Car
diagnostic code readers have gone a long distance from what they used to be,
let’s talk about a some history and bring you up to the times. Auto readers,
commonly known as auto scanners or OBD scan stands are devices that are hand
held that are inserted into an OBD port to help identify the vehicle engine and
problems associated with emissions.
Vehicle
OBD scanners plug right into a port that is found directly under the dash of
every U.S. created cars after the year 1996. Most commonly referred to as OBDII
cars, before 1996 things weren’t uniform and vehicle manufacturers had various
methods and car diagnostics to figure out problems. Just about all cars
developed after the year 1996 were feeded with an OBDII system that allows
universal codes reader to help figure out problems with the engine. The overall
main difference between on board diagnostics 1 and 2 system is the creation of
a universal code diagnostic system.
The
introduction of on board diagnostic readers helped ease the issues of
diagnosing and solving engine related issues by standardizing the onboard
diagnostic system. Allowing for car code readers to display the same code
regardless of the engine model or auto manufacturer.
Once
plugged in an vehicle on board reader, live data corresponding to your aut
engine and autos specifications will appear on the LCD screen of the scanner.
This reader can also be used to check the CEL (check engine light) and provide
other specs associated to the the autos fuel injector as well as o2 sensor
related info. The most important important benefits of the OBD reader is how it
can look at your engines emission readings and identify whether its in
compliance with state mandated smog emission.
If
a failure is identified that occurs to the engine and or emission, that
sometimes is related to the o2 sensor, temp gauge, it will be logged and will
be recorded to the on board readers DTC or better known as the diagnostic
trouble code. This problem code is usually an indication that something in the
engine or emission system is wrong. This will help you identify and further
diagnose what exactly is causing the problem. Remember that this doesn’t mean
that a part needs to be swapped, instead that it could be something like a bad
sensor and/or a block in the flow that is the root of the unusual readings.
This helps you find the root of the issue, which will decrease the overall time
spent with different vehicle issues.
Vehicle
readers are connected to a computer port of your computer to further understand
even more information which will help you better understand where the problem
is occurring and how to best combat that. OBD computer diagnostic tools are
needed for any car owner freaks or shop owner and they usually cost somewhere
between $140 – $423. This is extremely cheap in comparison to replacing parts
that don’t need to be replaced. A lot of diagnostic checkups offered by
autoshops use these standard tools and charge around $150 for a car review.
There
are two types of OBD readers for sale right now, most of which are primarily
handheld devices, the first is an on board diagnostic I reader and the other
that is an OBDII reader. The second edition of the OBD readers are usually less
expensive than OBDI because of the universal capabilities of the readers versus
the specialized readers needed in an on board diagnosis I auto. Usually
editions that are between 1991 – 1995 manufactured by General Motors, Ford and
Chrysler, they manufactured a simple universal codes for the vehicles although
these autos have a different example of connector when comparing to other cars
created with the on board diagnosis I type of system.
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