What are OBD2 scanners & why are they essential for your tool kit?

It’s safe to say that technology has advanced hugely and still continues to improve on a daily basis, with cars now having far more in-depth on board computer systems keeping track of what’s going on under the bonnet. However for many years, these on-board computer systems have prevented a great deal of car owners from actually finding out what was wrong with their vehicles unless they were hooked up to costly diagnostic machines at a local mechanic.

OBD2 scanning systems

To explain exactly what an OBD2 scanning tool is, it’s beneficial to first look at the OBD2 protocol or software. OBD2 Diagnostics help to reveal the state of the vehicle through using a diagnostic scanner. OBD2 standardisation systems are installed in all cars and light trucks, providing a quick and easy diagnosis of any vehicle’s various different functions, thanks to complementary software.

As well as providing a diagnosis, it’s the very same OBD2 systems that can also help maintain your vehicle’s overall health by sending commands to different internal systems, self-correcting any anomalies from the ignition to the fuel mixture itself.

Thankfully, times have changed for the car owner as well as the car itself and car diagnostic scanning tools are now becoming a more common tool in many a car owners kit. Instead of only having access via very expensive mechanic premises, car owners can now own their own OBD2 scanning tools for relatively little money.

Not only do these tools fit neatly in your tool kit, but they also boast an LCD screen that will display fault codes within minutes of being hooked up to a vehicle.

Without an OBD2 scanning tool of your own, you may face large bills to have your vehicle hooked up to a diagnostic machine at your local mechanics, incurring costs before any repair work, parts or labour are even taken into consideration.

With an OBD2 scanning tool in your kit however, you may not only forgo that cost but you’ll also find yourself with a far better idea of what’s going on before you head to your local mechanics. It’s also more than likely that you’ll find the problem to be far less in-depth than you first thought, allowing you to fix the issue yourself, avoiding all mechanics costs completely.

If you’d like more information on OBD2 scanning tools, contact LJM Car Diagnostics today.

https://ljmcardiagnostics.co.uk/