Automotive scan tools, getting the codes and troubleshooting your car or truck
Most people know what it means when that check engine or service engine light comes up on your dash board – something is wrong with your car and needs to be fixed. But it doesn’t always mean it is anything major. Sometimes, more modern cars like a Ford or Lincoln will activate this light when all that it really means is that an oil change is due. BMW was the first company to do this and its purpose was to make you go to the dealer for all of your services. The car manufacturer will never admit to it, but if you went to a service shop or did it your self the code wouldn’t go away and would annoy you until you did. Well, regardless, when that check engine light comes on is there a way that you can figure out what it means so you can get a heads up on what might need fixing?
Yes, it’s called an engine scan tool or more appropriately a OBD or OBD II scanner. OBD stands for On Board Diagnostics. Most cars now use OBD II compliant technologies. So, a scan tool will hook up to the vehicles OBD II interface which could be under the dash, in the glove box or under the arm rest (depends on the vehicle – see your owners manual for the exact location of your vehicles OBD II hookup). Once hooked up, the scan tool will get any active codes set by your vehicles computer. These codes can then be looked up in the manual the scan tool came with or on the internet.
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With these codes you can pretty much get a good idea of what is wrong with your car and sometimes it may be as simple as an overdue oil change or a missed maintenance. Other times it could be something more serious like a piston misfiring, an oxygen sensor that is bad, engine cooling troubles, etc… Each problem will have its own code. Some problems could possibly set off several codes, this is why the scan tool should be thought of as a great guide, but it in now way replaces a trained technician. The code tools are great for narrowing down the wide field of potential problems and then the mechanic can go in and find out exactly what is the problem.
Automotive scan tools are a very valuable resource and save lots of time when repairing and fixing vehicles. This is why every new car dealership has these tools for their mechanics. They may be expensive, but in the end they lead to quicker diagnosis and lower labor rates. You can purchase a more basic scan tool that will give you the codes and then you will have to look them up. The more expensive scan tools and equipment used by every day mechanics will actually better diagnose the vehicle and some will also point out potential future problems and services that might come due soon – this is important to the service shop and technician as it can help to increase their billing and services – hence greater profits.
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As an automotive wholesaler and car dealer I have personally used these automotive scan tools at wholesale, dealer only auctions to quickly tell me if there’s something lurking there that would make that car a bad deal. At a wholesale auction car dealers and wholesalers buy and sell cars with no warranty or guarantee beyond what is stated at the time of sale. Many cars that sell for under $5,000 can be doctored up to run good for a few hours and you can’t always catch everything, so a OBD I (for older cars) and OBD II handheld scanner can be a great back up. If nothing else it will make you feel better that you’ve found a good car. It is also great for people looking to buy a used car – if you see a lot of codes run, don’t walk away from the car.
Another great feature of some automotive scan tools is that they can actually erase or reset codes. This is very important to someone trying to sell a car. But be careful, this is a shady thing to do and your buyer could easily find out later on if the code was erased or reset and exactly on what date – this would be definite fraud. Some unscrupulous car dealers have done this in the past only to find themselves as a defendant in a civil suit with no choice but to make a very expensive settlement and pay for the plaintiff’s attorney on top of that. So, be careful and use the scan tools correctly, to help diagnose and then fix or repair items that are not working properly. Do not use them to deceive others or you might get caught and end up owing a whole lot more than you could ever have imagined. This is just another repair and safety tip brought to you from the folks at MDWholesale.com – the manufacturer of New Lite headlight restoration kits.
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