Today’s vehicles are loaded with all kinds of technology designed to optimize performance. One of those technologies is the built-in computer monitoring system. The computer keeps track of most of the important major systems within your vehicle and uses a number of methods to inform you. The check engine light on the dashboard of your vehicle is the best way that is used to accomplish it. In this article, we’ll explore the best and complete OBD2 diagnostic scan tools for car troubleshooting.
Along with the visual display, the computer system generates a code and it is stored within the computer. This code is unique to each manufacturer and is associated with an issue within the vehicle’s system. What is essential about that code is that it is able to be deciphered by today’s auto mechanics and they are able to use the information that goes with the code to determine how best to troubleshoot the problem.
Fortunately, for vehicle owners, there is a way for anyone who owns a vehicle to have access to this code and the diagnostic information that professional shops and mechanics have. The device that is used is called an OBD2 Scanner.
Why You Need to Use High Quality OBD2 Scan Tool for Your DIY Car Diagnostic?
My name is Ivan and I’m a former Toyota auto technician. With 10 years’ experience working as an auto technician, I know how important it is to use the highest quality tools if you want to make the job easier. Almost every day I find myself handling many troubleshooting cases and I use the OBD2 diagnostic scan tool. At Toyota we use Intelligent Tester and then Techstream as our official diagnostic scan tool. This official diagnostic tool helps me determine what is causing the car trouble. This tool is very accurate and suitable for diagnosing Toyota cars.
The question is, what if you have another brand of car and want to diagnose the trouble yourself using the best, complete, and most accurate scan tool? We know that the problem will get worse if the car is wrongly diagnosed. This can occur if you use a poor low-quality scan tool that sometimes doesn’t provide accurate results. For this reason, I have picked the top 10 best and most accurate OBD2 diagnostic scan tools for your DIY car diagnoses.
Best OBD2 Diagnostic Scan Tools
Below are the top 10 best, complete and the most accurate obd2 diagnostic scan tools to help you find the causes of a car problems:
1) Innova 3160 Diagnostic Scan Tool
The Innova 3160 Diagnostic Scan Tool is a powerful vehicle diagnostic tool designed for today’s do-it-yourself mechanics. This handheld tool is designed to connect directly to your vehicle’s onboard computer. Using the included cable to hook up to the port on the side of the under-dash computer box.
The scanner is able to read two different types of codes that are generated by today’s computers that are found in most vehicles built after 1996. This includes both foreign and domestic cars, SUVs, light and heavy-duty pickups. The codes can either be ABS or SRS formats which are unique to the manufacturer. The is capable of displaying up to 20 unique pieces of information that are pulled from the computer. The information can be displayed in English, French, or depending on what you select during the setup process.
It has a USB port that can be used to attach it to a computer in order to download updates directly from the Internet. The 9-button input format makes it really easy to learn how to operate the tool. If you choose to sign up for the optional RepairSolutions® which brings diagnostic tips based on the generated Check Engine error code. You also will have access to thousands of How-to repair videos.
2) LAUNCH OBD2 Scanner – CRP129E Scan Tool New Ver.
The Launch OBD2 Scanner -CRP129E Scan Tool is the newest version of the CREADER VII+. The scanner includes a full-color 3.5” TFT display and a multi-button control panel. It includes displays for 4 system functions and is compatible with 38 different vehicle manufacturers both foreign and domestic vehicle companies. The scan tool comes with the necessary cable to hook up to the under-dash mounted computer.
By connecting directly to the onboard computer and downloading the data into the scanner the condition of your vehicle is displayed clearly on the display. The four different systems, OBD2, SRS, ABS, and transmission systems will be displayed in easy-to-read results. The full-color touch screen display is really easy to operate and can be displayed in multiple languages; English, French, Spanish, Russian, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese
The unique, ergonomic shape of the unit makes it really easy to handle and operate. The rugged design makes it very durable; the button placement and the large, bright touch screen display make it very easy to read. There are so many different menu options that give you a plethora of valuable information about the operation of your vehicle. It runs on “AA” batteries that are not included in the package.
3) Autel Scanner MaxiCOM MK808, 2021 Newest OBD2 Car Diagnostic Scanner
The Autel Scanner MaxiCOM MK808, 2021 Newest OBD2 Car Diagnostic Scanner is a multifunctional vehicle diagnostic tester that can make anyone look like a pro. It is packed with features that are capable of reading the data provided by today’s vehicles as well as those as far back as 1996. Using all the data you can be sure that you can keep your car, truck, SUV, and minivan running in tip-top shape.
