Finally bit the bullet on a good scan tool and it just paid for itself

I spent about $600 on a fancy scan tool last month, the kind that does bi-directional controls and module coding. Was a big chunk of change, but a 2020 Explorer came in with a weird transmission shudder and no codes. The factory scan data showed a torque converter clutch slip count that was just slightly off spec, something my old code reader would never have caught. Quoted the customer for a converter, got the job, and the tool cost was covered right there. Anyone have a go-to scan tool for those sneaky no-code drivability problems?

2 comments

2 Comments

jenniferwells1mo agoTop Commenter

My old scanner would've just shrugged.

lindahunt1mo ago

Totally get that feeling. I had a van with a rough idle that drove me nuts for weeks. My basic scanner showed nothing, just like @jenniferwells said, it would have given up. I finally borrowed a friend's nicer tool that could graph the oxygen sensor data live. Saw the signal was lazy, not totally dead, so it never set a code. Threw a sensor at it and the thing smoothed right out. Those little bits of live data make all the difference when there's no check engine light to point the way.