An OBD-II scanner can do much more than read check-engine codes. These five features can help you diagnose problems faster ...

From the late '80s onward, cars were becoming more and more technically advanced, and an old-school toolkit could only do so much. So, following some development (and the limited OBD-I design), the ...

The Actron PocketScan is a good entry-level OBD code reader for the driveway mechanic.Actron The primary purpose of the OBD-II connection is for emissions testing, but one of the first and most ...

I was recently at a seminar going over some diagnostics for some of the problematic and reoccurring fault codes. The general discussion led us in an interesting direction about the nature of fault ...

It is obvious—painfully so, to some—that vehicles have become considerably more dependent on electronics. We are all aware that performance gains on our new cars often aren't as easily obtainable as ...

For some time now, vehicles sold across the world have had the ability to self diagnose their problems. This capacity is referred to in the industry as on-board diagnostics, or OBD. On-board computers ...

Before I figured out how to work on cars, onboard computer systems scared me. I’ve had no formal training, after all, so the idea of a car’s complex electricals and countless sensors made DIY work ...

The check engine light is both a friend and foe. For those who take their cars to the shop for repairs, it’s a symbol of impending treachery and rising credit card bills. But to those who shoulder the ...

Seeing your vehicle's check-engine light come on can throw a wrench in your travel plans. It can also feel a little scary: Does it mean your ride is headed for the scrapyard? Or is there a simple fix?

An OBD2 (On-Board Diagnostics II) scanner can provide information about the status and health of various vehicular systems. This information can help inform the user as to what the source of a problem ...