This rugged tablet-looking device features a large, 7” color touchscreen display that is clear and bright. It fully supports multilingual users including; English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, French, German, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Swedish, Japanese, Italian, and many more. It is capable of diagnosing issues with all the major systems in your car. It can handle more than 25 different maintenance functions including resetting mileage timers.
It can be used on most global brands of vehicles made in 1996 and later from the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia. This includes cars, light and heavy-duty trucks, minivans, and SUVs of all makes and models. All of these vehicles feature the OBD2 system built-in to them and this scanner makes it possible to read the codes and data contains on it.
4) Actron CP9690 Elite AutoScanner Kit
The Actron CP9690 Elite AutoScanner Kit Enhanced OBD I and OBD II Scan Tool is a high-quality diagnostic tool designed to be used by non-professional and professional mechanics. The tester is a multi-level diagnostic tool that is capable of reading computer data from both OBDI and OBDII enabled vehicles. This means it can be used on vehicles made in 1996- to the present and some vehicles made from 1984 to 1995.
The device is a rugged, hardshell case with a 3.5” color touch screen with 9 operational buttons including the power button. The directional arrow buttons help you to navigate through all of the different menus. These different menus contain all of the many functions and diagnostic tests that display the data taken from the onboard computer (OBDI and OBDII, depending on what year vehicle you have.
The whole kit comes with the Actron CP9690 Elite AutoScanner, OBDI, and OBDII connection cables, a cigarette lighter cable, and a soft storage case. The scanner is capable of deciphering thousands of different codes (check engine light) maintenance checks and a wide range of other operations with a single device.
5) LAUNCH X431 V PRO 4.0 – 2021 Newest Model
The LAUNCH X431 V PRO 4.0 – 2021 Newest Model Bi-Directional Scan Tool Full System Scanner is a powerful, Android tablet-based vehicle diagnostic tool. The scanning tool is capable of running more than 30 separate services and maintenance tests of the systems on hundreds if not thousands of vehicles from the top manufacturers all over the globe, including American, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
The device can be configured in multiple languages including; English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, Polish, Dutch, Hungarian, Finnish, Simplified, Czech, Turkish, Greek, Arabic, Danish Persian, Romanian, Serbian, Swedish, Chinese. The large touch screen is straightforward to use, and the high-quality screen makes it really easy to see the results of all of the read on the screen.
The built-in system is designed to read the ECU of the vehicle and is capable of bi-directional communications. It is capable of running multiple tests and reset operations on many different vehicles. The testing kit includes the Launch X431 V Pro 4.0, power cable that connects directly to the vehicle’s battery, multiple cables, and adapters that are designed to make it functional for a large range of vehicles.
6) ANCEL FX3000 Automotive OBD II Scanner
The ANCEL FX3000 Automotive OBD II Scanner is a diagnostic tool that works on vehicles that are equipped with the OBD II protocol equipment. It is a powerful device that can do a number of functions that can help any DIY mechanic keep their vehicles running like a professional. The scanner can record data and with the help of online tools make it easier to analyze issues and display the results on the color touch or connected to a computer.
The device is easy to handle and operate with a large 4” color TFT touch screen display and well-placed operational buttons. It features a Windows-based OS and all the data is played in easy to read text, graphs, and visual objects. It is capable of collecting the valuable diagnostic data contained in the OBD II protocol computer inside more than 45 vehicles from America, Canada, Asia, and Europe.
It is capable of analyzing the major systems inside your vehicle including the ABS, Steering, Engine, and Transmission. It also can reset maintenance codes that keep track of the important scheduled maintenance in the major systems of your vehicle. You can hook it directly up to your home computer to ensure that everything is up to date on the device.
7) iCarsoft CR Pro Professional Multi-System Multi-Brand Car Diagnostic Tool Scanner
The iCarsoft CR Pro Professional Multi-System Multi-Brand Car Diagnostic Tool Scanner is a powerful diagnostic tool designed to help anyone maintain their vehicle. It works on most all vehicle that is OBD II and EOBD protocols enabled. This includes many domestic and foreign brands on the market today. It is able to reset maintenance timers and trouble codes for most of your vehicle’s major systems.
The scanner features an easy-to-read 4.0” full-color TFT touch screen display and the operation buttons are all really easy to reach. The built-in diagnostic software is very powerful and filled with many useful functions. It is compatible with a wide range of vehicle brands and models both domestic and foreign. It can test most of the major systems in your car including the engine, airbag, sterling, and transmission. You can reset most of the maintenance timers and trouble codes.
