Picture this – you are getting ready for work, or planning a day out with your family, or you just want to go on a long drive with your partner. All of a sudden, the check engine light comes on and you start wondering what the problem could be. As any car owner in Australia can tell you, there is nothing more annoying than seeing the check engine light flash in front of your eyes, because it could potentially ruin your day’s plans. Fret not – for you have a solution in the form of a diagnostic scan tool.
Automotive Scanner – A Must-Have Tool for a Car Owner
A scanner is designed to diagnose your car’s problem and tell you why the check engine light, or any other indicator for that matter, is flashing on. Modern day cars are mostly controlled by an onboard computer system, commonly referred to as onboard diagnostic system (OBD). Up until the 90’s, OBD was not standardized and each car had its own version of onboard computer. So, you had to buy different scanning tools to diagnose the problem of different cars.
Realizing the problem, the EPA in 1996 ruled that all cars had to meet a certain set of minimum standards, which are collectively known as OBD II. It was a timely move, which saved the mechanics as well as automobile owners a ton of money and time as they no longer had to buy a different tool for each make of car.
These days, every single car has an OBD II, which controls and monitors almost all of the systems in the vehicle. Whenever there is a problem with the car, the onboard computer lets you know of the same by flashing the check engine light. It also stores the details of the problem in the form of a trouble code, which you can read with the help of an automotive scan tool.
The Way a Scanner Works
The scanner needs to be connected to the diagnostic link connector or port, which is usually present under the dash in most vehicles. You should then start the vehicle and follow the instructions given in the manual, which comes with the scanning tool.
If you are using a simple code reading tool, you will get an alphanumeric code, which you have to decipher using the reference book or the internet. A more sophisticated, high-end automotive diagnostic scanner, on the other hand, will not only show you the error code, but also give you suggestions as to what could actually be the problem.
One of the important functions of a scanning tool is that it erases trouble codes from your vehicle onboard computer’s memory. Sometimes, even after the problem has been sorted out, the corresponding error code still persists in the engine memory. When it happens, the check engine light usually comes on again after you restart the car. To avoid such a problem, it is important to erase the trouble code once the problem is fixed, which is precisely what a diagnostic scan tool is capable of doing.
Things to Consider While Choosing a Scanning Tool
Budget – This should be your primary concern while selecting a scanning tool. The cost of a scanner could range anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars, depending on its features and functionality. So, you should select one that is well within your budget.
Functionality – If you just need a tool to display the error codes, then all you need is a basic code reader. If you, on the other hand, need a tool that can show error codes, give you suggestions, has an interface for your laptop, data recording and rerun capability, and so on, you need an advanced automotive scan tool. So, it is a good idea to make a list of all the features you need and then search for a tool that has it all.
Technical Knowledge – There is no point in buying a sophisticated tool if you do not know how to use it properly. While it is true that you can learn to operate the tool by reading the manual, not everyone is cut out for it. Some of us genuinely do not like things that are too technical. In such cases, it is better to buy a basic automotive diagnostic scanner that will not set you back by several hundred dollars.
Automotive Scanner – A Must-Have Tool for a Car Owner
A scanner is designed to diagnose your car’s problem and tell you why the check engine light, or any other indicator for that matter, is flashing on. Modern day cars are mostly controlled by an onboard computer system, commonly referred to as onboard diagnostic system (OBD). Up until the 90’s, OBD was not standardized and each car had its own version of onboard computer. So, you had to buy different scanning tools to diagnose the problem of different cars.
Realizing the problem, the EPA in 1996 ruled that all cars had to meet a certain set of minimum standards, which are collectively known as OBD II. It was a timely move, which saved the mechanics as well as automobile owners a ton of money and time as they no longer had to buy a different tool for each make of car.
These days, every single car has an OBD II, which controls and monitors almost all of the systems in the vehicle. Whenever there is a problem with the car, the onboard computer lets you know of the same by flashing the check engine light. It also stores the details of the problem in the form of a trouble code, which you can read with the help of an automotive scan tool.
The Way a Scanner Works
The scanner needs to be connected to the diagnostic link connector or port, which is usually present under the dash in most vehicles. You should then start the vehicle and follow the instructions given in the manual, which comes with the scanning tool.
If you are using a simple code reading tool, you will get an alphanumeric code, which you have to decipher using the reference book or the internet. A more sophisticated, high-end automotive diagnostic scanner, on the other hand, will not only show you the error code, but also give you suggestions as to what could actually be the problem.
One of the important functions of a scanning tool is that it erases trouble codes from your vehicle onboard computer’s memory. Sometimes, even after the problem has been sorted out, the corresponding error code still persists in the engine memory. When it happens, the check engine light usually comes on again after you restart the car. To avoid such a problem, it is important to erase the trouble code once the problem is fixed, which is precisely what a diagnostic scan tool is capable of doing.
Things to Consider While Choosing a Scanning Tool
Budget – This should be your primary concern while selecting a scanning tool. The cost of a scanner could range anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars, depending on its features and functionality. So, you should select one that is well within your budget.
Functionality – If you just need a tool to display the error codes, then all you need is a basic code reader. If you, on the other hand, need a tool that can show error codes, give you suggestions, has an interface for your laptop, data recording and rerun capability, and so on, you need an advanced automotive scan tool. So, it is a good idea to make a list of all the features you need and then search for a tool that has it all.
Technical Knowledge – There is no point in buying a sophisticated tool if you do not know how to use it properly. While it is true that you can learn to operate the tool by reading the manual, not everyone is cut out for it. Some of us genuinely do not like things that are too technical. In such cases, it is better to buy a basic automotive diagnostic scanner that will not set you back by several hundred dollars.
