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How to Choose and Use Your First OBD-II Tool

 An OBDII protocol is part of an on-board self-diagnostic system in your vehicle that allows you or your mechanic to access information about it and it's systems. OBD or onboard diagnostics was first created by VW for internal use however, the system quickly spread out and it first became standardised in 1996.


Different regions and countries made it mandatory for new vehicles at different times and Australia did so in 2006 for petrol vehicles and 2007 for diesel cars. Today OBDII is the only protocol to get information from your car about issues or generally about how it works. More modern vehicles require you to connect to its OBDII port before you do anything on them.

Types of OBDII Tools

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source: ultimate9.co


Diagnostic

A diagnostic OBDII tool is one that helps you do your own repairs and maintenance. That's because it allows you to get detailed information about an issue or warning light that's appeared on the dashboard. You also get some technical advice, the ability to do module testing and technical service bulletins with an OBDII engine diagnostic tool. If you want to be your own mechanic, then a diagnostic OBDII tool is for you.

Display

If you're after something simpler and inexpensive, you should go for a display OBDII tool as this solution only provides you with data about error codes. You don't get detailed information on how to solve the issue or what exactly it is but you definitely get a more straightforward vehicle diagnostic tool for simple checkups. If you don't want to bring your car to a mechanic just to check what a warning light means, display tools are a great solution to save you some money but they're meant for simple DIY repairs.

What to Consider


Connection

There are three ways to connect your OBDII engine diagnostic tool with your car and those are through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a data link connector. Wi-Fi connectivity is almost exclusively used with OBD2 scan tools that rely on an app on your phone while those with Bluetooth can be both reliant on an app or a dedicated device. Tools that connect via a DLC are usually less expensive than those that connect wirelessly. Note that Bluetooth OBDII tools can connect using the classic versions of Bluetooth or the LE versions which work more efficiently and are thus more common nowadays.

Compatibility

Another important factor to consider is the compatibility of the device with your vehicle. Usually, if it's from the year 2007 and on, you won't have to worry about the tool you're getting as it works with all the different protocols most manufacturers use. But when it comes to accessing specific control modules and extracting data from them, you can only do so with OBD2 scan tools made for said manufacturer's vehicles.  For any general-purpose tasks, a “universal” device will suffice.

Capabilities

The types of scans and checks a vehicle diagnostic tool can perform depend largely on its price tag. The level of accuracy and whether or not you can perform tests while the engine is running and get live data from it make the device more capable. The same goes if the tool gives you a full explanation of what causes the issue and the common solutions for it.

Reading DTC Codes


First Character

Sometimes the warning code or DTC (diagnostic trouble code) you get doesn't have enough information to explain what exactly it is. Starting from the first character, which is a letter, you can identify what it refers to. If it's a “P” it stands for powertrain and it refers to issues with the engine, transmission and related components. “B” refers to the body and has to do with parts found in the passenger compartment area. The letter “C” refers to the chassis and includes the steering, braking and suspension. “U” has to do with the functions controlled by the computer system of the car.

Second Character

The second character is quite simple to understand as it can be either a “0” or a “1”. If you get a “0” after the first character, it means you have a standardiser or SAE code which is better known as a generic code. If you get a “1” then the code is one that is manufacturer-specific.

Third Character

The third character is a number again and it can be from 0 to 6. 0 refers to fuel and air metering and auxiliary emission controls while the number 1 refers to fuel and air metering only. Number 2 means there is a fuel and air metering issue with the injector circuit, while number 3 refers to issues with the ignition system or misfiring. Number 4 is for auxiliary emission controls and number 5 is for idle control systems, vehicle speed control and auxiliary inputs. The number 6 represents computer and output circuit issues while the number 7 is for transmission issues.

Fourth & Fifth Characters

The last two characters point to the exact problem and they can be from 0 and 99 and can vary in terms of the issues you're experiencing between different makes.

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