98 Avensis OBD2 reader that works

[steve mezzle]

Hi

 

Ive tried a couple of OBD2 readers on my 1998 petrol toyota avensis, but have not  been able to get them to work.Can anyone recommend a make and model that they know works for this car please. Hopefully nothing too expensive and i dont want one where you need a smart phone as i dont own one.

 

Thanks in advance

[paul9]

From 98 it is possibly OBD 1, or not fully OBD2 compliant. I don't know if Techstream would cover your car, or if you need to start researching OBD 1 options.

It would quite likely not supply live data. If you only need to read DTCs, there's usually a way to check without a code reader. This could involve shorting a couple of pins in a certain connector and watching for a flashing light, or a pedal press combination as you switch on the ignition.

 

[paul9]

Sorry, I'm old and forget things easily. 😉
It seems that OBD2 started around 96, not 98.

That said, with older cars, you still tend to get less functionality as regards live data from the diagnostic systems. Still, I am interested if you have tried a Techstream system. I think Toyota had a second system with a different name for diagnostics, can't remember what it was, though.

 

[steve mezzle]

Hi Thanks for the replies. I tried a cheap brand from Amazon a year or so back. I would have been a cheap chinese thing about £20-£30 not a techstream branded one. Although they stated they would work for my car, they didnt. I went to a Diagnostic specialist yesterday and he had diagnostic equipment that worked but it looked very expensive and that brought up live data  (oxygen sensor not working properly) and  had to pay £50 for this, as ive given up trial and error with these diagnostic tools i thought i would see if anyone has found one that works. I see this question has been asked before on this site and id thought id have another go and see if anyone knew a brand that would work preferably less than £50. Thanks

 

p.s there is another method of inserting a paperclip between two pins of the connector and reading the fault that way. Im using this method until hopefully someone knows of a cheap diagnostic tool that works

[paul9]

Techstream should work, but the cables seem to be a slightly hit and miss affair. The one I got won't let me start the pilot learning process on my 2007, but it is pretty good, otherwise. I have a Delphi clone which is decent with the Avensis, and covers a lot of other cars well. This is better than the generic code readers, as it will do airbag and ABS systems. As will the Techstream, but that is limited to the Toyotas, although it will probably work as a generic reader on other car models.

[yossarian247]

6 hours ago, paul9 said:

Sorry, I'm old and forget things easily. 😉
It seems that OBD2 started around 96, not 98.

 

OBD2 was compulsory in the US from 1996, but unfortunately in Europe manufacturers were allowed to each go their own way until 2001 when EOBD became mandatory for petrol engined cars. Some earlier European spec cars are compliant with OBD2 but many are not and it can be very hit and miss. 

I had a similar issue with a 2000 Citroën that was built before EOBD and I ended up going for a £200 handheld scanner designed specifically for the make. For example this one is the equivalent, but for Toyotas :

https://www.gendan.co.uk/product_FXNT520T.html

[Konrad C]

I have Techstream, but had sold sold my old '98 Avensis 3 years ago, so cannot test to see if it works. During my ownership of my Mk1 Avensis, any issues were diagnosed using the paperclip trick and list of codes. To think you can check an EML practically for nothing. The only advantage of using a reader that works over the paperclip method, is the speed of getting the codes, if there are more than one code stored. 
Vauxhall has self diagnostics which doesn't need a reader. I used that method on a friends car, and it gives the same code as using an OBD2 reader.