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We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The most important is whether you want one that connects with your phone or tablet's screen over Bluetooth or a handheld unit with its own display and cable. Next, think about longevity and get one that includes lifetime warranty or software updates so the scanner will stay current with changing automotive tech.
Then, how about screen size for a handheld scanner? Get the biggest, brightest and easiest display to read that is icon based for easy changes. If you're clumsy, look at rugged scanners with rubber bumpers to absorb the shock of being dropped. Look for extras that are included on some models, like an electrical multimeter, the ability to read a manufacturer's proprietary codes or export documents as Acrobat PDF files. That's barely an hour's labor for a qualified mechanic, making it a win-win purchase.
To test the best OBD2 scanners, I used my Audi A4 Allroad vehicle while it was in the garage or on the road over a period of several weeks. Next, I measured the cord's length on the handheld scanners and the wireless range on the others. With the car running, I monitored the engine and other vital systems, and then disconnected the engine's oil temperature sensor. Finally, I checked the details provided by the scanner, fixed the problem, turned off the check engine light and erased the error code.
Then I hit the road to see if the scanner could display operating data such as engine speed, timing and coolant temperature. I paid attention to whether the device reported the data as numbers, graphs or auto-style gauges. All fault codes have four numbers and a letter prefix:. Of the roughly 5, diagnostic fault codes available, some are generic and apply to all cars, like air temperature and throttle position.
For these, the numeric section starts with a 0. Others are specific to individual carmakers and represent either a special piece of hardware or a more in-depth analysis of the problem. These start with a 1. For instance, if you get a P code, chances are there's something wrong with the engine's intake air temperature sensor. By contrast, a Ford that displays a P specialty fault code means that the intake air temperature sensor is reporting values intermittently and should be replaced.
Brian Nadel is a freelance writer and editor who specializes in technology reporting and reviewing. He works out of the suburban New York City area and has covered topics from nuclear power plants and Wi-Fi routers to cars and tablets. Included in this guide: 1. Stashing one of the best OBD-II scanners in your glove box or trunk may be the magic bullet you need to save money on car upkeep or repairs.
Innova CarScan Inspector Displays live data: Yes. Number of keys: 9. Warranty: 1 year. Size: 6. Weight: 10 ounces. Reasons to avoid - Interface can be confusing - Lacks high-end features more expensive scanners have. Topdon ArtiDiag Number of keys: 4. Warranty: 2 years.
Size: 9. Weight: 1. Reasons to avoid - Heavy and cumbersome - Short cables. BlueDriver Pro Scan Tool. Number of keys: None. Size: 2. Weight: 2. Reasons to avoid - Large transmitter - Specialty monitors don't work with all vehicles. Bosch OBD Number of keys: 8. Weight: Reasons to avoid - Can get heavy despite small size - No manual or quick-start guide.
Foxwell NT Elite. Number of keys: 7. Size: 7. Reasons to avoid - Won't run on battery power - No touchscreen. Size: 3. Innova CarScan Pro Weight: 7. Reasons to avoid - Relatively pricey - Short cable. Ancel BD Warranty: 3 years.
Size: 5. Weight: 5. Reasons to avoid - Minimalist interface - Small screen. Autel AutoLink AL SeekOne SK Warranty: Lifetime. Reasons to avoid - Big and heavy - Few features you'll find on pricier scanners. ThinkOBD Size: 4.
Reasons to avoid - Small screen - 4-key interface. Size: 1. This list includes an OBD2 scanner tool for every purpose and buyer, and it's updated periodically. Keep reading for an overview of how scanners work, what they can do, our methodology for choosing them, key things to consider before purchasing and some pro tips. Read more: Best fuel injector cleaners in The CarScan Pro delivers pro-grade functionality at a consumer price. It can decipher virtually every diagnostic trouble code, or DTC, that a car can generate.
It can scan virtually every individual control module in the car, including more recent developments like tire-pressure monitors in newer vehicles, and not just basic universal systems like the engine and emissions controls.
It can run a simulated smog test, evaluate the battery and alternator and show live data for engine operation, anti-lock braking and other systems during a road test. It ranks faults based on importance and shows "Freeze Frame" data, or a snapshot of exactly what was going on in the car when its control electronics triggered the trouble code to begin with.
This car diagnostic tool can even predict a DTC that's likely to flash in the near future. Yet what separates the CarScan Pro diagnostic scanner from most OBD2 scan tools is bidirectional control -- a feature sometimes called active testing.
The CarScan Pro allows you to send commands to your vehicle to test the functionality of a given system, just like a tech at a dealership. It can make adjustments the car manufacturer allows in its control software -- say small changes in idle speed -- and disable certain modules in advance of mechanical repairs. Car enthusiasts fond of the early s will appreciate one more CarScan Pro feature: With the right connection adapter, it can also scan OBD1 diagnostics in many cars built before This car scanner has a large, crisp, color screen, an intuitive user interface, quick-read LEDs that help classify issues fast and hot keys that minimize the number of menus and selections required to get where you want to go.
It's fully self-contained in a high-impact plastic case, with a thorough manual and full-time, US-based phone and web support, but this OBD2 Bluetooth scanner also allows Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection to both Apple and Android smartphones.
With Innova's RepairSolutions2 app, the connection opens this car code reader to a range of data on the internet, including repair tutorials, maintenance recommendations and direct links to finding parts.
It's everything a car hobbyist is likely to need at a price thousands of dollars below professional, dealership-style OBD2 scan tools. This diagnostic scanner offers nearly all the features available in higher-end dedicated devices for the price of a basic dedicated OBD2 corded scanner.
BlueDriver can read trouble codes, like other so-called Bluetooth dongles, with an easily understood description of the problem as opposed to an alphanumeric designation you have to look up. It can clear codes, of course, and display Freeze Frame data a snapshot of what was happening in the vehicle when the fault code was triggered.
