No need to call a dealer to translate an error code, you can get a list of codes from right here on TS.
The connection is the same for all cars, Ford/Chevy take a different interface from Toyota/BMW, so if your friend has a Ford and tried hooking it up to your Toyota that is probably why it didn't work (some scanners can read any make, but most are domestic or foreign specific).
I got one some years ago, scantool I think was the website. Hooks to my laptop, it's pretty cool. I can tell you though, I've actually used it on 3 Tundras now and each time it was an O2 sensor.
/Mike