The kit includes the scanner, main cable, data cable (for connecting to your PC, built-in memory card, instruction manual, and soft carryall case. Overall the dimensions (8” L x 4” H x 1.25” W) of the scanner make it really easy to handle while you are working on your vehicle.
8) Autel Maxisys Pro MK908P
The Autel Maxisys Pro MK908P, Top OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner is a powerful diagnostic tool that every DIY mechanic needs to have. The scanner includes a proprietary ECU programming module designed especially for BMW and Mercedes Benz vehicles. The tablet-based scanner is packed with a whole host of powerful diagnostic tools, system analysis tools, and maintenance reset functions.
This Android OS-based tablet features a powerful processor, 64GB of storage, 2GB of RAM has a 10.1” Color TFT touchscreen display. This powerful tablet is paired with proprietary software that creates a unique tool that is capable of working on more than 80 different brands of vehicles from makers all over the world including those from America, Canada, Europe, ad Asia. Some of these brands that the Maxisys Pro MK908P is compatible with include some of the most iconic names like Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Maserati.
The scanner is capable of analyzing a vehicle’s systems like the engine, steering, ABS, and transmission. It also includes a battery tester that can analyze the condition of a battery. Along with being compatible with the OBD II protocol, which can be found in a vehicle made after 1995, but it works with ECU protocols as well. For those vehicles that use an ECU, there is a programming module that makes it possible to upgrade firmware and also makes changes after the car leaves the factory.
9) FOXWELL OBD2 Scanner NT624E Diagnostic Scan Tool
The FOXWELL NT624 Elite Automotive Obd2 Scanner is designed to help even people with little knowledge to be able to maintain their vehicle as the professional mechanics do. This new 2021 version of the NT624E diagnostic scanner is a powerful tool that can help diagnose issues with all of a vehicle’s major systems including the engine, steering, ABS, transmission. It also is capable of resetting many of a vehicle’s maintenance and trouble codes.
The large color TFT touchscreen display is capable of showing multiple images including graphs, text, and full-color pictures. The device is really easy to handle while working on your vehicle with the display in the middle of the scanner and the operational buttons are situated on both sides of the screen.
The FOXWELL NT624E scanner works with the OBD II protocol and can analyze the codes stored in the onboard computer. It can also read the check engine light codes and other trouble codes and recommend repair procedures. Along with diagnosing problems, it can also be used to reset the timers associated with many of the maintenance tasks on your vehicle.
10) OTC 3211 OBD I & II Scan Tool
The OTC 3211 OBD I & II Scan Tool is a useful diagnostic tool for those DIY mechanics who want to be able to take care of their own vehicle as a professional mechanic would. This powerful diagnostic device is capable of reading both OBDI and OBD II protocols that are found in vehicles 1984 to 1995 and vehicles from 1996 to present, respectively. The handheld scanner is really easy to operate with all of the buttons located just below the 3.5” color TFT touchscreen display.
The kit includes the OTC 3211 Scanner, both an OBD I and OBD II cables with lightweight nylon carrying case. The scanner is compatible with most of today’s makes and models of vehicle’s including cars, light, and heavy-duty pickups, SUVs, and minivans. It can easily decipher the trouble codes, check engine light codes and reset many of the maintenance timers.
Using the CodeConnect in conjunction with the OBD I and IBD II codes you can find suggested repairs to fix many of the issues. The device is very compact (14 x 11 x 4 inches) and very lightweight (10.4 ounces) which makes it really easy to use while working on your vehicles.
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Benefits if You Have OBD2 Scan Tools
When you use these tools, you will save the cost of labor needed to diagnose the problem, and we know how expensive that can be. This tool can at least tell you which sensors or actuators are defective and need replacing. And in most cases, you can directly solve the problem by only using an OBD2 scan tool. So, my recommendation is to always choose the best OBD2 diagnostic scan tool for the most accurate result.
Never be tempted by cheaply priced tools because they can make your car problem worse (due to lack accurate results), now and in the future. And also, you will use the OBD2 diagnostic tool regularly over a long period of time. You can use it to diagnose your neighbor’s car, your brother’s car, a friend’s car and so on. If you use the highest quality scan tool, you will be responsible for providing an accurate cause of the car trouble.
Note:
In some cases, more investigation is needed, which may best be provided by a professional technician who can find the root causes of the trouble. For example, if you get a general result such as “abs system malfunction” this does not mean that you must replace the abs actuator. It actually means that more investigation is needed and that a professional technician should be able to determine the root causes of the “abs system malfunction.”
