Thursday 20 September 2018

How To Select The Perfect Diagnostic Scan Tool

automotive scan tool
A diagnostic scan tool can be a very useful device for a professional car mechanic. Automotive workshop mechanics invariably use scan tools to get to the trouble. Without the device they have to undertake a trial and error method to arrive at a conclusion about the malfunctioning part of a car. A scan tool helps mechanics zero in on specific subsystems of a car that is not working properly. However, it must be said that even the most modern scan tool may not be able to pinpoint the trouble. It may just be able to point to the system or the subsystem that is at fault. It is the expertise and knowledge of the mechanic that helps in zeroing on the part that is malfunctioning. A scanner may just indicate a trouble with the fuel mix in the engine. It is the mechanic who has to decide if the problem is with the fuel injection or the air intake. This calls for a lot of expertise and knowledge about cars and their working. This is why it is mostly in workshops that such tools are used. However, DIY car enthusiasts too may use this tool if they are quite at ease with various car parts and their working. If you are among them you need to buy the best one for your car. While automotive workshops have a number of scan tools to cope with the variety of cars coming into their workshops, you need just the perfect one for your car. 

Automotive Scan Tool

How To Select The Perfect Scan Tool


    • The bottom line is that the perfect scan tool must display all the trouble codes displayed by the OBDII of your car. There are some OEM specific trouble codes in almost all cars. If the Diagnostic Scan Tool is not able to interpret these troubles, the tool is just a piece of crap for you. So make sure that the scan tool is compatible with the make and model of your car or truck. 

    • The communication protocol of the car and the scanner must also be same. There are 5 OBDII communication protocols. These are the protocols that help the scanner communicate with the OBDII and bring out all the trouble codes. The scan tool must have the same communication protocol as the car such as CAN, KWP, VPW or PWM. 

    • The scan tool must have the Parameter Identification Data feature. Even the most modern diagnostic scan tool is not able to interpret all the trouble codes. In fact, there are some troubles which don’t have any code at all. You need to have a look at the live functional parameters of a system to see if there is any anomaly in the readings. This calls for live Parameter Identification Data from the given system. 

    • Bidirectional testing capability is very helpful. Bidirectional scanners are those that not only receive information from the OBDII, but also command it. This is very helpful when you are troubleshooting all alone. You may need to give various commands to the OBDII so that a specific system performs a specific task. You may need to open the boot or do something else while testing. This helps in identifying the problem. A bidirectional capable Diagnostic Scan Tool is able to do that. 

diagnostic scan tool

    • The device must explain the trouble codes in detail and also indicate the nature of repair needed. This reduces your workload since you can get to the problem at once, just by going through the code and its details. 

    • The device must be easy to work with. The monitor or the touch pad must have all the relevant tabs in the screen so that you can just select one and start working with it. The screen must be wide enough so that you can view the trouble codes clearly. 

    • A great feature of some modern scanners is that they can be connected to your laptop. If you get one like that you can browse all the tabs and features right from your laptop. For many users this is a great facility. 

    • Data erasing is an essential feature to have for any Diagnostic Scan Tool. After you decipher a trouble code and rectify the trouble, the OBDII needs a few drive cycles to understand that the trouble has been taken care of. Till that point it continues to display the code.

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