Need a recommendation for a good code reader for my car?

For your needs, one to look at is a used Snap-On Solus Edge. Anything by Snap-On is expensive, and they are very proud of their annual updates which I'm told run around $1000.00 per year. That can work in your favor if you look on eBay. New ones used to cost close to $4000.00, but you had to pay extra for Asian import coverage, and even more for European import coverage. Many independent repair shops have multiple scanners, but they only keep one updated for the newest vehicles. They don't bother to update some because after five to ten years, it's less expensive in the long run to just buy a brand new scanner. I bought mine in 2018 updated to that year and have never paid for an update. My newest vehicles are 2014 models, and I hope to never buy anything newer, so that scanner is fine for my needs. All you need is to find a scanner that has been updated enough to cover the model years of all the vehicles you want to use it on. When they are out of date, they lose their value to another repair shop. That's why you can find good deals on eBay. I've seen some as low as $700.00 that were only five or six years out of date.

Be aware too, with Snap-On, if you choose to update a scanner, they won't allow you to skip any years. For example, if I wanted to bring mine current, I'd have to buy the 2019 update, then the 2020 update, then the 2021, etc, before I could buy the later updates. It would cost less to just buy a brand new one with a warranty.

I also have an Autel scanner per a recommendation from Steve W, one of our other experts. It can do a real lot more than the Snap-On scanner I have, and it cost one fourth as much. I installed the software for every car brand in the world, and I get two years of updates for free. The model I got requires you to download the scanner software over an internet connection, then you install the software for all the car brands you'd like. Installing everything I did took about an hour. I used it to successfully program two computer modules already and one key fob.

The "OBD2", (on-board diagnostics, version 2) emissions system you referred to was the new standard starting with 1996 models, but on vehicles as new as yours, a newer "CAN Buss" (controller area network), system is used, and the scanner must be able to communicate with that computer language. That's why older simple code readers won't work.

There are other scanner brands out there, but with the Snap-On, you can usually find their trucks when you need help.

For a 13 GM, I would opt for an Autel, Launch or a Snap-On that has up to 2016 in it as they tend to release more systems for vehicles once they have gotten out in the world a while. So a scan tool that is updated to 2013 might cover your vehicle, but one that covers a few years later will likely have more data and testing, just be careful with SO, as you get into the higher end and newer units they need to phone home to validate the software in them and that can get expensive like Doc said. They will also shut down any advanced software if they cannot network or if you don't subscribe to the updates. A couple of others do this as well. Be prepared to pay a bit for a good scan tool that really works well, and try to get the largest screen you can, you can watch more pids and in general see the data better than one the size of a phone.

Then opt for one of the Autels or Launch tools. Both are available new and include coverage from 1996 through current year on most makes and models. However if you are currently working on a Ford you could opt to get a copy of FORScan and the correct USB dongle to run it on a laptop. Those cover most Fords and many Mazda with dealer level controls. It is a great program for the price. But to cover a lot of other models I would opt for the other tools. For the type of tool you want $500 is on the lower end of capability.

STEVE W. Is one of our best! Please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.

Thank you, that is good to hear :)