Review on 🚗 LAUNCH X431 Creader VII+ Car Code Reader: Advanced EOBD, OBD2 Scanner for Engine/Transmission/ABS/Airbag System Testing & PC Updates by Chase Hosea

Short version: It has about the same features as the Actron CP9670 model (code reader with some live data) but is not as easy to use . Graphics are useless. "Advanced" data requires the year/make/model/engine of the vehicle to be entered manually. Full version: In terms of usability, you have to choose one of two modes in the main menu. "OBDII" automatically recognizes the vehicle model and shows you a subset of its options for live data (numerical values) or graphics. The DIAGNOSIS will NOT automatically recognize the vehicle and you must have your VIN to select chassis and engine parameters and indicate if the vehicle has an air injection pump (smog). Diagnostics can show you more real-time data like all fuel system values, ignition system values, etc. Diagnosis, however, cannot graph anything. The displays are navigated with the 4-way keys and the OK and Esc keys. It's easy to understand but seems very, very clumsy. DTC definitions (text describing the observed function and problem) are only available in "OBDII" and not in "Diagnostics". Following the code in the latter mode requires 6 or 7 button presses to return to the main menu and a few more to bring up the OBDII menu. For me there are two real killers. First, it can only display a subset of generic PIDs (at least on my branded cars; nothing exotic), not extended PIDs. Why not be able to graph all common PIDs? Second, the graphics are almost useless. In the case of a typical graphical engine speed scenario, short term fuel trim and long term fuel trim, they are all placed on the same axis set without any gauges. It would be worse with a 4th value like O2 sensor voltage. Above and below the diagram you can see the minimum and maximum values, otherwise the y-axis scales overlap without showing the values. So you have the fuel trim (percentage, worst case +/- 25%) on the same chart as engine RPM and absolutely no way to look at anything other than the overall shape of the chart. Worse, the Y-axis scale is constantly changing, so everything is constantly moving. Add to that the comparatively low screen resolution (which is to be expected, but it makes matters worse) and it just doesn't do well. I couldn't get it to do an EVAP test on GM vehicles, which makes me wonder if other options work at all. The Torque app on Android devices is better. Too bad I didn't send it back before the return period was closed.