Modern vehicles take a lot of expertise and
work to get fixed correctly. You may know a thing or two about fixing
automobiles, but you’ll find that you can’t just open up the hood and get to
work.
There was a time when you could do just that, but that’s no longer the
case. Modern vehicles have computer and electronic components that are
difficult to manage if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Furthermore, experts
utilize what are known as scanners, or readers to get diagnostics before they
even begin to work on your vehicle.
If you look online for OBD2 reader options,
you’ll find that there are a lot of solutions to consider.
Which ones are the
best to work with? That’s something that you’ll need to consider before moving
forward, and perhaps understand a few startling facts about how these readers
work and what they can, and cannot do.
Readers
Can Get Very Expensive
The first thing that you are going to find
out is simple, you could end up spending a great deal on a reader.
In fact, the
types that are used by major companies and mechanics could very well run you
tens of thousands of dollars.
You could end up paying 5 to 6 figures for an
expert solution that is made for your specific make and model.
Not everyone is
going to need to spend this much, but if you are serious about mechanical
repair, and you want to match the options that are used by professionals, then
this is going to be a solution well worth exploring.
There
Are Smartphone Solutions
Don’t want to buy a standalone reader?
Don’t want to invest thousands into a handheld solution? You don’t have to.
A
lot of OBD2 reader options today are found in the palm of your hand. The
options that you’ll find connect via Bluetooth and use a smartphone or tablet
are simple to use, and work just the same as many entry level options.
You’ll
find that this is a great option for those that are not sure how to work with
readers, or perhaps have never heard of them before.
Whatever the case may be,
you’ll find that these are great starter solutions to see what codes may come
up with scanning your vehicle’s problems.
Smartphone and tablet solutions are
intriguing, and definitely worth exploring for those that are looking for
smartphone compatible options.
Not
All Cars Are Compatible
Moving along, you’ll find that your car may
not be compatible with many diagnostic tools.
Not every single car out there is
going to be compatible with the diagnostic approaches and software options that
are available.
You’ll find that some cars only work with specific makes and
models overall. You could spend a great deal of money on an adapter, only to
find that your car doesn’t send signals, or doesn’t have the error codes that
you’re expecting.
Most cars after the mid 1990s are compatible with some sort of
scanner, but the software that some of the companies use may not be up to date,
or may not be part of the vehicle history that you’re looking into.
Just
because you purchase a solution, doesn’t mean that it is going to work with
your specific vehicle.
Professional
Mechanics Use Readers Daily
The next fact that may shock you is simple,
professional mechanics use OBD2 readers all the time.
In fact, most modern
mechanics learn how to use readers instead of just listening for problems. Many
of the most common problems with cars today require a simple reset of the
computer system inside the dash or under the hood.
The average individual
cannot go this route to fix things. Even though you could work with car tuning,
if something goes wrong, you may need to consult a good mechanic.
Good
mechanics today not only help with professional fixes, they use readers to
denote what exactly is going on.
You’ll find that the same thing you can get
the same information professionals get by simply using this diagnostic tool type.
However, the fix that they provide may be a lot different than what you may
know how to do, which is something that many people don’t take into account at
first glance.
You
May Have To Update Software Often
Many people spend a great deal of money on gadgets,
only to find that they don’t work. Before you get mad and throw things away,
you may want to know this simple fact, software needs updating.
Some of the
best readers are updated frequently, even multiple times a month in some
instances.
Whenever there’s an update, you may need to update your device to
ensure that you have the right information ready to go.
Most people don’t
realize that the design and electronic layouts in vehicles get upgrades
annually, and sometimes require new data overall.
If you find that you have
purchased a reader that doesn’t seem to work, double check the software, and
you may see that it’s well worth exploring.
Readers
Don’t Fix Anything
Consumers sometimes assume that they can
fix their vehicles by simply diagnosing their car with an issue.
Unfortunately,
even if you use a good reader, you will still need to have some expertise in
order to apply a real fix. Just getting the error code from your car’s system
will not help.
You will get a code, but if you don’t know how to alleviate the
root cause, you could end up having to spend a great deal of money to get a
real fix.
In the end, you’ll want to get codes and then share them with your
mechanic, so that you can get the right advice or fix applied.
Readers don’t
give you instructions as to how to fix errors or anything that your car is
going through.
Even the best options will still need a good mechanic to apply
the correct fix moving forward.
Without that, you’ll have nothing more than an
error code, and that’s not an easy thing to work with. OBDII Readers are great, but
they do not perform the work of a great mechanic.
