There is a very simple way to determine if you should purchase an OBD2 scan tool. Ask yourself if you own a car. If it turns out you do, you should pick one of these up. While it is easy for the gear head to see that this would be a great addition to their garage supplies, those less mechanically inclined might wonder what good it would do them.
You can without a doubt read the codes and then start doing your own repairs and possibly save some money in the process. Even if you never intend to take a wrench near your car this is a good item for a sanity check.
When the check engine light pops on and you go to your mechanic you honestly don’t know if what he is telling you is actually what you need or just an expensive thing that they could do. While most mechanics are very honest, wouldn’t it be great to have some idea of what is going on before you walk in?
If you walk in letting them know that you got a code for a given issue and they come back and say the problem is something else entirely you know you might need to get another opinion.
Codes Reader or Scan Tool? Which One Do I Really Need?
You’ll have to make a decision if you want to get a simple OBD II Code Reader or do you want a full on the OBDII Scan Tool. There are a few things that can help you make your decision.
First, you’ll want to look at what you are hoping to do. On the cheaper end of the spectrum, you’ll find the code reader. This is a great choice for those on a budget or who are just beginning to work on their rides. These devices will read and then display the code. These choices also have the ability to clear out codes.
If you know you are already serious about doing your own work, or even looking to start a small business you’ll want to look for a scan tool. These will cover the functions of the code readers but will offer you some more information. Often times instead of merely displaying a code and letting you look it up they will give you more information on what caused the code. Some may be able to send the data to other devices or even provide you with some information as to what needs to be done to fix the problem.
Will it Work With My Car?
One of the biggest considerations you’ll want to make before outlaying any money on this type of device is, will this work with my car?
It is a valid question and there are a few things that you will want to figure out when you start your search for the OBD2 key programmer. Cars will use one of five different protocols for how they provide data via the OBDII port. Depending on when your car was made and who made it they might use different options.
Some options can be downright tricky, especially when you look at some of the packagings. Some tools will claim to be universal, but then elsewhere they will say that they work with most cars. Others will just note that they work with most vehicles made after a certain year. The problem is that these don’t help you all that much.
We’ve added in a Car Scanner at the bottom of this page, to help you ensure that you get a tool that will work with the car you are currently driving.
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