OBD scanner recommendations?

I have a 2005 Tundra. Can anybody recommend a good user friendly scanner under $500. my specific issue is ABS problem but I’m interested in a good scanner that covers everything else and possibly cover a BMW too.

 

There's a thread for OBD stuff, maybe it helps:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/obd-thread-pids-apps-dashboards.60459/

Meanwhile, you may also want to check out this thread in case you find some shit in it that gives you an 'AHA!' moment:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

Oh, and on OBD readers, heed the warning, and this warning is true with everyone you buy on scAmazon these days, especially auto parts, appliance parts, etc.:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/in-need-of-a-proper-diagnostic-tool.112820/#post-2918397

If you tell us more about your ABS problem, we may be able to help. There are a couple of conditions that are immediate "AHA!" red flags for some of us.

 

Hi. Thanks for the tips and warnings I will check out those links. I used a friend’s scanner and replaced a bad connection with no change. The ABS started working in the middle of a 12 hr drive about a year before scanning but then quit again after the trip. ‍♂️

 

What's the ABS doing, locking up too quickly? Pulsing the brakes when it shouldn't, or not pulsing them when it should? Throwing an ABS warning light?

Has any brake, bearing, or hub work been done within the last year or two and/or last few thousand miles?

As stupid as this sounds, the adjustment of the rear brakes is pretty critical to proper brake operation all-around on these trucks, and a properly functioning e-brake is pretty critical to keeping the rears adjusted. So much that there's an entire sticky thread on theory and adjustment tactics. Just pressing and releasing a properly functioning e-brake several times back-to-back will adjust down the drums and has fixed a number of reported problems from users, from vibrations to brake feel.

I'm a pretty big fan of the OBDLink MX+ I bought and the support has been stupidly good because I paid a little extra for the unlock or whatever. I know it's multi-brand, but not sure if it'll work with your BMW or not. There's also a VM of Toyota's Techstream software out on the internet you can find/DL/use with a specific USB dongle adapter available all over the internet, but that may not be nicely-packaged enough for some, or dealing with virtual machines too technical for others.

 

The ABS is non functional and light stays on.
Replace one sensor when I bought the truck about 6 years ago and it worked fine for a couple years.
Rear seals were done and brakes were adjusted. Still worked for a time after that.

 

I just read up on that OBDLinkMX+ and it looks pretty good to me

 

Rear seals is one of those red flags I mentioned. Bearings or anything with tone rings would be too.

Have you simply tried pulling your ABS sensors, cleaning, and reinstalling, checking alignment in the hole, etc?

 

That is one of the things I’ll have to try. I only did the one my friends scanner flagged.
BTW… my rear windshield quit working. There’s no power at the switch and I didn’t find any bad fuses ‍♂️ Any tips?

 

My 1st reply, 2nd link. The "So you just got a Tundra" (or whatever) thread. There's a link in the 3rd or 4th paragraph for EWD (wiring diagrams) that may be of help.

I'm not as-familiar with the DC, I've got an AC. We don't get the cool overhead console with temp gauge you DC drivers have, nor the vertical rear slider. I don't recall or know which fuse the rear slider is associated with, and I assume there may be a relay associated with the circuit too, no power to the switch is an interesting observation which screams "fuse" to me, unless the switch is ground-only, i.e. when you throw the switch it connects the circuit to ground, which then trips a relay. But again ... check the EWD.

 

Ah yes I saw that and printed the diagram. I believe there’s a relay in the window cavity. I guess I’ll go there next.

 

One of the other DC owners may actually be able to help.

A significant number of members are away in Sedona this week for a national gathering (Tundras2Sedona). Things are quieter than usual as a result.

 

Ahh. Well that sound like fun.