Innova 7100p Review

Look and Feel

This product has a little bit of heft to it, which helps make it feel legitimate and more powerful. The shape and design ensure that you can maintain an excellent grip on the scanner at all times. Plus, since you can connect to your car via Bluetooth, you don’t have to worry about bulky cords getting in your way. 

The backlit LCD screen is large enough so that you don’t have to squint your eyes to see what it says. Some scanners only give you a code, while the 7100p provides far more details. Plus, you can read live data graphing, ensuring that you can better understand what’s going on beneath the hood. 

The menu navigation is intuitive and straightforward so that you don’t have to spend time mastering the controls. You can work one-handed if necessary, which is helpful if you’re trying to diagnose and fix problems simultaneously. 

Connectivity

The Innova 7100p has codes for all the latest makes and models, both foreign and domestic. That said, if you have an older vehicle, you might not find the correct codes. This lack of backward-friendly connectivity is one of the most significant drawbacks of this OBDII scanner. However, if you have a relatively new car, you shouldn’t have to worry. 

We like that this scanner comes with a Bluetooth connection, which gives you greater flexibility and versatility while working. Since you’re not tethered to the connection port, you can move around the engine and diagnose problems on the fly. A big part of OBD scanning is the process of elimination. 

Since this device provides live vehicle data, you can rule out potential causes in real-time. Overall, you can be much more in tune with your car and avoid expensive (and unnecessary) trips to the mechanic. 

Functionality

Because this OBDII scanner is the latest in a long line of Innova products, it has more functions than you might expect. Old-fashioned scanners would only tell you the code and nothing else. The 7100p helps you with a wide array of features, including: 

Oil Light Reset - Checking your oil has never been easier. If the oil light comes on, you can change your fluid and reset the light automatically instead of going to the shop. 

ABS Scanner - In addition to the check engine and oil lights, this device can scan your anti-lock braking system for defects and issues. 

Live Data Scanning - Run your car for a few minutes and get tons of information on its performance in real-time. You can use this data to determine the cause of a check engine light or to improve your vehicle’s efficiency on the road. For example, if you notice that some systems are not running smoothly, you can tweak and fine-tune those parts to work better. 

Smog Check - Don’t wait until you go to a smog check facility to see if your car will pass or fail. Do the check from the comfort of your own garage and get the details on how to improve your smog output. 

Code Severity Alert - One of the main problems with a check engine light is that you don’t know if the problem is serious or not. This built-in alert system will warn you whether a code needs to be fixed ASAP with a red, yellow, green display.