As with its bigger brother, Mode 6 gives you additional system monitoring and you can access information on the emissions control systems. It all depends what app or other software you are using to receive the data and display that data in a meaningful way. Also depends what sort of data (which data items of the tens of thousands possible) it is that you want to read. Your fault codes are live; this is the most common reason why your vehicle’s fault codes won’t clear. I’m assuming all is good with your scan tool; it powers up when you connect to the OBD port (if it doesn’t see “ Scan tool faults below”). OBD scanners have become an essential part of the home mechanic’s toolkit, with the ability to read engine fault codes crucial to diagnosing and repairing modern cars and vans. Out of the box, Draper’s cheaper OBD reader here has a rather annoying beep on every button press. Fortunately this can be turned off in the system set-up menu.

Scan tool faults aren’t that common, I’ve never broken a tool yet, but I have worn out a few cable connectors. Here’s a list of scan tool problems and what you can do to fix them: Made for all kinds of users, from professionals to home mechanics, this industry standard OBD II reader pinpoints why the vehicle’s engine light is showing. An OBD reader has traditionally taken the form of a handheld diagnostic computer that communicates with your car’s brain to diagnose fault codes, among other things. You can pay as little as a tenner for an OBD scanner and as much as hundreds of pounds – with the latter offering a multitude of features – but whichever you choose, they should all have the same minimum requirements, and be able to: You’re unlikely to find any information about your car’s OBD port in the vehicle’s handbook because manufacturers prefer their dealer networks to carry out diagnostic work (at potentially great expense to you!). Which OBD app is best for iPhone and Android?A scoping tool works best for capturing glitches in network systems. But we’ll work with just a DVOM as most will have access to a voltmeter. It also has permanent code retrieval, on-board monitor test (Mode 6, for additional component/system monitoring), reads fault code pending data, DTC code lookup function and lets you reset the oil change indicator.

Your vehicle is stuffed with modules, each one tasked with a particular system to manage. Your ECU (Engine Control Unit) takes care of the engine, your TCM (Transmission Control Module) takes care of the tranny, and your BCM (Body Control Module) takes care of the vehicle accessories. You get the idea.An advanced OBD II vehicle diagnostic reader that comes with a TFT colour display. Suitable for all kinds of users including roadside mechanics, garage mechanics and home mechanics. A scan tool commonly won’t communicate because one faulty module pulls the whole system down. A damaged circuit is common too, but not as common as a failed module. All these modules (aka nodes) communicate with each other using a system known as CAN (Controller Area Network). ELM327 defines what specific items of information get transmitted. From the tens of thousands of possibilities. CAN employ a twisted pair of wires (one wire CAN high typically 3.5-2.5 volts oscillating and the other CAN low typically 2.5 – 1.5 volts oscillating) that loop the vehicle, connecting all the modules on the network.