Showing posts with label what s the best car battery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label what s the best car battery. Show all posts

Saturday, October 4, 2014

E-Z Red S101 Battery Hydrometer

E-Z Red S101 Battery HydrometerEasy to use and quickly shows which battery (and which cells) are good, fair or poor. I have two old golf carts that have questionable batteries, and its always been difficult to determine which battery to replace (other than by age), and when I did this I quickly found the bad battery in each cart, and when replaced greatly improved the charging and charge holding capacity of each GC. For the price, you can't beat it.

Spend the couple of extra dollars on this. The wide range of movement on the dial makes it easier to see small differences between individual cells in a battery. It dosn't say so on the web-site, but on the box it states that it self compensating for tempurature.

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Short of a laboratory grade instrument, this hydrometer gets the job done. I use it to monitor my solar power system battery bank, so it's important that it gives accurate and repeatable measurements. The built-in temperature compensation is a help no need to use cumbersome and confusing compensation charts. My only (small) complaint is that you need to be sure that the device is level when filled with battery acid or the reading will be off a bit. If you pay attention to this detail you'll be fine.

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[edited] Upgrading from 2 to 3 stars.

Overall, this tool will do a good job of letting you know whether any of your cells are bad. If that's all you need to know, then it's is a fine product.

I found, however, that the readings are not consistent enough to provide accurate measurements. Test after test usually ranges plus or minus a graduation (about .025 each).

Previously, I had a complaint that it was difficult to tell if the proper amount of fluid was being used because the meniscus (curvature of the liquid) didn't match with the fill-to line, but was informed that standard practice is to read at the bottom of the meniscus. I may have known that at some point, but certainly forgot about it. So, it turns out I've been using a number of devices incorrectly, but unfortunately with this one the readings are still inconsistent. Regardless, I've found this item to be useful enough that I'll give it a star boost.

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This Hydrometer give different reading at different times. Not worth the money. Spend a little more and get a hydrometer that works. I purchased a different one and it works fine. One of the glass ones with the temp scale built in works much better for me.

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Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Tekonsha 7000 12 Volt 3 Terminal Battery Isolator

Tekonsha 7000 12 Volt 3 Terminal Battery IsolatorI have installed many solenoids and isolators and recently tried this one. I installed this one and after 2 days of use the top of the unit (the small circular disc on the top) blew apart and the plunger popped up and grounded the battery against the housing this started an electrical fire in my engine compartment, luckily I was able to get the fire out and pull the solenoid plunger out fast enough to prevent further damage. This product is extremely unsafe and you risk starting a fire in your vehicle, which could lead to a forest fire, house fire or even death. The problem is that the top of the unit is not crimped or welded on properly, which can cause the solenoid to pop up and fall back down grounding our power source. I will be letting Amazon know that they are selling a dangerous product. Of note, I am an experienced mechanic and showed this failure to two other mechanics none of us have ever seen this happen to a solenoid before. It is hard to imagine a product could be make with such low quality.

I paid over $100 for the nearly identical solenoid about 15 yrs ago. Laid side by side, I can't see a difference, and if these last as long as the old one, they're a heck of a deal. My only complaint is that they (ordered 2) were shipped loose in a flat rate box. They were packed with an "airbag" which couldn't stand up to the terminals and deflated at some point. There were numerous holes in the box from the terminals, but the solenoids survived. A testament to the physical durability of these solenoids. Buy em!

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Purchased this as replacement solenoid for my RV about 5 years go still working fine. What more can I say?

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The solenoid I purchased from DamLow Prices arrived in a bubble padded envelope. Two of the terminals had come thru the bag and were exposed. The worst part however, was that there was NOTHING on the bag the solenoid came in or the solenoid itself to indicate manufacturer, model # or even a "made in XXXXX" stamping or label. It is a solenoid....I can see that, but aside from that you can't tell what the heck it is. Something like that is not going into my truck's electrical system. I'll buy a real Tekonsha somewhere else. It cost me half the price of the item to mail it back. A lot of junk from outside sources on Amazon lately.Tekonsha 7000 12 Volt 3 Terminal Battery Isolator

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a great contionus duty isolator. been using two optima batteries in my dodge durango with about 2000 watts of amplifiers for about a month now and its still going strong!!!!!

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Monday, August 11, 2014

Husky Liners Custom Fit Second Seat Floor Liner for Select Dodge Ram Models (Grey)

Husky Liners Custom Fit Second Seat Floor Liner for Select Dodge Ram ModelsHusky liners are worth the money. In the winter with snow and ice they are golden. If u want your vehicle to look nice all year around these are the floor mats for u.

