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By admin, December 28, 2010 2:01 am

The Nature of OBD II Scan Tool

In diagnosing vehicle problems that were manufactured from 1996 to present, it is being done through a device called scan tool.  On Board Diagnostics (OBD II) is now part of the vehicles produced since 1996.  It is an electronic system in the car that regulates engine operations.  The heart of the system is a computer called Engine Control Unit.  That computer is where qualified technicians attach or connect an OBD II scan tool/chilton auto repair manual to diagnose any problem on the car.  Although OBD II in vehicles is a standard, there are three different types of hardware communications used by OBD II vehicles.  There are scan tools that support all types and there also some that are as specified by the manufacturer.  So, before getting any scan tool it is best to check if your vehicle has the universally supported one or not.

The availability of scan tools in the market is wide and price ranges from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.  This would simply mean to say the scan tools available would have different features and capabilities. A good number of the less expensive scan tools might just be for simple reading of code errors, erasing them and shutting off the “Check Engine” light on your dashboard.  Dealers of scan tools should be able to give the complete details of the devices on what it can do or can not do.  Just being able to read an error code and not knowing what it means is useless.  A good scan tool should be able to read and display the error code at the same time with the description of the error.  That capability would allow pinpointing the cause or source of the engine problem.

Other features that will be good for an OBD II scan tool are having its own power source, laptop compatible and upgradeable online.  The benefit of having its own power source is for you to be able to read the results even away from the car.  Many lower-end scan tools rely only on a vehicle’s power source.  Some even do not store the data when not connected to the car. For being laptop compatible it can provide more information when used in series with a laptop while diagnosing the car with the help of Audi Repair manuals.  The information will show on the LCD monitor and pinpoint the problem.  Now, there are those compatible with a laptop but not upgradeable online.  Vehicle manufacturers come out with new models each year and sometimes revise existing models.  Upgrading the scan tool is most helpful especially if you frequently change cars to newer models.

About the Author

Terrorizing his parents from the time he could grasp a screwdriver, Tim has always been a gear and gadget-head. Remember to always check the manual first it can save you hours of frustrations – Tim recommends chilton auto repair manual and motorcycle repair manual for your mechanical needs.

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