I have been researching this on amazon and other places- some of the more expensive ones say they have advanced features? what does that mean? what does a $400 one do that a $40 doesn’t? Unless i can hit a button the $400 one and it actually fixes the problem, otherwise, i can only imagine it has more codes for complex issues?
Another explaination of it. A professional level scan tool will use manufacturer communication protocols to speak with other control modules such as ABS/SRS/etc whereas the $40 scan tool is going to operate only on the OBD2 standard communication. That gives you only the data available via OBD2 such as trouble codes, readiness, some livedata etc. OBD2 as a standard is a bare minimum to have some uniformity across all makes for diagnostic/emissions testing. But a fair amount if ‘non-critical’ information isn’t accessible with the standard OBD2 modes. But then again, there is things available via OBD2 that manufacturers don’t give a shit about for normal service (Calibration Verification numbers, etc)
Hondata flash pro would have made quick work of that :)
He WAS running the hondata. The State Referee required the Calibration Verification number and Calibration ID, along with all readiness monitors being set. Only the readiness are available via the factory scan tool.