You can usually find an OBD I Autoray on ebay for less than a Scanmaster goes for, but which one is a better tool?

Thanks,

 

The nice thing about the ScanMaster is the bright LED display. It can be installed on the dash, and is a lot easier to read while driving than the LCD display in the AutoXray. But if you don't plan to use it as a "dash mount", it won't be that important. The AutoXray can be used on other pre-95 GM cars... the ScanMaster can't. The AuotXray can record some data, I believe 29-seconds, but not sure how many parameters at once. The ScanMaster can only record MAX knock retard, MIN O2 mV's and the MPH at which each occured. Limited data, but very useful. It's a toss-up, depending on exactly how you plan to use it, whether you have other cars to use it on, etc.

 

I bought the Autoxray scanner about two years ago and it's an excellent diagnostic tool. What I really like about it is that you can use it on other cars too, I've diagnosed problems with it on several other cars, a 95 Toyota truck I had, a 00 Accord, friends 95 Chevy Van and a couple others. It displays trouble codes with descriptions of them, resets codes, monitors several engine parameters such as O2 sensors readings, timing, engine temp, rpm and a bunch of others. It will also record real time operating info on each of these in one (or two?) second intervals. You can record with it while driving to try and replicate a problem that only happens when driving then play it back after to see what happened. I've only used it once for that so far, it's a pretty cool feature though

 

I would agree with Fred about the display, but overall the Autoxray would be a more versatile unit. It also records all parameters it monitors during capture.