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Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Hopkins 46365 Short Proof Power Converter

Hopkins 46365 Short Proof Power ConverterThis is a splice it yourself kit, you have to know which wires to splice into, so you'll need to know your wiring harness. Install was easy for me because I was replacing a burned out converter that was plug and play. The wires on the old converter were marked, so I just wired right up to those. The directions suck (hence 4 stars instead of 5) The hardest part is getting a feed up to the battery, as this has it's own VBATT circuit to prevent burning out your car's lighting circuits. Just takes some time working your way along the floor trim and finding a hole in the firewall. I've had too many problems with shorts on trailers taking out cheapo converters, so I figured it was worth the extra dough. So far, I'm satisfied. Installed on a 2000 Jeep Cherokee.

Product works as described so far. My only complaint is that the old versions had a connector on the side that you plugged in the trailer extension harness, which was a flat 4-wire cable. This version has no connector on the unit, just a couple feet of 4 individual wires terminating in the 4 pin trailer plug. I understand that it's cheaper to manufacture this way, but it just looks cheesy, and now instead of the nice 4 wire flat cable I have 4 individual wires that I had to wire tie every 4 inches to keep under control exiting the vehicle.

I would happily paid the extra dollar to have the decent cable with a connector on both ends.

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This is the unit that you want. I had to replace the trailer adapter that came with our Subaru Forester. The lights on the trailer were acting really strange. It seems that when one of the tail lights burned out it took the electrical adapter with it. The Hopkins 46365 is short proof, was easy to install, and works great. This is the unit that you want to convert separate brake and directional signals to a single bulb system.

Read Best Reviews of Hopkins 46365 Short Proof Power Converter Here

Moderate experience installation. All parts included for installation. Most time spent running red power wire under carpeting to engine compartment. No need to change flasher with or w/o trailer lights plugged in.

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Good quality product!! It came with all of the connectors, instructions and wire. Easy to install and is still working today.

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Monday, June 16, 2014

BESTEK Dual 110V AC outlets and Dual USB 3.1A 300w power inverter car dc 12v to 110v ac inverter dc

BESTEK Dual 110V AC outlets and Dual USB 3.1A 300w power inverter car dc 12v to 110v ac inverter dc adapter laptop charger notebook adapter dc charger ac adapter usb charger MRI3011BU
  • Converts 12-volt DC power from a vehicle battery to 120-volt AC power. Simply plug the inverter into your vehicle's DC outlet, and connect your device to the inverter's AC outlet or USB port.providing on-the-go household power in the vehicle.
  • Dual 110V AC oulets and Dual USB ports 3.1A totally, one with 1A and the other 2.1A for iPad and other larger devices fast charging
  • Short circuit,overload,overheat,low battery voltage,over battery voltage Protections, Full protection features and Auto-shutdown keep your appliance and car from damage of overheating, over load , low load, short circuit, low voltage and over voltage.
  • High tech achieved: Input & Output Isolation avoid electric shock ! Built-in fuse & cooling fan. Resum working after protections.
  • For DC12V and Car ONLY, not applied for DC24V and airplane use !

Arrived bubble wrapped in a small priority shipping box; not a retail package. This is a 1 piece unit, no accessories and a single half sheet of instructions. No loose parts to worry about, the plug is permanently attached and plugs directly into cig adapter. I like the compact size and feel of this unit. The cord is about the right length for me, there is 22" of wire between the plug and the unit. It'll reach the passenger seat just fine from the console. Mine works and produces modified AC power which runs my gadgets nicely (chargers: both USB and AC wall warts). The included USB ports are a bonus. My biggest disappointment is that the fan remains on continuously. This means I'll only be able to use it in situations where the car is running. I had hoped the fan would only turn on when it needed to cool down.

Due to the inefficiencies of a continuous fan, this unit is not a reasonable choice in an off grid battery situation. It is fine in a running car. I bought this unit hoping I could use it in a camping kit but it would quickly drain my solar charged portable battery system (only 9Ah). I'm going to keep it, but it's less useful than I had hoped. I won't be unable to leave this unit turned on when I'm away from the car or it'll drain the car battery, which is unacceptable.

The sales info says "Temperature controlled cooling fan" which tells me the fan should not be on unless it needs to cool the unit. I've contacted the seller to see how we'll resolve this. Perhaps I have a bad unit? *** Update from seller, this unit is working as designed ***

3 stars for delivering the power and having a USB port, but not more due to the noise and waste of energy a full time cooling fan causes. If the fan only went on as needed this would be a nice 5 star Inverter.

