{"id":335,"date":"2020-01-15T19:23:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-15T19:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theusautorepair.com\/Auto-Repair-Help\/?p=335"},"modified":"2020-01-16T13:03:55","modified_gmt":"2020-01-16T13:03:55","slug":"top-diy-car-diagnostic-tools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theusautorepair.com\/Auto-Repair-Help\/335\/top-diy-car-diagnostic-tools\/","title":{"rendered":"Top DIY Car Diagnostic Tools"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Nothing is more frustrating than having a check engine light randomly come on. There&#8217;s no clear sign pointing to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theusautorepair.com\/Auto-Repair-Help\/127\/5-common-reasons-the-check-engine-light-comes-on\/\">what is wrong<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s going to take time and money to find out what the light means. A car diagnostic tool can make resolving this code quick work.<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifewire.com\/code-reader-vs-scan-tool-534865\">DIY scanner<\/a> is user-friendly and can save car owners money. Plug the scanner into the vehicle, decipher the code, and repair. Here are our recommendations for the best DIY scanners.<\/p>\n<h2>Three Types of Car Diagnostic Tools<\/h2>\n<p>Diagnostic tools fall into three basic categories based on the user&#8217;s knowledge. A professional-grade auto diagnostic tool works best for a mechanic in a shop.<\/p>\n<p>A DIY vehicle diagnostic tool will have the capability of monitoring and diagnosing complex issues. A basic car diagnostic tool will only read and clear the code presented from a fault.<\/p>\n<h2>BlueDriver Bluetooth Professional OBDII Scan Tool<\/h2>\n<p>The BlueDriver works with Apple and Android devices to diagnose a car. The Bluetooth compatible dongle sends the information to an app on your phone.<\/p>\n<p>Start by plugging the dongle into the car. Then load the <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/bluedriver-obd2-scan-tool\/id445403397?mt=8\">free app on a phone<\/a>. There are no hidden costs with the app.<\/p>\n<h3>Compatible Vehicles<\/h3>\n<p>This tool can scan any car made in 1996 or later in North America. It is compatible with European gas vehicles from 2001 and newer.<\/p>\n<h3>The Codes<\/h3>\n<p>The standard industry engine codes come pre-programmed. The manufacturer&#8217;s individualized codes or other functions also come pre-programmed.<\/p>\n<h3>The App<\/h3>\n<p>The app&#8217;s interface gives users a larger and brighter screen than what comes on traditional scanners. Each code has a description of the problem and possible solutions.<\/p>\n<p>The app can save, export, and print vehicle data. There are also five special functions. Mode 6 gives access to the VIN and individual sensors.<\/p>\n<p>A flashlight built into the app works great in dark locations. Live data exporting works for the user who needs the data in real time.<\/p>\n<p>Social sharing lets users easily share data for outside help. Finally a gauge for both digital and voltage reading comes standard.<\/p>\n<h2>Innova 3040E Car Diagnostic Tool<\/h2>\n<p>This affordable tool can scan, read and diagnose a vehicle&#8217;s error codes. Need to clear the code? It can do that too.<\/p>\n<h3>Compatible Vehicles<\/h3>\n<p>This vehicle diagnostic tool will work on almost any vehicle built in 1996 or later. Users can check the &#8220;check engine&#8221; light and ABS light on these vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>The oil service light can be reset. The battery and alternator performance data is available.<\/p>\n<h3>Interface<\/h3>\n<p>This scanner comes with a large screen built into the unit. The LCD screen is well organized and easy to navigate.<\/p>\n<p>Once a user purchases the scanner, lifetime software updates are included. If users have any issues, a Customer Support center is available.<\/p>\n<p>Monday through Saturday ASE certified technicians are available for assistance. Users also have access to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.repairsolutions.com\/en-US\/User\/Login?r=338\">Repair Solutions<\/a> for one year after purchase.<\/p>\n<h2>Diagnose Your Car<\/h2>\n<p>The right car diagnostic tool can help a vehicle owner do minor maintenance on their own. The BlueDriver OBDII works with an app and comes with all software needed.<\/p>\n<p>It is a great choice for someone who plans on working on many different cars. If this is more than needed, the Innova offers an affordable alternative.<\/p>\n<p>It only works with older cars, which might be a drawback for some people. It does come with lifetime updates, which is invaluable.<\/p>\n<p>Make sure you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theusautorepair.com\/Auto-Repair-Help\/112\/7-items-everyone-needs-in-their-auto-tool-kit\/\">have the right tools<\/a> to get started on repairing those scanner codes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re a big DIY car repair fan, then we&#8217;ve got the perfect list of car diagnostic tools to help you find the answers you need. Continue reading to find out which tool best suits your needs. <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theusautorepair.com\/Auto-Repair-Help\/335\/top-diy-car-diagnostic-tools\/\">Read More &#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[52,47,53],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v15.2.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Top DIY Car Diagnostic Tools | TheUSAutoRepair.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you&#039;re a DIY car repair fan, then we&#039;ve got the perfect list of car diagnostic tools to help you find the answers you need to fix your car.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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