This is accomplished through sensors located throughout your vehicle that monitor what’s going on when your car runs.
It monitors your engine’s electronic sensors, emissions control, and more. The Onboard Diagnostic System (II) is your car’s auto-doctor.
If any are found, the scanner will show you trouble codes.Įach letter and number in the error code will tell you what system in your car may have a problem, and what that problem is. They scan the system to check for any potential malfunctions. These gadgets are designed to read information from your Onboard Diagnostics 2 (OBD II) system.
4.2 Find the Diagnostic Link Connector (DLC) in Your Car.We’ve also touched on the different types you can buy.
You’ll learn how to set one up, how to connect one, how to read one, and what the different codes displayed refer to. In this article, we detail everything you should know about these scanners. To connect to and read the onboard diagnostics, to read the various sensors your car has that monitors its health, you need an OBD2 scanner. But to do so, you need to know how to use an OBD2 scanner.Īn OBD2 – or ‘Onboard Diagnostics 2’ system – helps us to identify and address problems before they escalate.įor instance, your tire pressure monitoring sensors (TMPS) will tell you when you’re low on air. There are also functions, technology, and sensors we can take advantage of to monitor the internal health of our cars. All of this effort is to develop vehicles that are safer, more efficient, and easier to drive. Manufacturers continuously take advantage of new technology and innovations. Think of all the features the average vehicle today is equipped with: Parking sensors, LCD monitors, and rear-facing cameras - the list goes on. Our cars have evolved remarkably from the first automobiles of the early 20 th century.