*** Update ***

Contacted seller, after a couple of email exchanges it was determined that this unit will keep the fan on at all times. While the unit differs from how I understood the listing, it's not worth my time to send it back. When I ordered mine, 1/3rd of the price was paid in shipping fees, so I'll keep this unit as an in-car unit and look to find something else that will be more efficient in a solar/battery based system.

If your intended use is in a car, the fan is most likely not a problem. You can also check to see if your Cig adapter shuts off when you turn off your keys, then it's even less of an issue as it won't drain your batteries when you leave your car. I have a Cig adapter in the trunk I use to power/charge things on trips and when traveling, mine turns off with the key so I can use this in the car without worry.

Mine continues to work well and has survived weeks in my trunk in the hot AZ sun.

*** For comparison purposes I have also reviewed the GoPower 175w inverter and compare that unit with this one side by side. You will find that video here:

Go Power! GP-175 175-Watt Modified Sine Wave Inverter

Buy BESTEK Dual 110V AC outlets and Dual USB 3.1A 300w power inverter car dc 12v to 110v ac inverter dc Now

I purchased this adapter for my cross country road trip and it has been so useful! We frequently camp and the adapter is perfect for charging phones and cameras. I've used it for my hair straightener and we have used it to inflate our inflatable mattress. HIGHLY recommended. The customer service from this company is fantastic as well.

Read Best Reviews of BESTEK Dual 110V AC outlets and Dual USB 3.1A 300w power inverter car dc 12v to 110v ac inverter dc Here

Product was delivered promptly. Charges my laptop in just over 1 hour. Also used with a multiple outlet power strip to charge 2 Dewalt 18V batteries together. Fan is fairly quiet.

Cons. Cord could be longer.

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Overall I can recommend as long as you understand what you are getting. A nice little inverter for the money. The things that might surprise you is the little cooling fan never turns off. Not a super big deal but it does draw a little under half an amp just to run the units cooling fan. Having two USB ports was why I bought it. Watch the video and you will see more about power draw.

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I was watching the coverage of the aftermath of hurricane Sandy when the reporter showed a line of people waiting to plug in their personal communication devices in a power strip that the mobile reporting van had generously given them access to, and it occured to me that a simple 12 volt power port (cigarette lighter socket) adapter might be handy in the event of a power failure lasting for more than a day or two. Realizing that everyone in my household has different charging adapters, I thought that maybe I should look for a small inverter where we could all recharge our devices from the 120 volt output of such a device. Now I realize that you can drop a lot of money in a hurry when you start getting into higher output true sinewave inverters and I wasn't really looking to bust my budget, so when I came across this one for 26 bucks I ordered one just for emergencies. I also own a ES5000 12 volt jumper pack which has a power port built in, so I plugged in the BESTEK inverter and my Intertek "KILL A WATT" power monitor and tried out a variety of different devices. Unloaded, the output was 112 volts. Loaded, it rose to 116 voltsboth acceptable. The frequency held rock solid at 59 Hz, again acceptable. I powered everything from a small battery charger (Dremal tool) to my laptop, to a radio/ CD player, to a small 50 watt table lamp. Everything worked as advertised. The fan does run continuously and it does make a fan noise but that doesn't affect what I'm going to use it for. You might want to consider buying a power socket that has alligator clips attached so you can power it from a stand alone battery if necessary. Remember, this is only a 300 watt inverter so check out the amperage draw of what you are going to power up first (volts X amps = watts) i.e. a 300 watt bulb @ 115 volts draws 2.61 amps. So limit your device draw to about 2.5 amps and you will do just fine.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

New 2.0-Inch HD Dual Camera Car DVR Vehicle Accident Dash Recorder and 8 IR Night Vision Light

New 2.0-Inch HD Dual Camera Car DVR Vehicle Accident Dash Recorder and 8 IR Night Vision Light
  • LCD?2.0"TFT LCD
  • Lens:120 Wide Angle
  • With nigh vision function
  • Dual lens survailiance the outside and the inside together

It's constant recording :( Thought there's motion detection but I was wrong. The biggest disappointment was with the night vision. In fact IR Led's are not strong at all. You can see image only up to 2" in front of the camera ! HD is photo only, video is VGA. Wasting of money. Regrets, regrets...

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i ordered a "New 2.0-Inch HD Dual Camera Car DVR Vehicle Accident Dash Recorder and 8 IR Night Vision Light". the product sent is the older version without night vision.

Read Best Reviews of New 2.0-Inch HD Dual Camera Car DVR Vehicle Accident Dash Recorder and 8 IR Night Vision Light Here

Love it, no problems at all Used it on a recent trip and it was great to have with us.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Husky Liners Classic Style Custom Fit Molded Front Floor Liner for Select Ford Models (Black)

Husky Liners Classic Style Custom Fit Molded Front Floor Liner for Select Ford ModelsFrankly, these floor mats are absolutely underwhelming.

