As from 1996, all cars manufacturers in America have a standardized diagnostic system referred to as Onboard Diagnostics II (OBD-II). The OBD-II system was initially designed to monitor and test on motor vehicle emissions, however; the system was modified to integrate the full functioning of the entire car electrical system. Therefore, the OBD-II scanner can read codes on the car’s engine, and transmission systems otherwise referred to as powertrain by closely monitoring from a centralized computer system. The car’s system uses an inbuilt computer to constantly check on the inputs and outputs occurring to the transmission systems thereby enabling the car’s systems to run smoothly. Therefore, the most common features of the best obd-2 scanners are;
Code Readers vs. Scan Tools
Since the data port, as well as the error encoding, comply with the industry’s standards, the development of automotive scan tools has been rapid enabling mechanics and home repair enthusiasts to access the system’s codes properly. Therefore, automotive scan tools that access the OBD-II system occur in two categories; as code readers and scan tools. The OBD-II compliant code readers are used to detect error codes and enable the user to delete the error code. By detecting these codes, it is possible to diagnose the faulty parts of the car’s system thereby switching the dashboard indicator light off. More comprehensive code readers decode the meaning of the error codes. On the other hand, OBD-II scan tools provide a full on-board diagnostic system. This allows the detection of the errors and data emissions allowing for proper diagnosis.
Modes of operations
The OBD-II scanners have ten distinct modes of operations. This is because OBD-II scanners use similar system communication protocols, connectors and code designations. This makes it possible for the scanners to access information from all types of car models. Moreover, it enables OBD-II protocol support and OBD-II mode support which assists in identification functions, fault codes identification, testing, and Oxygen sensor tests.
Connectivity
The OBD-II scanners are connected to the car’s system through the use of internet connectivity. The connectivity in the automotive scan tools can be powered by Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity which allows the reading and analysis of the codes generated from the car’s transmission system.
Versions
The OBD-II scanners occur in two versions which include; basic and professional. The Basic version applies the ELM-USB OBD-II user interface while the Professional version uses an upgrade of the ELM-USB but requires to be licensed to operate. Using the two distinct versions, one can access the functionality of the OBD-II scanners and apply the available suitable language translations.