OBD1 vs OBD2 Scanner: Tools for Pre-1996 Cars
Your car predates the standard, so no OBD2 scanner will help. OBD1 was never one standard either. Here are the three routes that actually exist.
OBD2 Scanners
Wi-Fi vs Bluetooth OBD2 Adapter: Which Connection to Buy
The connection type decides whether the adapter works with your phone at all, and whether you keep mobile data while scanning. Here is how to choose.
Using an OBD2 Scanner in the Cold: What Actually Fails
Blank screen, sluggish display, a phone that shuts down mid-scan. Cold does specific things to diagnostic tools. Here is what fails first and what survives.
Pre-Check Your Own Smog Test With an OBD2 Scanner
Ten minutes with a scanner tells you whether the OBD2 part of an emissions test will reject you today. Here is the check, in order, and what each result means.
OBD2 Scanner on a Hybrid or EV: What Still Works
An EV has no emissions to monitor, so what is the port for? Here is what a generic scanner can still read on a hybrid or electric car, and what it cannot.
Can an OBD2 Scanner Drain Your Battery? The Honest Answer
Plugging a scanner in will not damage your car. Leaving a Bluetooth adapter in a car that sits for weeks genuinely can flatten it. Here is the difference.
OBD2 Apps for Android and iPhone: What the Phone Route Costs
Can a phone app replace a proper scan tool? Sometimes. Here is what the adapter-plus-app route genuinely gives you, and the four things it takes away.
OBD2 Scanner Subscription Cost: What You Keep Paying For
Some scanners are a purchase, some are a rental with a box attached. Here are the four things a subscription can cover and what happens when you stop paying.
OBD2 Readiness Monitors Not Ready: What It Means and the Fix
Cleared your codes and got rejected at the emissions test? That is readiness monitors, not a fault. Here is what reset them and how they come back.
Should You Clear OBD2 Codes? When It Helps and When It Hurts
Clearing a code turns the light off. It does not fix anything, and it destroys the evidence. Here is when clearing is right and when it costs you.