Vehicle diagnostics have shifted from manual checks to standardized digital code reading via OBD-II scanners. These tools give drivers and mechanics quick access to fault codes and performance data, ...

The world of car diagnostics has changed a lot over the last 50 years. Back in the '70s and earlier, a mechanic's most valuable diagnostic tools were usually their eyes and ears. You could figure out ...

Modern vehicles are rolling computers, with systems managed by embedded hardware and software designed to talk to the manufacturers' diagnostic tools locally and wirelessly. While this complexity can ...

What’s an OBD-II (sometimes alternatively referred to as OBD-2, and other times in either form absent the interstitial hyphen) scanner? Answering that question first requires an understanding of what ...

This article was updated in November 2025 with new information. You know you’ve earned your DIY stripes when you can stay calm the moment something goes wrong. And with cars, that moment usually ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The OBD acronym stands for on-board diagnostics, a system built into modern vehicles that monitors the performance of the engine and other ...

I watch a lot of car repair videos on YouTube and it's obvious that there are scan tools out there that will give you lots of information about what cars are doing, allow you to do component tests, ...

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?