Cheap auto scan tools

Cheap auto scan tools are a quickly expanding marketplace. Car owners are starting to realize that when their check engine light comes on, they do have choices.

2 good choices under $50 are reviewed for you at the bottom of this page. One is a laptop interface and the other is the Autel ms300 hand held auto scanner.

In 1996 when OBD II first came out, if your check engine light came on your choice was simple. You just took it to the dealer and paid the money.

Now that OBD II has been out for 13 years Things have changed not only for the automotive scan tool but also for car owners. Just a few years ago you would not be able to find a scan tool for less than $100. Now inexpensive auto scan tools are commonly found for under $50.

What this means for car owners is that if their check engine light comes on, they can do the first step of diagnosis. This is to record the set code and then clear it.

Then operate the vehicle to see if the check engine light comes back on. If the same code does return, they now know that they have a genuine problem that needs to be addressed.

Some check engine light codes are easier to fix than others. In many cases, a do-it-yourself car mechanic may be able to solve the car problem in their driveway.

With the availability of online auto repair manuals, car owners can follow repair diagrams for the specific diagnostic trouble code that was set.

If a car owner pulls a diagnostic trouble code clears it and then it returns. They can also take it to an auto repair shop. But armed with the information that the trouble code is not an intermittent problem.

After you inform the shop that you have done the first steps of basic diagnosis. Not only will you have cut down the diagnostic time, but you have also earned the respect of your car repair shop.

Cheap scan tools

The first scan tool is the cheapest one I ever seen, which is the Autel Maxi scan. This is a hand held scanner that just reads and erases codes. The next one down is the crescent USB laptop scanner. This is the cheapest laptop scanner I have seen. See below for both reviews.

This cheap auto scan tool will interface with vehicles from 1996 to present day. This scanner is also CAN capable, which stands for controller area network. This means that it should work on future models as well.

The Autel MS300 also includes a CD containing 7,000 diagnostic trouble code definitions. This allows you to troubleshoot a wide variety of generic and manufacturer specific check engine light trouble codes.

This auto scan tool is self-powered through the OBD II diagnostic connector. The unit does not require batteries or an AC adapter. You just plug it in using the included standard 16-pin OBD-II connector.

Cheap auto scan tool for laptop

It includes software that will allow you to read and erase check engine light codes. It also includes some third party diagnostic software that allows more detailed information to be displayed on your laptop screen.

The advantage of the personal computer for diagnosing diagnostic trouble codes is the ability to display more data at the same time on the larger screen as opposed to the small hand held scan tools.

The connection to your laptop computer is through a USB cable that has a built in USB to serial converter.

With the wide range of third party software available and the ability to tweak the displayed data this scanner is more complicated to use and set up than the cheap auto scan tool above.

But if you have a laptop and are comfortable with installing and configuring software then this item cannot be beat for the price.



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After you get a scan tool I provide some information about how to use the scanner to solve your check engine light problems this next link takes you to the main auto scan tool page.



The two auto scan tools above are some of the best selling automotive products on the Internet.



scan through both of my auto repair sites with the custom search box.

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