Home
My Auto Repair Book
Automotive Blog
MakeMoneyWithCars
About Auction Cars
New Car Buying Tip
HowToBuyUsedCars
About Car Leases
Buy Car Online Tips
Learn Car Detailing
Car Alarm & Audio
Hybrid Car
Auto Service Stories
Build A Web Site
Privacy/Disclaimer
Automotive News
Sitemap
Fast Hot Cars
Fun-Car-Games
Auto Tools & Supplies
Fuel Saving Tips
Auto-Scan-Tools-Info
DIY Auto Repair Tips
Auto Repair Manuals

Enter your E-mail Address

Enter your First Name (optional)

Then

Don't worry -- your e-mail address is totally secure.
I promise to use it only to send you Automotive Facts.

XML RSS
What is this?
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Add to Google

Auto scan tool

car scanners graphic

Auto scan tool by Master-Tech Mark: You can skip the reasons to own a car scanner and scroll right down to read specific articles about check engine light common problems and scan tool operation at the bottom of this page. Also Ebay Live scanner auctions has been added!

If your on the fence about getting your own scanner then the answer to your question is to follow.

Having your own auto scan tool can help you save money and time by avoiding an unneeded trip to the dealership or automotive repair center for diagnosis.

It is very common these days to have your service engine soon light just pop on. The monitoring system that activates the light is very sensitive.

auto scan tool images Resetting check engine lights is a simple procedure. But first I'll give you a little background on what turns on the service engine soon light and why the light exists at all.

Basically the Federal Government wants to notify the driver that the vehicle may be contaminating the atmosphere. Yes, the main function of this light is for emission system compliance.

The service engine soon light comes on to notify the driver that a code has been set in memory. Sometimes the code relates to a serious problem, but in most cases it's a minor malfunction or intermittent condition.

If you have your own auto scan tool. You can answer the number one question in everyone's mind when that service engine soon light comes on.

Of course the question is, why is this light on and how to reset check engine light codes. An auto scan tool can give you the answer quickly and easily.

This brings me back to reason number one for buying a scanner. When that dreaded service engine soon light comes on, you can find out yourself why the light is illuminated.

All you have to do is plug in an auto scan tool, and it will pull a code from the computer that points to the system malfunction and will give you the option to reset the check engine light.

Auto scan tool reason number two

car code reader image When a service engine soon light is turned on, and you take your vehicle to the dealership. The first thing they do is connect a scanner to retrieve the code.

They take this code and look it up in their auto service manual. In most cases, the first step in diagnosing any code is to clear or reset the check engine light code and see if it returns as a hard failure.

If the auto repair center clears the code, and it does not return, the problem is considered intermittent. In this scenario, you have just been charged at lease one-hour diagnosis for little or no auto repair help.

If you had your own scan tool, you would be able to retrieve and record the code and then clear the code to see if it was an intermittent problem. If the service engine soon light does not come back on.

You have just repaired your vehicle in a span of about 10 minutes. You have also just avoided a trip to the auto repair center, which is priceless. If the service engine soon light comes back on, you will be able to reconnect the auto scan tool and verify that the same code as been set.

You would then diagnose the code yourself using an online repair diagram such as All-Data auto repair manuals. Or you can even take the vehicle to your repair center, but with the information that the auto scan tool has provided for you.

This can cut down on the shop's initial diagnosis. You have already cleared the codes and done the first major step of diagnosis for the auto repair center, this will save you money on diagnostic charges.

Auto scan tool reason number three

One of the most common reasons for the service engine soon light to come on is the number one nuisance code for fuel system vapor leak.

As of 1996 federal emission laws require the manufacturer to lightly pressurize the fuel system to check for vapor leaks. The vehicle's computer performs this pressure test automatically every time you turn on the key.

If you have just filled up your gas tank, and not tightened the fuel cap. The computer will see this as a fuel system leak and illuminate the service engine soon light. The above scenario is not on every vehicle, but on most.

The worst part about the OBD 2 system is that when the service engine soon light is turned on. It stays on until the code is cleared. This is where the auto scan tool is priceless.

You can connect your auto scan tool and pull the code and see if it is the fuel system leak code. You can then go around and check your gas cap for tightness and then clear the code.

You can then continue to operate the vehicle and if the light stays off, once again you have just repaired your own car in a span of about 10 minutes.

If the check engine light does come back on again you have cut down the diagnosis time for the repair center and saved yourself some time and money.

obd 2 scan tool picture

I have been using diagnostic equipment for the last 23 years. In 1996, the federally mandated deployment of the obd 2 diagnostic system has changed the way the auto scan tool is used. Below you will find a few helpful articles on this subject.

Give us a bookmark so you can come back and explore all the links on this auto repair page!

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

More Information on auto scan tools and check engine lights


Car code readers have become easy to use and a lot cheaper to own. This article shows you automotive scan tool reviews in 3 price ranges!

You have more than likley seen and heard ads for places that will scan your car for free. Before for you go for this service read my article on how much it may cost for free check engine light diagnosis

When that anoying check light comes on you may want to by-pass it. Learn about why you should not try disconnecting check engine lights

What is the difference between OBD 2 and the OBD1 diagnostic systems. This article lays out the details of the OBD2 VS OBD 1 question

Some more indepth information on how the car computer reads the diagnostic information and why the check engine light comes on

I really do not aprove of the idiot light set up on striped model cars. Here is why and how to replace your idiot light with full gauges

Are you ready to turn out the service engine soon light. Good! here is some information on the DIY reset check engine light procedure

Fixing your engine light may include learning about the data stream. This article makes reading scan tool data easy

One of the most common codes to set in your cars computer is the o2 fault. The automotive scan tool and oxygen sensor codes explained article

Ok your ABS light is on and you want to tackle some do it yourself diagnosis. You better read this ABS scan tool article


Quick Professional Answers To Your Check Engine Light Problems!

JustAnswer.com








Search for more auto scan tool information right here!
Google
 





Learn more about me and this auto repair website. This next link takes you from auto scan tool Info to My automotive Homepage


footer for auto scan tool page