Want to buy a ELM OBDII Scan tool, any advice?

[hyperhydro]

Hi, guys. This is my first post. Don't know if this thread fits here...

I am trying to get a ELM OBD-II scan tool, think it could be convenient and fun. I looked around online, seems a USB scan tool w/ ELM327 chip could be the one I want. It's compatible to all kinds of OBD II standards...(bunch of them...) it links DLC connector (the car) to a PC/laptop. The key is, it's much cheaper than an all-in-one hand-hold reader.

So anyone has used this kind of ELM device before? is it good?
I saw a popular one(according to google) called ELMSCAN 5 from scantool.net.... how about this one?

any information will be helpful. Thank you guys.

[dc_98_cam]

Originally Posted by hyperhydro

Hi, guys. This is my first post. Don't know if this thread fits here...

I am trying to get a ELM OBD-II scan tool, think it could be convenient and fun. I looked around online, seems a USB scan tool w/ ELM327 chip could be the one I want. It's compatible to all kinds of OBD II standards...(bunch of them...) it links DLC connector (the car) to a PC/laptop. The key is, it's much cheaper than an all-in-one hand-hold reader.

So anyone has used this kind of ELM device before? is it good?
I saw a popular one(according to google) called ELMSCAN 5 from scantool.net.... how about this one?

any information will be helpful. Thank you guys.

I was looking at the data/scan tool listed here ... Basically, just plug it in beneath the dash, drive a while, then remove and view data ...engine performance, speed, braking, even accident data.
I think it is called a chip data logger.
Still researching though ... haven't actually used it.:
http://www.davisnet.com/drive/produc...asp?pnum=08226