An Inexpensive Obd Ii Diagnostic Tool for your Car or Truck
When a check engine or other indicator light appears on your vehicle's instrument panel, it could mean any number of things. The indicators are often vague, so they can be hard to troubleshoot without taking the car into a repair shop, but with an OBD-II scan tool you may be able to diagnose the problem yourself. One good scanner is theAutel MaxiScan MS300.The MS300 is a small code reader that you plug into your car's onboard computer. The scanner can read any codes that the computer is currently experiencing and display those codes on its LCD screen. All you have to do is plug the cable that comes with the scanner into your car's computer (the port is often located under the steering wheel, but it may vary by vehicle model). The scanner will show you the codes that cause your check engine, oil, battery, or other lights to come on.The scanner itself doesn't show you what's wrong with the vehicle; it only shows you the code, such as P0092. But when you purchase the product it comes with a CD that you can install on your computer, and this CD includes a code library that you can look the code up in. The library is very primitive, and not customizable at all (other than switching between English and Spanish) but it will give you the option to look up either a generic code or a manufacturer-specific code. You can even print out the code and its definition.The code definitions are not very descriptive, but they can be helpful for figuring out what's wrong with your car or truck before taking it in to a mechanic. A code like P0128 will come up with a description of "Coolant Temp Below Thermostat Regulating Temp" which doesn't tell you exactly what the problem is, but it does point you in the right direction and give you something more to go on than the tiny light on your dashboard.The MS300 user manual also comes loaded on the CD, which can be helpful when you are first figuring out how to use the tool. You can also download the user manual online; it includes a list of the generic diagnostic codes, so if you lose your CD you can look them up in the manual.You can even clear codes with the MS300, although that's not advisable unless you have fixed the problem yourself, since clearing the codes can also clear other data that a mechanic may need to troubleshoot the problem. The MS300's LCD display is not large, but it is big enough for what it needs to do. The device does not need to be plugged into a power source - it draws the little amount of power it needs directly from your car or truck when it's on.The MaxiScan MS300 is not the most high-tech OBD-II diagnostic tool on the market, but it is a handy device for those who don't have access to a repair shop or don't want to invest in a high-end code reader. The MS300 can be purchased onAmazon.comfor $20.15.
