A video review is at the bottom of the post. The KW680 OBDII automotive scan tool is a popular low-cost unit. It can read and clear a vehicles engine codes and is easy to use which makes it a good unit for home users or backyard mechanics. This unit was sent to me to review with… Read More »
Having a good OBD2 scan tool goes a long way to help troubleshoot a vehicle problem and point to the repair needed. There are many good OBD2 scanners to use that come with different menus, features, and price ranges. Often what works for one person may not work for another so below we list our favorite… Read More »
OBDII WiFi adapters for cars and trucks that send information to a smartphone have become very popular. They are low-cost units that can do anything a standalone OBDII unit can do at a much lower cost. They are also simple to use with many Apps available for both Android and Apple smartphones. The Globmall Trekpow is… Read More »
OBD2 Bluetooth WiFi dongles have become very popular since they are low cost and work well. There are many to choose from with most using the Torque App or similar. One of the more frustrating things is using one and getting No Bluetooth or WiFi Device Selected error code. Below are the steps to connect to… Read More »
Since their introduction OBD2 Bluetooth scanner tools have become a favorite among part-time mechanics and some professionals to find engine problems. For example if an engine light comes on which gives no indication to the problem a small low-cost OBD2 adapter code scan tool can be used to quickly find the problem. Bluetooth OBD2 dongles are… Read More »
Having a good VAG-COM scan tool can go a long way to help not only find a mechanical problem but to do some light modding. There are many VAG-COM VCDS scan tools available for Volkswagen, from low cost units to high-end expensive models. Here we show some of the low cost options that would be a… Read More »
The TOPDON OBDCAN Plus 2.0 is a low cost OBDII scan tool that has a lot of features. Like most all OBD2 scan tools it works on 1996 and newer US-Based cars and trucks, as well as 2000 and newer EU-Based and Asian vehicles. It can read and clear engine codes as well as do O2 Sensor… Read More »
The Autel Auto Link AL319 is a low cost vehicle code scanner with a lot of features. It can read codes on most any car built after 1996 when OBD2 ports became standard. Besides reading and clearing engine codes it also has many other features such as Live Data and Emissions. This unit was sent… Read More »
The AUTOWN OBDII automotive scan tool is a low cost unit built to read engine codes, clear codes, and more. It works on 1996 and newer US-Based vehicles, as well as 2001 and newer EU-Based Asian cars. The main menu on the unit has OBDII / EOBD, DTC Lookup, Review, Print Data, About and Setup. … Read More »
The OBD2 Port location for a 2011 Fiat Punto is to the left of the steering wheel behind the dashboard. It is easy to get to once the location is known. First pull out this sliding chore. Then reach and pull out on the inside. The plate will pop out and shouldn’t require too… Read More »
Reading engine codes is a easy task that any DIY type person can do with the right tool. The tool needed is called a OBD2 scan tool which reads information from a vehicles computer and displays the problem. OBD2 is a universal port installed in any car made from 1996 an newer. The port is usually… Read More »
This unit was sent to me to review with my honest opinion and results below. The Launch CReader 5001 is a stand alone OBDII scan tool with a lot of built-in functions. OBDII is a set of protocols that work with most any vehicle from 1996 and newer. Besides reading the basic OBDII engine codes… Read More »
This unit was sent to me to review with my honest opinion and results below. The Car Code Reader Launch CReader 4001 is a OBD2 automotive scan tool. It comes with all the features needed to troubleshoot a car or truck engine light or diagnose vehicle problems. It is also a low cost unit making… Read More »
A video is at the bottom of the page for a visual walk through. This unit was sent to me to review with my honest opinion and results below. Congress passed the clean air act in 1970 and started the epa, however it wasn’t until January 1st 1996 that all vehicles were required to have OBD (on-board… Read More »
A video review is at the bottom of the page for a visual walk through. This unit was sent to me to review with my honest opinion and results below. The CReader 4001 OBD2 scan tool doesn’t have much for appearance, but were it lacks in Looks, it sure makes up in features. I am use to… Read More »
OBD2 scanners come in a wide range of packages from small wireless scanners to large professional units. With the huge variety available there is no doubt that the Best OBD2 scan tool is debatable. What it really comes down to though is how often will the tool be used and in what conditions. For example… Read More »
There is a video at the bottom of the page for a visual walk through. If you have a check engine light come on in your Jeep Wrangler there is built in diagnostics that show the code. After the code is read it can be Googled to find the problem. The steps are simple by… Read More »
