Review on Enhance Vehicle Diagnostics with Actron CP9125 C PocketScan Code Reader – 1996 and Newer Vehicles - Orange by Marc Sortijas

I bought an Actron CP9125 OBD scanner in December 2006 to keep in my old 1999 car because I want to be able to self-diagnose the check engine light as soon as possible. Many auto repair shops charge outrageous prices just to tell you what your check engine light means. While others (e.g. some auto parts stores) do free reading diagnostics, you can't always rely on it being near convenient access to determine if something needs immediate attention (e.g. if you're outside of the traveling home). Also, it can be useful to turn off codes that are not critical/possibly false to avoid driving with the lights on while seeing unknown new (serious) codes. Because of the cost some places charge and the instant knowledge to make decisions, having one in your car "just in case" is worth considering, as using one will cover most of the cost of a reasonably priced one scanner covers. It has come in handy twice since I bought it, once to diagnose an EGR issue (need to use a workshop with a hoist to access an EGR valve replacement) and a spark plug issue (need to change wires). Knowing the check engine light code(s) is great when speaking to a workshop. What I don't like about this device is the very short cord and the tricky plugging and unplugging the scanner connector. With my car's OBD output connector, the position/orientation of the output connector requires me to stand almost on my head to connect it, and the tab on the output connector blocks this latch to prevent accidental disconnection. I then have to use a small screwdriver or knife to pry the connector's protrusion apart a bit in order to disengage it, which is still difficult. I ended up buying a cheap 4" extension cord (easier to get) off eBay for about $6, taped the car connector's locking tabs to keep them from snagging, and left the extension permanently plugged in for easier insertion of the scanner - and could unplug . The other thing is that the software CD that comes with the scanner is basically useless. It's just looking for a few words related to the error code, but the explanation of the associated code is less than what's in the PDF manual that comes with the CD. disk and what you can get online I just got the appropriate codes for myself printed out my car model and carried a set with a scanner in the car.