I have 3 vehicles 08 Ford f150, 00 Nissan Frontier and a 05 nissan centra.

I was wondering what code reader I should get that could read the trouble codes and reset them.

My Nissan frontier just had the timing belt break and the person doing the work on it hooked it up and the trucks computer told him what was wrong. I would like to beable to do this as well.

 

All your vehicles should be OBD2, so any OBD2 reader will work for you. The simplest and least expensive reader would be an equus/Innova 3030. Other readers with more bells and whistles will cost more:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=equus%2Finnova+code+readers

I use an Equus/Innova 3030 and it works well for me.....and I bought it from Amazon.com.

 

thanks for the information. I am not looking at the 3030 ro 3120
The 3030 is about $60 and the 3120 for $150

The only thing it looks like the 3120 does over the 3030 that I would use is the OEM Enhanced & Transmission Codes.

Tell me all about your 3030 please

 

I just broke down and bought the Equus 3120 for $147

I just had one of my trucks in the shop and they charged me $70 to do this. I know some of the auto parts stores can do this for free or little money but it is a hassle to go to them and they all seam to have an attitude when you ask them to read the code and then not buy anything from them. then they do not want to reset the code for you if it was something as simple as a loose gas cap or something simple.

 

We're pretty lucky here; our local parts dealer happily runs a code check at no charge. I used the service once before I picked up my own scanner.

The 3030 is quite basic: It runs a scan, reads the code(s) and allows the code(s) to be reset. I've used it successfully to dope out an EGR problem and a misfire problem. I have as well an Actron CP-9015 that monitors OBD1 for my 94 LTC. It a basic unit too, but it has saved me a lot of grief doping out the few problems the LTC has had.

Gotta tell ya....with all this complicated electronic powertrain management there are times I wish I still had my 82 VW Rabbit diesel 4-speed.

 

A few days ago I was on the way home from work and the check engine light came on in my 2000 nissan. So I parked it, a day latter my code reader cam in.
I put it on and very quickly found out my gas cap was loosened. I reset the code and drover it for a while and put it back on to make sure there was no pending codes and the truck was clear.

My new innova 3120 also checks to see it the car will pass emissions and the sensors are working right. Since my truck and wife's car will be going trough the emissions I checked both and found out they both should pass. This feature alone is great for saving aggravation.