The Bluetooth scanner can run a simulated smog test and show live, operational data from the engine and chassis as the vehicle operates. It can save or print reports describing problems, potential causes and possible fixes.
This dongle connects to Identifix -- a database used by auto repair shops with millions of potential solutions, no subscription required -- and ranks the potential problems that triggered the trouble code to begin with.
It also ranks possible repairs. We'd guess that's a better start than Googling potential causes and fixes, in terms of time efficiency and maybe even cost. The phone app has clean, easy to process graphics, and the package comes with US-based support via phone, email or live chat.
This OBD scanner beauty comes from the world's largest auto supplier, and one of the oldest names in automotive electrics and diagnostics. If there's an OBD2 code reader that works on any given Asian, European or North American vehicle built over the last 25 years, this is it. The ADS is a inch tablet wrapped in a thick rubber case, but that's only the start of the handheld scanner kit. There's a separate wireless Vehicle Connection Interface the size of a small smartphone that can also interface with a PC, and a docking and charging station.
The OBD connection cable has a light and built-in voltmeter, and there's an AC adapter just in case you forgot to set the ADS back in the docking station. This code reader allows full bidirectional control, or the maximum manipulation and calibration allowed in a manufacturer's software controls. It delivers full-color OE wiring diagrams, component and module locations, confirmed fixes, maintenance procedures, service bulletins and Bosch Repair Source -- a comprehensive service and repair information library.
It has 5-megapixel front and rear cameras to share photos or include them in vehicle scan reports. It also has a vehicle noise, vibration and harshness analyzer and a web browser for full internet access. Last but not least, it comes with a lifetime warranty as long as you maintain a diagnostic subscription. If the price of this diagnostic tool still seems a bit steep for shade-tree use, you can add it to your wish list.
FIXD is a reasonably priced scan tool for anyone who's interested in vehicle care and maintenance, with a twist. It helps DIY beginners better understand proper vehicle care, and it provides useful comparison information. FIXD will actively scan a vehicle's diagnostic system at your request, report trouble codes in plain English and clear them permanently, if they're reporting something simple like a loose gas cap.
FIXD can provide a limited amount of live data on the vehicle's operation. And if the check engine light pops on, FIXD will automatically send a notification to your phone, so you can learn what the trouble code is reporting and start thinking about what to do next.
FIXD also provides scheduled maintenance reminders for the specific make and model, per the manufacturer's recommendations, and advises when it might be time to check wear items like batteries, tires and wiper blades. Premium provides cost and repair estimates from the Identifix database and unlimited calls to a hotline staffed by ASE-certified mechanics.
These folks can provide do-it-yourself advice or a second opinion on a service shop's estimate. Even without the subscription upgrade, FIXD will keep you posted on what's happening inside your OBD2 vehicle and provide a trust gauge to help evaluate what a professional mechanic might be telling you. CarScan Advisor code reader covers all the essentials: reading, deciphering and clearing check engine light trouble codes; battery tests and smog test evaluation; system diagnostics for ABS codes on most cars; and Freeze Frame data that captures what was going on when an error code was triggered.
It displays a range of Live Data when a vehicle is running -- RPM, fluid temperatures, fuel injection data -- that can aid diagnosis in all cases. This OBD2 scanner's patented all-in-one screen is big and easy to read for the price.
Everything is packaged in a large, rugged case. It comes with the same support and thorough manual as Innova's more expensive scanners, as well access to the internet-connected Repair Solutions 2 app.
CarScan Advisor delivers a reliable, easy-to-master dedicated OBD2 scanner for a moderate investment. It's a great choice for owners who plan to keep higher-mileage vehicles on the road indefinitely, and a good choice for hobbyists who buy and sell cars regularly -- or for the person friends seek when they're in the market for a used car. The MaxiDiag MD code reader is built by a company known worldwide for professional automotive diagnostic equipment and products that compete with those manufactured by Bosch.
The MD is similar to our best overall pick, the Innova CarScan Pro, with pro-level features at a consumer-targeted price. That means all the essential reading of OBD2 codes, clearing and analyzing features and bidirectional control, which lets you target which systems will be analyzed and to disable or enable certain features built into the car builders' control programs. The MD OBD2 scanner is packaged in a more rectangular shape, which some people might prefer, and its hard plastic case is surrounded by a thick rubber grip that adds another layer of impact protection.
On the downside, its screen is narrower than the CarScan Pro's, and it has fewer keys. Operation can require an extra layer of menus. Nonetheless, you won't go wrong with the MaxiDiag MD scan tool. It's everything an auto hobbyist is likely to need. It comes from a company with a professional history, known for good product support. With four keys and a simple menu, the Ancel BD delivers the basic functions every scan tool should.
It also has a handy dash-vent attachment for easy, safe display while driving, and it can present a range of live operating data-temperatures, fuel use, spark advance and more while the vehicle is under load. The "hybrid" part comes when you pair the BD scan tool to a smartphone via Bluetooth, then switch to operating it with Ancel's app for Apple or Android. With the graphics capability of your smartphone, the BD offers even more data presented in various forms, including gauges and graphs.
It can also record familiar trip-computer functions like average speed, time and fuel consumption. It offers strengths inherent to both dedicated OBD2 scanners and Bluetooth dongles in a single device. Ancel builds a wide variety of automotive diagnostic equipment. Anself sells a strange range of hundreds of products, from telescopic back scratchers to inexpensive condenser microphones to watt solar panels to yoga balls straight outta China.
Sound dicey? Maybe it is, but here's what you get for your fourteen bucks: The cable, a manual and a CD with software that can turn your Windows laptop into an OBD2 scanner.
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