OBD SCANNER REVIEW-CGSULIT SC301 OBD2 & EOBD -

Hopefully, this OBD scanner review will shed some light on should you (or not) buy the CG Sulit SC 301 scanner tool.

With today’s modern cars it’s not a question of whether should you buy an OBD scanner, but which one?

In this article, you can read about the specifications of the SC 301 as well as its pros and cons.

If you’re not in the mood for reading, you can watch a YouTube video review at the end of the article or on our YouTube channel.

Also, this review comes from personal experience and actual usage so it should be credible.

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CG SULIT SC301 OBD CODE SCANNER

Item weight: 1,12 pounds

Product dimensions: ‎6.3 x 2.9 x 1 inches

Size of display: 2.8 inches TFT color screen

Supported protocols: J1859-41.6, J1850-10.4, ISO9141, KWP2000 (ISO 14230), and CAN (Control Area Network ISO11898)

Number of keys: 9

I/M Readiness test: Yes

Cable length: about 90 cm

Warranty: 1 year

Power supply: 8-18V vehicle power (no external power source needed, starts working when connected to the OBD port).

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

These are the features and benefits as stated by the manufacturer:

Works with all OBDII/EOBD compliant cars, light-duty trucks, SUVs, minivans, and hybrid cars sold worldwide.
Reading/erasing DTC and I/M readiness hotkeys makes it easy to use this tool right out of the package
They provide quick access to emissions readiness status, DTC information, and erase function
Red, yellow, green LEDs and built-in speakers indicate emission monitor status. They can also help catch intermittent problems or confirm repairs during a drive cycle
Supports multiple code requests. generic, manufacturer-specific, pending, and permanent codes
Clears codes, turns off check engine lights (MIL)
Reads freeze frame data which shows engine conditions such as fuel trim, engine coolant temperature, etc at the time the check engine light appeared
Shows records, graphs, and playbacks of live sensor data
Reads live O2 sensor/onboard monitored test data
Retrieves vehicle information (VIN, CID, and CVN)
Automatic VIN acquisition and decoding makes it much easier to read manufacturer-specific codes and enhanced mode 6 data
Thousands of code troubleshooters to help you determine your engine problems faster and easier
Multilingual menu options and code definitions: English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese and more)
Unique one-click updates and automatic update reminders let you stay up to date with the latest technology
Free software and firmware updates with included USB cable
Easy to read 2.8-inch TFT screen
Possibility of printing data through a computer
Limited one-year warranty

HOW DOES THE SC301 OBD CODE SCANNER PERFORM IN PRACTICE?

From setting your hands on it to using it the first time, you’ll probably get the notion of a serious product.

The plastic is of very good quality. It’s not flimsy and seems to be pretty resistant to scratches and stains.

For anyone who is going to use this more often, this characteristic is very useful. If you don’t have any experience with an OBD tool, click here to read our article which will help you learn the basics.

The plastic packaging can be easily opened and reused for later storage. Inside it is a user’s manual and a small compartment for the USB cable (used for linking the OBD scanner to the computer).

Furthermore, the SC 301 is, at least in my humble opinion, properly sized. It will be comfortable to use, sits in the hand properly, and can be operated with one hand if needed.

Next, the cable (from the scanner to the OBD port) is of good quality, very elastic, and seems resilient. One more good thing is the 90 cm length which will come in handy for sure.

The OBD2 connector is also made sturdy, giving the impression that numerous connections will not cause it to become flimsy or damage the OBD port on the car. It slides in without problems, making a good and firm connection.

Buttons are also made to last. You’ll notice from the start that extra effort has been made to give them a long life span. They might seem a bit more rigid at the beginning of usage but it’s easy to get used to. In any case, one more major point where the product gives off seriousness.

Regarding the TFT screen, it’s of good quality and what’s expected from this class of scanners. The graphics are colorful, big enough, and easy to read.

The whole system of menus is much like other scanners in this class. It’s intuitive and works on the YES/NO backward, forwards system. Very easy to learn, use and there shouldn’t be any problems there.

If problems appear, there is a pretty good manual that will (in good English) walk you through all the steps. Reading the manual would be good anyway since the SC 301 has a lot of options and knowing all of them will come in handy for sure.

Very useful features (among others) are the quick I/M readiness test as well as the illuminated tab under the TFT screen. These give a quick preview of the vehicle status. Besides this, the scanner has its own inventory of trouble codes, so you don’t have to search on the internet for every code meaning.

One more cool thing from the CG Sulit company is the technical assistance. The OBD scanner can be updated via their website for free so you can stay up-to-date.

The website address of the company is: https://www.cgsulit.com/

DOWNSIDES OF THE SC301

If you thought that this OBD scanner review is just full of praise, there are a few drawbacks (at least from my own experience).

For the time being, the SC 301 is available only for the US market (words of the manufacturer). There is no comment there, except that this OBD scanner would certainly be much appreciated in other parts of the world.

Probably because of this, the vehicle inventory is limited to cars most popular in the US. For instance, I tried it on my Skoda and didn’t find it among the list of manufacturers. I managed to find Volkswagen (which is the mother company) and managed to read the codes.

This is something that will probably be solved when and if it starts selling worldwide.

One more thing that wouldn’t hurt is a purse for the OBD scanner. As mentioned, plastic packaging is a good solution (for hanging it in the garage for instance). But if you want to keep it in the glove compartment or other places in the car a nice purse would be much more convenient.

Maybe it can be sold as a separate item in the future.

I must also mention the loud beeping sound when pressing the buttons. It can be somewhat annoying but there is a setting for turning the sound off completely.

CONCLUSION

So in the end: should you buy it?

The answer is certainly yes. Avoid it only if you have greater expectations of an OBD scanner tool in terms of more professional possibilities and options.

In this case, look at the next, upper, more expensive range of scanners.

But if you want to have a reliable, well-built, and easy-to-use OBD scanner, within this range, this is certainly for you. It won’t be money thrown away that’s for sure.

It’s more than enough in the DIY repair realm. Because of the various options, it’s not even ashamed of semi-professional or professional work.

To conclude this OBD scanner review: the SC 301 has a very good price to value ratio and is a purchase you probably won’t regret. In this class, a product which is among the best.

If you have any second thoughts, just remember that one diagnostic reading or code erasing, on average, costs as much as this scanner tool.