The Launch 6001 is a handheld OBDII scan tool that hooks up to most any vehicle and gives the problem it is having. All vehicles built after 1996 have a OBDII port that can connect to a scan tool and give information, such as why an engine light is on. A OBD2 connector is usually located under… Read More »
like almost everything today your car has a computer and if its 1996 or newer it has an OBD2 which is on board diagnostics second-generation, than codes can be read easily. A good OBD2 code scanner can also look through the electrical and emissions. The main thing most look at is how the engine is… Read More »
The Topdon Plus Professional Car Diagnostic Tool is a universal OBD II scanner. It is built to give a user any problem codes a vehicle may be having along with the what the problem is. OBD2 scanners like the Topdon Plus can work with any car or truck 1996 and newer. It has a nice display… Read More »
Finding the right OBD II scan tool to work on a Volkswagen Passat is easy enough, some with more features than others. One of the things that VW Passat’s have unique is VAG-COM VCDS which goes beyond industry standard OBD II codes. All vehicles 1995 and newer have a OBD II port which started with OBD… Read More »
A OBD II scan tool doesn’t need to cost a lot for a basic unit to show the problem with a car or truck. There are many good low cost OBD2 scanners that work great for the money and get the job done. Here is a list of the budget OBD II scanner we have reviewed… Read More »
GPS tracking of a vehicle in real time has become a easy thing to do with smartphones. There are many packages available for tracking a car or truck and displaying it on a map. Hooking up such a package can come in many different style units, from running on its own battery pack to using a vehicles… Read More »
Having a good OBDII scan tool with ABS (Anti lock Brake System) is a must-have to troubleshoot today’s vehicle problems. There are many OBDII scan tools available from low cost to high-end units. Everyone will have a different need from a scan tool. For example a DIY mechanic will not have the need of a expensive top-end… Read More »
Small Bluetooth OBD II scan tools have become very popular and used by everyone from DIY mechanics to used car buyers. The Vgate iCar2 is once such small unit that will link to a smartphone, tablet, or computer via Bluetooth and give errors and clear codes. These small units are very cheap and are able to… Read More »
There are a few ways you can get a free diagnostic test done on your car or truck. Here are the options we have found let us know if you have found any free or low cost methods. 1…Auto Part Store Most auto parts stores will use a scan tool to read the codes from a… Read More »
Having a OBD2 scanner tool is useful in many situations when a engine light comes on. But what if you dont have a scan tool and need to know the code? Many vehicles has a built-in diagnostic that will give the code as I recently found out with Dodge cars and trucks. I haven’t… Read More »
If your car or truck has the dreaded check engine light come on than there is Do-It-Yourself scanner tools that can show the problem. All cars and trucks built after 1995 come with a built-in port called a OBD2. The OBD2 port talks directly to the vehicles computer and when used with a OBD2 scanner tool… Read More »
Cars and trucks today all have a computer (ECM, PCM) that controls the vehicles engine and will get an error when there is a malfunction. The error is usually displayed to the driver with a check engine light that will come on. While the check engine light warns that there is a problem it cannot give… Read More »
Diagnosing a problem with a vehicle is the fist step to fixing it. Having the right tool to do this goes a long way in making a problem easier to troubleshoot. Below is a list of our favorite vehicle diagnostic tools. A list like this is no doubt debatable and everyone will have their own opinion on… Read More »
The Panlong WiFi OBD2 device is a scan tool for diagnosing car problems with a iPhone or iPad. The back of the box has GR codes to scan that will send you to the free app download, OBD2 Car Doctor. The back of the box also has the IP address and the Port needed to communicate with… Read More »
The Autel MaxiScan MS300 is a low cost Diagnostic Scan Tool code reader for vehicles 1996 and newer. Since it a low cost OBDII scan tool this makes it ideal for those on a budget, just dont expect all the extra features a expensive model would have. Positive Features of The Autel MaxiScan MS300 …It… Read More »
If you have a 1996 or newer vehicle and the check engine light is on than a iPhone or other iOS device can be used to tell you what the problem is. Every car built since 1996 has what is called a OBD2 port that is a plug which allows communication to a cars on-board computer. … Read More »
Using a laptop to scan OBD2 codes is a easy task and even possibly one of the better options. One of the great things about using a laptop when scanning codes is the ability to quickly look online for answers. As long as the laptop is online a error code can be looked up and the… Read More »
With the many OBD-II scan tools available many ask, what is the best OBD2 scan tool? A good scan tool must be able to give the errors a vehicle is having and display them to the user. It also should have an easy to use interface. OBD2 scanners tools can range from expensive to low… Read More »