Was expecting a heavy-duty, rubberized mat capable of standing up to cold weather and rough use in my 2012 Econoline. Instead, the mats are plastic and very thin. Not sure they will make it through the upcoming autumn rains and winter snow.

On the plus side, well-molded and fit perfectly.

But oh so underwhelming. Not saying they are not worth buying. But I am saying they don't seem to me to be worth the price. Will be looking elsewhere for something better.

These mats fit perfectly and provide maximum protection for the carpet underneath from dirt and moisture. Highly recommend them.

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I have a pair in my truck and now my camper.. They work great and fit perfect.

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Even though the description says it only fits Econolines up to 2005, it does in fact fit my 2006 E-350 Perfectly.

It fits like a glove, moulded perfecty to completely cover the Driver and Passenger area. These keep the dirt and grim off my cloth interior. They have a edge aound it so if its raining the water off my boots wont run all over the place.

When its time to clean them, I just pull them out and hose them down. Its that easy :)

These are so good I am ordering another set for my 2006 E-250.

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Friday, October 18, 2013

Husky Liners Custom Fit WeatherBeater Molded Front and Second Seat Floor Liner Set for Select Honda

Husky Liners Custom Fit WeatherBeater Molded Front and Second Seat Floor Liner Set for Select Honda Civic ModelsAmazon shows the WeatherBeater(TM) Floor Liner model number: 98441 fits 2012 Honda Civic Si.

They do not fit the 2012 Civic Si Coupe. They do fit a 2012 Civic Sedan 4 door.

The box shows 4 door models. Amazon should make this clear.

These are the original floor protectors, before Weather Guard. I checked both of these and you get good quality, durable form fitted mats for a price that is reasonable Weather Guard wanted $80 more for the same setup. They were no better, and had a short warranty.

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I am leasing a civic right now and these floor covers fit perfectly and definitely keep the interior clean. I always recommend these to my friends lessees or not

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Really the best if it fits my 2012 Civic Si coupe back seat floor mats. Only good for sedans. Really fit the front well.

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This is a high quality product which provides a custom fit for your vehicle. I purchased this for my 2012 Civic and it was a great buy.

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Saturday, September 21, 2013

2nd Generation Audio FM Transmitter and Car Vehicle Charger for the Samsung Galaxy S II - Uses Goma

2nd Generation Audio FM Transmitter and Car Vehicle Charger for the Samsung Galaxy S II - Uses Gomadic TipExchange Technology
  • Full FM frequency spectrum is available and is user selectable in 0.1MHz increments from 88.1 to 107.9 MHz. Advanced Digital PLL sound coding maintains stable and high quality sound.
  • Transmitters emit a powerful FM signal that is the maximum allowed by FCC regulation. Advanced signal isolation provides crystal clear sound quality.
  • Smart technology circuit architecture provides precision voltage and resistor regulation specific to the Samsung Galaxy S II. Protects the internal battery longevity by modulating the charge in a safe and efficient manner.
  • Non-coiled cable design allows for easy routing around your vehicle trim for a more professional look. Durable construction is built to last.
  • Generous LED screen clearly displays current frequency setting. Transmitter frequency continues to be locked in even when vehicle power is cut.

This product has been useful for my Galaxy S2. I get to play my music in my car and charge my phone. I don't have any issues with the sound of the music. However, you cannot charge your phone and listen to your music without a high pitch tone occurring that only gets louder if you try and turn the music up. Although, you can be charging one phone while listening to music from a different phone, which works for my family since we all have Samsung phones that fit to the adapter; there is only an issue when you are trying to charge and listen to music from the same phone. Things I would like to see improved is a station scan for available stations; you have to go through each station individually, which is okay when I'm in my local area but not when I am traveling and don't know the stations. Other than that, I am happy with my purchase.

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But you can't charge your phone and transmit you music at the same time. Cause it'll interfere with the signal. also I had this blow my radio fuse multiple times. I replaced this item with Sprint Micro-USB vehicle power charger PLUS, I lost the transmitter feature with that plug, but I didn't blow anymore fuses. Over all this isn't worth any of your money.

Read Best Reviews of 2nd Generation Audio FM Transmitter and Car Vehicle Charger for the Samsung Galaxy S II - Uses Goma Here

Product works awesome. Actually enhanced sound quality in my car. I would highly recommend this device. It's a great value.

