For car owners and DIY enthusiasts seeking a reliable and straightforward solution for basic vehicle diagnostics, the AS100 car diagnostic tool emerges as an excellent entry-level OBD2 scanner. This compact device empowers you to understand your car’s health, read and clear error codes, and perform essential checks, all from the comfort of your garage.
Core Diagnostic Functions of the AS100
The Ancel AS100 is designed to provide users with fundamental OBD2 diagnostic capabilities, ensuring you can effectively monitor and maintain your vehicle. Let’s delve into the key functions:
1. Reading Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs)
The primary function of the AS100 is to read diagnostic trouble codes. When your car’s check engine light illuminates, it signifies that the vehicle’s onboard computer has detected an issue. The AS100 accurately retrieves these DTCs, providing you with a detailed description of the problem. This crucial first step allows you to understand the nature of the fault, whether it’s a minor sensor issue or a more significant mechanical problem.
2. Erasing Codes and Resetting Monitors
Once you’ve addressed the identified issue, the AS100 car diagnostic tool enables you to erase codes and reset monitors. This action turns off the Check Engine Light (MIL) and clears the stored DTCs from the vehicle’s computer. It also resets the emission monitors, which are essential for passing smog tests or inspections. This function is invaluable for confirming repairs and ensuring your vehicle’s system is clear of old errors.
3. Accessing Live Data Stream
For real-time insights into your vehicle’s operation, the AS100 offers live data stream functionality. It reads and displays live ECU/PCM data, presenting critical parameters graphically. This allows you to monitor engine performance, sensor readings, and other vital data points in real-time. The tool also stores freeze frame data, capturing a snapshot of vehicle conditions when an emission-related fault occurred. This information is incredibly useful for diagnosing intermittent issues and understanding the context of error codes.
4. I/M Readiness Status Checking
Ensuring your vehicle is ready for emissions testing is simplified with the I/M Readiness Status feature. The AS100 checks the status of various emissions-related systems, indicating whether they are functioning correctly and ready for inspection and maintenance (I/M) testing. This proactive check can save you time and hassle by identifying potential issues before you go for an official emissions test.
5. Viewing Freeze Frame Data
As mentioned earlier, the View Freeze Frame Data function allows you to examine the specific vehicle conditions recorded at the moment an emission-related fault is triggered. This data provides a valuable context for understanding the fault, including parameters like engine speed, coolant temperature, and vehicle speed at the time of the error.
6. Reading Vehicle Information
Finally, the AS100 can read vehicle information, displaying essential details such as the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), CID (Calibration ID), and CVN (Calibration Verification Number). This information is useful for vehicle identification, accessing repair information, and ensuring compatibility with parts or software updates.
Broad Vehicle Compatibility
The Ancel AS100 boasts impressive compatibility across a wide range of vehicles:
- American (USA) Cars: Compatible with standard OBD2 cars from 1996 onwards (Chrysler, Ford, GM, Jeep).
- European Cars: Compatible with standard OBD2 cars from 2003 onwards (Alfa Romeo, SAAB, Acura, Opel, Audi, Seat, Bentley, Skoda, Daewoo, Benz, Daihatsu, Land Rover, BMW, Vauxhall, Volvo, VW, Ford, Jaguar).
- French Cars (after 2006): Citroen, Fiat, Renault, Peugeot (Note: Not Support for Renault Clio 2/Megane/Dacia Logan).
- Japanese Cars: Compatible with standard OBD2 cars from 2005 onwards (KIA, Isuzu, Honda, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Dacia, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota).
- Chinese Cars: Compatible with standard OBD2 cars from 2008 onwards (BYD, Chery, Geely, Great Wall, Karry).
Important Notes on Compatibility:
While the AS100 is designed for broad compatibility, it’s essential to remember:
- OBD2 protocol adoption varied by region and manufacturer. Some vehicles, particularly older Japanese and Korean models, or those with special designs, might not be OBD2 compliant.
- The AS100 provides basic OBD2 functions and does not include advanced features like ABS reset or Airbag reset.
- Certain car models and brands are explicitly not supported (e.g., Russian cars VAZ, UAZ, LADA; some Ssangyong models; Opel Corsa c 2004 1.3 CDTI; VW Golf 4 2002).
To ensure compatibility, it’s always recommended to check if your specific vehicle model and year are supported, especially if you own a Japanese or Korean car.
OBD2 Protocol Support
The Ancel AS100 supports a comprehensive range of OBD2 protocols, ensuring compatibility with a vast majority of OBD2 compliant vehicles:
- SAE J1850 PWM (41.6Kbaud)
- SAE J1850 VPW (10.4Kbaud)
- ISO9141-2 (5 baud init, 10.4Kbaud)
- ISO14230-4 KWP (5 baud init, 10.4 Kbaud)
- ISO14230-4 KWP (fast init, 10.4 Kbaud)
- ISO15765-4 CAN (11bit ID, 500 Kbaud)
- ISO15765-4 CAN (29bit ID, 500 Kbaud)
- ISO15765-4 CAN (11bit ID, 250 Kbaud)
- ISO15765-4 CAN (29bit ID, 250 Kbaud)
Multilingual Support
The AS100 caters to a global audience with support for multiple languages:
English, Russian, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Finnish, Polish.
Conclusion
The AS100 car diagnostic tool is a valuable asset for any car owner or DIY mechanic. Its user-friendly interface, essential OBD2 functions, and broad vehicle compatibility make it an ideal entry-level scanner for diagnosing car problems, maintaining vehicle health, and saving on potentially costly trips to the mechanic for basic diagnostics. While it focuses on fundamental OBD2 functions, it provides a solid foundation for understanding your vehicle’s condition and taking proactive steps towards its care.
