I was wanting to know if anyone had any recommendations on a good programmer and scan tool, either handheld or computer based software, that does not get locked to the vehicle?

I have the older Flashpaq 3870 for my 2010 JKU and while it does the job for my Jeep I have always hated that it is "locked" to my vehicle. I would like a scan tool and programmer that I could use not only on my Jeep but my sons Jeep as well, be able to read DTC's for wife's vehicle and daughter's who will be driving in a couple of years (probably another Jeep). We are about to put larger tires on sons Jeep and obviously will need to have it adjust the speedo.

 

I think you're going to have a hard time coming up with many options. Maybe Jscan app would work for you since sounds like your family is primarily CJD based. Each licence is locked to a vehicle, but they aren't pricey. For 1 license it's $20 and BT dongle runs ~$10-15. At least something to look in to.

 

I just downloaded the OBD Jscan app, you can buy multi vehicle license to use on other vehicles. It's like $18 per, plus you buy a bluetooth OBD adapter like $30 on Amazon. Research the app, it does a lot like update tire sizes, gear ratios, live data, and more. Sorry I have not used mine yet, hope to use it very soon. It's everything I think you'll need but it's not a "Super Chips" ECU flash system.

 

I'll just add that from a diagnostics standpoint, that app gets you down in to all the different modules as well. There's a lot of bang for your buck.

 

Sorry meant to put that my wife's vehicle is a Honda Pilot, so just wanted something that would be able to scan and clear DTC for it.

 

Totally agree!

 

You can use the obd2 dongle with other free apps like Torque so it will serve multiple purposes. I've got the Jscan with multiple licenses myself plus the Torque app, plus the Superchips. The Superchips takes the lag out of the throttle and for me, that's worth keeping it paired to the vehicle, the 3.8 needs all the help it can get.

 

can you turn off the sway bar light with the jscan app?

edit: never mind... just searched. It does in fact turn off the sway bar light.

 

Its real expensive but I have HPTuners. Pretty good stuff. You can access any vehicle and read/write program changes, read codes/clear DTCs review the program offline but you need mostly 2 credits @$50 per for each vehicle. I had to get 4 credits for my Chev engine as ECU was 2018 but it never ran right and today I installed a 2015/16 ECU I was sent (for the 2016 engine I have) and it runs great. So now 2 more credits to buy and 2 for the Jeep system. But I give it the thumbs up as one of the better ones on the market.
What you buy depends on what you want to achieve with a programmer.