The Best OBD2 Scanners
When your check engine light pops on halfway through a long car drive, you instantly get that sinking feeling and think, "Great, how much is this going to cost me?" Unless you're a mechanic, it would be next to impossible to tell what's wrong with your car, let alone how much it will cost. Fortunately, there's a product on the market that can give even the most inexperienced car people some insight into what's wrong. OBD2 scanners are handy devices that communicate with your car's engine to determine what made the check engine light pop on. This can provide you with some serious peace of mind. Here, we have outlined the best OBD2 scanners on the market to help you with your car problems today. While searching for the best OBD2 scanners on the market, we focused on three essential qualities: ease of use, diagnostic precision, and cost value. With these qualities at the center of our focus, a few contenders stood out. For example, Ancel's AD 310 is an excellent choice for most folks, as it offers quick, reliable readings without breaking the bank. But for those of us who want more detailed diagnoses, Innova's Car Scan Pro is up to the task. There are more where these came from, so keep on reading to discover the right OBD2 scanner for you.
Ancel AD 310 OBD2 Scanner
Digital peace of mind
No one likes finding that the check engine light in their car is on. This OBD2 scanner from Ancel can make that feeling a little more manageable. That’s because it makes car diagnostics accessible to everyone, even total novices. Just plug the AD 310 into your car’s data link connector, wait for the trouble codes to scan, and easily diagnose the problem. After you’ve made one long car trip with this OBD2 scanner, you’ll never want to go on a long car trip without it again. We highly recommend this scanner to car owners of all experience levels and backgrounds.
Pros:
- This scanner provides quick readings without sacrificing accuracy.
- It’s easy to read, accessible, and affordable, so it will likely be good enough for most folks’ needs.
Cons:
- It may occasionally have trouble finding codes.
BlueDriver OBD2 Scanner
Essential information
We can connect just about everything to our smartphones these days, so why not our OBD2 scanners as well? BlueDriver’s Bluetooth OBD2 scanner allows you to do just that. Just plug in the BlueDriver receiver into your car’s data link connector and determine the source of your car trouble in minutes, all from your smartphone. The BlueDriver app is exceedingly easy to use and will make sense to even the least tech-savvy among us. Unfortunately, this scanner is known to sometimes produce faulty trouble codes that don’t actually signify an issue in your car. Still, this is one of the most reliable Bluetooth OBD2 scanners on the market.
Pros:
- We love that the app is so easy to use. Not all of us are tech savvy, nor do we all have tons of experience with car repairs, so this simplicity is really helpful.
- Aside from how intuitive the scanner is during operation, we also love its compact size. As far as convenience goes, few scanners can beat this one.
Cons:
- Unfortunately, it sometimes shows faulty additional trouble codes, so you might want to scan your car a few times to get more accurate readings.
Innova 3020RS Code Scanner
Inexpensive and effective
You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg for a scanner that works. The 3020RS is the latest and greatest scanner from Innova, which means it’s compatible with the RepairSolutions2 App. And with a big screen, reading the codes is easy. Consequently, it’s a great option for beginners. The scanner lets you run diagnostics for “check engine” lights and ABS lights. It even lets you reset them. With Innova, you get to stay ahead of the curve.
Pros:
- Considering its low price and wide range of capabilities, we think this is a great value buy.
- It delivers accurate and fast readings, and it also links seamlessly to the RepairSolutions2 app via Bluetooth, which can help you fix whatever is wrong with your car.
Cons:
- If you’ve never used a scanner before, this one can be a little tricky to master.
Innova Car Scan Pro 5210 OBD2 Scanner
Data on demand
If you’re looking for an OBD2 scanner that wouldn’t be out of place in a professional mechanic shop, this pick from Innova is your go-to. Innova’s Car Scan Pro will help you receive reliable, up-to-the-minute results about your car’s issues. What’s more, Innova’s mobile app can provide you with additional information such as troubleshooting tips, repair prices, recall information, and even the option to schedule maintenance. The Car Scan Pro can also give you detailed readings on other car issues like oil temperature, RPM, speed, and battery health. This is the kind of OBD2 scanner that is ideal for detail-oriented people who want to understand every aspect of their car.
Pros:
- The Innova app can provide you with additional information about repairs. Not every scanner comes with integrated app support like this.
- This is a highly accurate and detailed OBD2 scanner, so if you want to be sure that you’re getting precise readings, this is a good bet.
Cons:
- Because this scanner’s results are so detailed, it might be too complex for car novices.
Foxwell NT301 OBD2 Scanner
Scan and save
Foxwell’s NT301 OBD2 scanner is simply one of the best mid-price range scanners on the market. Detailed and accurate trouble code readings are just the tip of the iceberg. The NT301 is particularly adept at reading emission ratings and determining engine health. Readings from the device are presented in both graph and text format, making it easier for car owners of all experience levels to understand. There’s a reason why so many well-respected professional mechanics recommend this OBD2 scanner to consumers. In short, it’s because it gets the job done.
Pros:
- As far as mid-range OBD2 scanners go, this one is hard to beat. It’s great for car enthusiasts who want a sophisticated scanner without having to shell out the big bucks.
- We appreciate the detailed emission readings this scanner provides to help you determine the health of your car’s engine and catalytic converter.
Cons:
- You can only update the device with a Windows PC, so this is not the OBD2 scanner for Apple people.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use an OBD2 scanner?
Every scanner should come with an owner’s manual, so you should read that before attempting to use the scanner in your vehicle. With that said, most of them have fairly similar and simple instructions. First, turn off your car and plug the OBD2 scanner into the data link connector, which can usually be found under the dashboard on the driver’s side. Then, turn on your car and wait for the scanner to initialize. After the scan is complete, the OBD2 scanner will read trouble codes that you can look up online or on the internet to identify why your check engine light came on. Some scanners will translate the codes for you, and some will not. Again, these are broad instructions. Be sure to read your OBD2 scanner’s owner’s manual before operating.
Are OBD2 scanners compatible with all cars?
Almost every car made after 1996 will be compatible with your OBD2 scanner. 1996 is when On-Board Diagnostics were integrated into every new car. If you’re unsure whether or not your car is compatible, look for a sticker under the hood that says “OBD2 Certified” or “OBD2 Compliant.”
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