi-manufacturer compatibility = key feature you need

grandfather left you vehicles but no tools? kinda sus. check his garage thoroughly - might find the scanner he used along with maintenance records. old-school guys document everything

Invested in the Autel MaxiCOM MK808 after inheriting dad's project cars. Handles Ford, Dodge, Chevy AND Toyota/Lexus systems no problem. Even pulls transmission codes the cheaper ones miss. Not cheap but saved thousands in diagnostic fees across multiple vehicles

Vehicles sitting that long? Check for rodent damage first. Mice love chewing ABS sensor wires which will trigger warnings no scanner will fix. Inspect thoroughly before wasting time on diagnostics

Inheritance like this is blessing and curse. Sentimental value makes you keep money pits while logical choice would be sell as-is. Been there with father's "collection"

Scanners only tell you what computer knows. 20+ year old vehicles have failing sensors that throw false codes constantly. Don't assume code = actual problem without verification

- OBD technology drastically changed between 1998-2007

- CAN bus protocols implemented differently across brands

- Earlier models have fewer computer-monitored systems

- Scanner needs to handle BOTH older and newer protocols

- Focus on scanner with good year/make/model database updates

The LAUNCH CRP429 literally saved me from financial disaster with inherited vehicles. Identified $50 worth of parts needed on one car dealers quoted $2700 to fix. Interface excellent for beginners, comes with great support videos. Paid for itself first day

Those pre-2000 models use different diagnostic protocols than newer ones. Make sure whatever you get explicitly supports older OBD-II implementations or you'll waste money on scanner that only works on some vehicles

The bidirectional scan capabilities in modern scanners allow for actuator testing - essential for vehicles that have been sitting. You need to verify the ABS pump motors still function, not just read codes

Rural property? Check for environmental damage too. Excessive heat/cold cycles cause electronic failures scanners show as "module communication errors" but really mean expensive component replacements

Might be cheaper to partner with local mechanic for one-time specialized diagnostics than buying high-end scanner you'll rarely use after initial assessment. Relationship with good mechanic worth more than tool