Autel MS300 OBD2 Scanner Code Reader
Product Description
Ideal for Car DIYers and Beginners
The Autel MS300 is a plug-and-play scanner that can quickly pay for itself after just one use. It connects to vehicles via a standard 16-PIN OBD2 cable and is powered directly by the vehicle-no batteries required. This compact device scans vehicle Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) in seconds, helping you identify emission-related issues. Keep it in your toolbox or your car, always ready for action.
Read and Clear Codes Instantly
Starting any repair process with the right diagnostic codes (DTCs) is crucial to avoid being overcharged. With the MS300, you can read these codes in seconds and look them up to quickly identify problem areas. This allows you to decide whether to tackle the repair yourself or consult a mechanic. Plus, you can clear the codes to restore everything back to normal.
Turn Off the Check Engine Light
The persistent check engine light can be annoying, often triggered by minor issues like a loose gas cap. Instead of paying hundreds of dollars for diagnostics, use the Autel MS300 scan tool to read the codes and quickly discover the cause behind the check engine light. You can also reset it with ease.
Ensure You Pass Your Annual Smog Check
To successfully pass your annual smog check, it’s crucial to have the OBD II Readiness Monitors on your vehicle set to “Ready.” Avoid the cost of a failed smog check by using the MS300 OBD2 scanner to retrieve I/M Readiness status, checking monitors such as misfire, fuel system, catalyst, O2 sensors, and EVAP.
For 99% of Vehicles and Worry-Free Purchase
The Autel MaxiScan MS300 supports all OBD2 protocols: KWP2000, ISO2000, ISO9141, J1850 VPW, J1850 PWM, and CAN. It is for 99% of OBDII-compliant vehicles, including passenger cars and light trucks. Generally, it works with vehicles manufactured after 1996 in the US, post-2006 in the EU, and post-2009 in Asia. It comes with a 12-month warranty and free lifetime technical support. If you need any assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
arijeff945 –
As with anyone who has had the check engine light pop on while driving, my heart jumped to my throat when that baby lit up my dash on the way to work. And then it splashed back down to the pit of my stomach…hard! I guess it is the not knowing of what is hurting my little commuter. I wanted to know. This brought on the search for a dependable, but not expensive, scan tool to find out on my own what the heck was going on. I found this little jem and decided to give it a shot based on the mostly positive reviews it had. NO REGRETS!
This product worked without any glitches. My vehicle is a 2003 Hyundai Elantra GLS and I think the hardest part of the process is finding the link connector in the car (it is down below of the steering wheel under the driver side dash, if anyone is interested, you have to feel for it because it is not visible). Once I found it though, it was all down hill…in a good way. It fit perfectly and worked as stated in the manual.
Just follow the steps indicated and you will get the info you need. In my case, all I was looking for was the reason for the check engine light to turn on. I got my answer with this little scan tool. In less than five minutes I got the DTC code (this is explained in the manual) that set of the MIL. Once I got the code, I went straight to the auto shop and told my mechanic what I found. I have a good honest “guy” that was surprised, but also pleased, that I had pin pointed the problem for him.
But, the tool also gives more info on the car than just the problem codes. It can pretty much give you the status of most of important components in the car. It was a relief to find out my car was in great shape, except for just one code. Very much a relief.
Well, from my positive rating, you can figure out that I definitely recommend this producted. It is a simple, but valuable tool to have if you drive every day and depend on your car. I have used it only once, and will be happy if I don’t have to use it again. I mean this in a good way, but if I ever get a check engine light, it won’t freak me out because I have my own diagnostic tool to see what is going on with my beloved 4-banger!
Note: The manual comes with a list of generic code definitions. Once you find the code, you can use their listing, or look it up on the internet. I did both just to verify.
Rich Reviews –
A Must-Have Tool That Pays for Itself After One Use
The Autel MS300 OBD2 Scanner has been one of the smartest twenty-dollar tools I’ve ever bought for my garage. It’s small, rugged, and ridiculously easy to use—just plug it into your car’s OBD2 port, turn the ignition to ON, and it immediately pulls diagnostic codes. Within seconds, you can see exactly why your check engine light is on, look up the code online, and decide whether it’s a DIY fix or something worth taking to a mechanic.
What I like most is its simplicity. There are only two buttons: one for “Enter” and one to scroll through options. It reads and clears codes, checks emission readiness (for smog tests), and even displays VINs on newer cars. It works on nearly all vehicles made after 1996, including domestic, European, and Asian models. I’ve used it on several cars—from a Mitsubishi Raider to a Toyota Highlander—and it’s never failed to connect.
The screen is basic but readable, even in a dim garage. The cable is sturdy, and the unit powers directly from the car, so there are no batteries to worry about. It won’t show live data or deep system diagnostics like an expensive scanner, but for everyday use—checking, confirming, and clearing codes—it’s perfect.
Bottom line: if you drive any car made in the last 25 years, the Autel MS300 is a must-have. It’s fast, accurate, and pays for itself the first time you avoid a $100 diagnostic fee at the shop.
CG –
for those with link error, I didn’t read the manual but you need the ignition in the ON position (not ACC or OFF). For those with codes that it read that had already been repaired… your mechanic should have cleared the codes in the computer after the repair but did not. Now you can clear them yourself. 🙂 It’s possible the repair didn’t work, either, but if the MIL (malfunction indicator lamp, aka check engine light etc) didn’t come back on, you should be fine.
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This Autel scans my 1998 Subaru Legacy and read the P0440 code just the same as the Actron. It cleared the code successfully and the MIL turned off. This unit also scans my wife’s 2010 Toyota RAV4, but it doesn’t have any check engine light to confirm codes or any of that stuff.
The included manual comes with generic DTC definitions, but the definitions are so short you need to search them on the web anyway to translate and determine the severity. That’s true with just about any scanner, especially those in this price range so I was expecting that. The manual does not list manufacturer specific codes that the tool presumably reports, but you can get those on the web. I’ve found that obd-codes dot com to be a good resource for _most_ DTC generic and manufacturer specific definitions. It also includes other details for generic codes that are helpful.
It is true that most auto parts stores will scan your car for free, but that’s not always convenient. Plus, if you have an intermittent problem that occassionally trips the MIL, you might dismiss any future instance of the MIL as the original issue, and potentially cause harm to your vehicle. If you own a scanner, it’s easy to regularly verify.
I also own a more expensive Actron CP9180 but I bought the Autel to leave in my car at all times. Since MS300 so inexpensive I wouldn’t be too upset if it gets baked in the summer heat. This product feels like a toy (very light and it has a short short cord…maybe 18″), but it seems to work. I only gave it 4 stars because of the feel of the product, but quite honestly I wasn’t expecting anything more based on the price and the fact that these are made in china.
My Actron has a lot of features that I’ll never use (I’m just a consumer, not a mechanic), but it is a solid product that will presumably last much longer than the cheaply made MS300. Even though I paid a cheaper price for the Actron on eBay, you can get three MS300 tools for the same price of the Actron, and the MS300 tool has every feature that normal consumers like myself need.