Debate: dropping $800 on a used scan tool vs. borrowing one from a buddy

I spent $800 on a used Autel last year and it's saved my butt on three jobs already, but my coworker says he's fine just borrowing his neighbor's reader for free. Has anyone else here ponied up for their own tool and regretted it or felt it was worth every penny?

3 comments

3 Comments

wren_mitchell3d ago

... I mean I get it, borrowing is free until your buddy's out of town and your car decides to throw a code at 11pm on a Sunday. I bought a used Autel and felt like a big shot till I realized I had no idea how to use half the functions... mostly just stick to the "check engine" button and hope it's not the transmission again. At least now I can look smart while standing over my car waiting for the tow truck, right?

robert_ross953d ago

Hold up, is borrowing a code reader really that much of a hassle?

jenny_lee3d ago

That $300 Autel I bought sits in my trunk gathering dust until my wife's mini-van lights up like a Christmas tree at 10pm on a Saturday. I felt like a real mechanic for about ten minutes until I realized the "live data" feature just shows me a bunch of numbers I don't understand. Honestly I just hit the "erase codes" button and pray it doesn't come back until Monday morning. At least we both look responsible holding that thing while the tow truck shows up, probably more confident than we should be.