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I drive an old car and I commute a long distance to work so I listen to a LOT of audiobooks on first an iPod and now a galaxy 2S. I have become a connoisseur of transmitters of all sorts. This is not a good one. The audio was terrible, very scratchy and distorted. If I held it a certain way it wasn't too bad but that is completely not workable for a car that bumps down the road. I don't want to have an accident from messing with my transmitter. I've had really cheap $5 models that were more clear. Customer service tried very hard to keep me from returning it but finally relented. That bothered me also. That sort of tactic makes me think their business model is based on selling cheap stuff that people won't bother to return and demand refunds. After I sent this one back I bought the GOgroove FlexSMART X2 ADVANCED Wireless In-Car Bluetooth FM Transmitter which was far superior and worth the extra cost. I bought another for my husband.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Keep It Clean BATRD Remote Battery Disconnect Kit with Harness and Switch

Keep It Clean BATRD Remote Battery Disconnect Kit with Harness and SwitchProduct may be OK if the parts fit. The nuts that come in a plastic bag do not fit the Large posts on the solenoid. This is the second unit that I received. I sent the first one back thinking the wrong nuts were just a mistake. The second unit was the same. Also the switch with wires attached was wired incorrectly. The crimp terminals that came with the unit didn't fit the small posts on the solenoid. Both ordered I received both had the same things wrong. I'll be sending the second one back for a refund. I will search internet for a different battery disconnect. I even took the solenoid to the hardware store to try and get the correct nuts, but they could not figure out the correct size. Nothing they had in stock fit. It is an odd size. I even called "KeepitClean.com" They did not know the size either. They said they couldn't help. I had to deal with Amazon. Big headache, do not buy.

I purchased this to be able to shut off my truck battery from inside my truck rather than open the hood to turn it on and off every time. Unfortunately, it was riddled with problems. First off, the unit I received did not match the installation instructions. I called Keep it clean but nobody actually answers the phone there so I had to leave a message and wait for a call back. Once I was finally called back I was told that " It is probably an old model accidentally put in new packaging". They emailed me new instructions but when I went to install it the nuts and connectors that came with the product did not fit. I called them back and I was told that since I purchased through Amazon that it was not their problem. Amazon then sent me a "new" unit but it was exactly the same.

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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Actron CP9550 OBD-II PocketScan Plus Diagnostic Code Reader

Actron CP9550 OBD-II PocketScan Plus Diagnostic Code ReaderI purchased this reader because I am an avid DIY person. I have another reader (not this type) that was giving me an error when trying to read my 2006 Dodge Mega-cab diesel. I like to be informed before I take my car or truck into the shop. Some time you can get the (CEL) check engine light for the slightest little hiccup. Makes you a little nervous when you are running down the freeway towing a 5th wheel. This little device is very powerful, reads the error and tells you what it is. No books to carry. I have used it on 5 different vehicles, 2 diesel and 3 gas. It told me what the error was and allowed me to clear them. I would not recommend junk, this thing is nice. Don't let the small size fool you, good things do come in little packages. I give this device 5 stars. It is a money saver

I have 4 vehicles from a '98 to an '07 and have used this to check codes on 3 of them already including the '07 that had a cylinder 3 misfire upon purchase a month ago. There was a wrong spark plug installed prior to my purchase. If I had taken the car to a garage, I would have paid the purchase price of this code reader for the diagnosis alone. I changed all 4 plugs myself for $26. I recommend every car owner to own a code reader. They are basically plug 'n' play nowadays and will pay for themselves in 1 use. This reader read my ('07 Solstice, '98 F150, '00 Elantra and a Windstar work van of unknown year) codes straight out of the box....Highly recommended!!

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I bought the Pocket Scan Plus after having an Equus 3030 Innova. The Pocket Scan Plus is very easy to use and it displays the actual code definition instead of having to look up in a booklet like with the Equus, but it contains lead in the cable. So you have to remember to wash your hands after using it. Also if you have a car like a Toyota Sienna the port on the car will have a little nub that that will get stuck inside of the code reader's plug and there is no way of getting it out without wrestling the thing and using a slotted screwdriver to chisel it out. Then you end up scratching the code reader up and almost breaking you cars OBD port. We called the company and they said that it happens pretty often and that you pretty much have to break it to get it off. The Equus is designed so that it will not get stuck on the car. I am returning this one and buying another Equus. Its fine, just make sure the cars port does not have a little nub or you're going to have a wrestling match.

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This little device has a lot of functionality packed into a small package. It is also very compact which makes it easier to store in your vehicle. Great product, works just as advertised.

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I used this to check the code for the Check Engine light that came on my Subaru Forester. It is simple to use and does everything that it is advertised for. A professional mechanic may demand more, but for me it does the job.

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