Equus 3100 Innova CanOBD2 Diagnostic Tool Review
There are many tools out on the market that have been developed to access the on-board computers on you vehicle and the Equus Innova 3100 scan tool is one that is particularly simple to use and surprisingly affordable. It is designed to be used by almost anyone, from a do-it-myselfer to the ASE master technician.
The 3100 CanOBD2 Diagnostic Tool is a couple of steps up from the Equus 3030 scan tool reviewed elsewhere on this site. Like the 3030 it is designed to retrieve diagnostic codes in all OBD II (1996 and newer) vehicles and features the unique patented all-in-one screen display and LED display.
It separates itself from the 3030 in its ability to display on-screen DTC definitions and user interfaces in English, Spanish, or French.
The Innova 3100 can store diagnostic codes in its memory for off-car review and analysis thanks to its battery backup feature not available on the 3030 model.
You can connect the Equus 3100 to your PC with the included cables and software to generate, print, and save detailed diagnostic reports. In addition, you can update the 3100 via the Internet.
Additional features for the Equus Innova 3100 are below…..
- Quickly reveals the cause of “Check Engine” light warnings on any foreign or domestic 1996 and newer car, light truck or SUV
- Automatically refreshes data every 30 seconds when connected to the vehicle, making it easy to verify repair completion
- Retrieves OBD2 DTCs: Generic Codes (P0, P2, P3, and U0) / Manufacturer Specific Codes (P1, P3, and U1)
- Communicates with all OBD 2 protocols: C.A.N. (Controller Area Network), ISO 9141, J1850PWM, J1850VPW, KWP 2000 ISO 14230-4
- Displays Freeze Frame Data
- Comes with access to innova.com RepairSolutions which gives trouble code definitions, a full diagnostic report, probable causes, most likely fixes(Note: There is a charge for this.)
- Erase button turns off the ‘Check Engine’ light
- All hot keys for intuitive navigation
Watch the 3100 in action in this video…….
So What can this tool do for You?????
- It will help you pinpoint the specific component that has malfunctioned and caused the ‘Check Engine’ light to come on which can save substantial time and cost compared to guess-and-replace repairs.
- The data you can provide to your mechanic will help him track down the root cause of the malfunction & make You more confident about working with him to get your vehicle back on the road.
- If you are DIYer it will be an invaluable tool when diagnosing your vehicle’s hiccups and aid you in making the correct repairs.
- Scanning OBD-II signals can also provide valuable information on the condition of a used car purchase via the “freeze frame” function even if the dealer has reset the ‘Check Engine’ light.
What this tool won’t do for you???????
- It won’t provide data on ABS brakes, air bags or radio problems
- It can’t re-flash replacement parts. Some vehicle engine parts require specific vehicle info to be entered into the power control module to work properly.
The Equus Innova 3100 OBD2 scanner is the best-seller in the Equus line of diagnostic tools. Here are what some satisfied owners had to say…….
A must have, good value diagnostic tool January 27, 2011
Adam B.I am not a professional technician.
I am, however, a do-it-yourself guy.
This item saved me money when my fuel pump died a few months ago.
Purchased this unit to diagnose the problem first, before potentially having to give the car to the “sharks”.
The tool provided relevant codes and their short descriptions on-screen.
Based on the ODB2 code reported by the tool and a step-by-step diagnosis found online I ended up purchasing a fuel pump on Amazon (car dealership was asking $400 MORE (!?!) for the pump, btw) and got the car back on the road. No guess work involved.
I’m sure this tool will continue to save me money in the future.
This review was edited to save space. Read the full review here.
Paid for itself in First use, December 4, 2010
ToddBuhThis is my first code reader, and I couldnt be happier with it. It has Many features only found in more expensive code readers.
Within a week of getting this reader, I had a ignition coil go bad, I had no clue what was wrong. Plugged in reader, told me Cylinder Number 6 coil was bad, I switched #6 coil with #5 cylinder coil, took another reading and was told #5 was now bad.
So I had confirmed the bad coil, went to parts store and bought new coil, took less than 5 minutes to replace and kept me from waiting 4 days to get car into shop (happened on Thanksgiving) and saved me enough money that this reader paid for itself in the first use!
This is a very handy addition to my tool box. Even handy when its a repair I cannot do, When I take it to the shop I can give them the information, and save them time and me money!
Read the original review here.
Final Thoughts……..
If you have gotten this far in this review I am going to assume you are serious about getting a auto code scanner. There are many to choose from in all price ranges and with a wide range of features.
The Equus Innova 3100 is a step above the basic code reader with the freeze frame function, multilanguage capability, memory storage and the ability to turn off the ‘Check Engine’ light. With a price under $100 it is easily affordable and it should quickly pay for itself in reduced repair costs.
I don’t think you can go wrong with this tool.