As the progress of science is continuous, it seems that automotive diagnosis and repair are more difficult and complicated. Recent advances in an automotive technology have eliminated many physical moving parts and linkages. Advanced technologies have replaced them with electrical devices and wires. Their jobs are not visible to the naked eye. Just seeing, hearing, or touching the parts to try to find the problem are out-of-date way of diagnosis. Modern vehicles seem cold and scary looking expensive machine when you deal with problems. But actually, they are not. They can show you a lot of detailed and precise information, current status and when problems occur they tell you what and where the problems are. All you need is an automotive scan tool to communicate with your car.Here are reasons you should own an automotive scan tool.
Modern automobile computer systems are very sensitive. The computer can sense a small abnormality. It is so small that a driver can't notice. Even if it happens only one time in the last 100 times of key cycles, check engine light comes on and tells a driver that the problem may exist. In this case, all you need to do is clear the light and see if the light comes back on. You should think about going to auto mechanic shop and having it repaired if the light comes back on.
Most auto repair shops have their own scan tool that sometimes cost several thousands. They have to pay for the gigantic and expensive equipment and mechanics who do the job. So they need to charge for diagnosis. Some shops do it for free of charge but that is only for reading codes, not diagnosing. If you have one you can do it yourself. That saves a lot of your time.
As automotive technology is developing, automotive scan tools have more features, more compact and most importantly, less expensive. The scan tools used to need different connectors for different makes or models. The connectors got standardized, which means you can use the same scanner for any car, regardless of make, model, import or domestic. Most budget ones can fit in the glove box. Although they have small displays they shows you code's numbers and descriptions, and readings of vehicle sensors. Sometimes, it has testing features. And some of them make it possible that you use your laptop or cell phone as a scan tool.
Even if you own an automotive scan tool, sometimes your car ends up in a repair shop anyway. But by having one for your own, you won't need to go to repair shops as often as you do now. I bet you.
