Code readers

I’m looking to buy a code reader that will cover ABS and SRS, as well as engine codes across multiple makes. There seems to be only two main manufacturers when it comes to DIY scan tools: Foxwell and Autel. Are there any more and what do you know about Vgate?

I found a Foxwell NT630 on Amazon for £114.50 with free delivery. Is this price too good to be true? Anthony Pattinson I checked the link for the new Foxwell NT630 for £114.50. This is a good handheld unit and will cover ABS and SRS, and the retail price is normally around £150. The only concern I would have about purchasing the unit from this Amazon seller is that they are based in China – while this in itself is not a problem, you may be charged import and VAT costs by UK Customs, which may negate the £35.50 saving. You could also possibly have to wait a while for your purchase to be delivered.

Vgate Technology is based in China and produces a wide range of reasonably priced scanners. I have no personal experience of these, so I’m unable to comment on their reliability.

In February 2011, we did a product test on fault code readers costing under £100. This covered code readers from Autel, Gendan, Sealey, Launch, Argos and Memoscanner. At the time, the Memoscanner U280 was the Best Budget Buy, but this appears to be no longer available. The Best Buy went to the Autel Maxiscan MS409, which at the time cost £62.50, but an updated version of this is now available in the form of the Autel Maxiscan MS609 OBDII Scan Tool with ABS capability for £75.

We test a few handheld FCRS as part of the feature on diagnostics on page 6, including a new Autel unit on the market.