What code scanner?

[ScottFarkus]

Hi all, new guy here with 2021 6.4L Laramie. My 3 year warranty will be up in August and I'm seeing repair costs going through the roof (including diagnostics) in the last year or so so I'm thinking about getting a good scanner to keep an eye on my truck and do whatever repair work that I can possibly do. My truck has been great. No real problems except for some recent rodent damage to some wiring near the battery. I took that to the dealership and was quoted a $850 do bill to splice 5 wires. Not bashing the dealership. They charge what they can get away with and that's the way things work. However, I have the ability to do the work and it took about an hour. Hopefully I can continue to get by without spending too much at the dealership once the warranty ends. Anyway I'm looking for a scanner that will cover more than Engine codes. And in particular I'm looking for one that covers ABS and the ESC system. A error message and light initially led me to the rodent damage described above. As I said, I repaired the wires but the error and ESC light have not gone away after 40+ engine starts and about 700 miles. I'd really like to get some further idea of what is going on. Needless to say, I'd like to get the code cleared and see if it pops up again, or find any info that may help me to go back to the dealership with some knowledge if I have to. Not looking for a cheap engine code reader (already have a couple of those). I'm probably willing to go as high as 6 or 700 bucks. What do you all suggest.

 

[Grateful Dad]

JScan app with Vgate Vlinker MC+ might do the trick. Pretty sure you can scan and clear codes without a security bypass but heck, one of those is ~$50

License for one vin is $20.99
Vlinker is about $60

 

[DrTron]

AlphaOBD and a good Bluetooth dongle like the MX+?

 

[ScottFarkus]

Thanks guys!

And Grateful too!

 

[crtlabz]

I have a 21 Ram 2500 Rodeo Diesel 4x4 and I use the AlphaOBD and MX+. The system works great.

 

[LegendaryLawman]

JScan app with Vgate Vlinker MC+ might do the trick. Pretty sure you can scan and clear codes without a security bypass but heck, one of those is ~$50

License for one vin is $20.99
Vlinker is about $60

Very happy with this combo.

$850 for 5 wires, lol. Has a rat chew a Toyota ground wire on a coil, fixed it with solder- fixed in 20 minutes at no cost. Prices are nuts at shops, especially the dealer and a lot of the techs are worthless.

Just a tip, the contrac rat block
Poison in boxes does wonders. Get the one that you can use vitamin k as the antidote if a pet somehow gets a hold of it. Don’t get the neurological positions those have no antidotes.

I used several boxes and baits around the house and the mouse/rats are gone. Doyouown.com is a good place for the pest control stuff or local ace or farm stores (not big box)