There’s a lot of different issues that your car may have. These things may not be easily told to you at all. In fact, you may never really know what’s going on until something drastic happens. This occurs to even mechanics that are driving their favorite rides. The problem is that there are a lot of different components that make up today’s automobiles. No matter what recent year you buy, you’ll find that there’s a lot more sophistication found in each. This is not the same as you’d expect for vehicles of a forgotten era. For instance, if you were to try to fix a car from the 1950s, the sophistication of computer networking and design won’t be found in there. You could easily figure out what to do if you could just get the right parts, and work from the ground up.
Today, you will need to have software that knows your car, and that’s where scanners are going to come into play. When you take your ride into the garage, and you let a professional look at it, they will give you a variety of different options about how to go about getting it fixed. But before anything, they will plug in your car, of course not while you watch, into a scanner known as a OBD. This is an on board diagnostics component that can detect issues with nearly all makes and models after a certain year. Now, the thing is, they will know but you will not, and that means that you’ll have to pay whatever price they deem necessary for your car to get fixed.
Knowing More About Your Car
If you’re not keen on being ignorant about what is going on with your car, you’ll want to look into scanners. A good scanner won’t set you back much, but once you get this device, you’ll need the right software. That’s the caveat that usually stops people from working with their cars or at least using these diagnostic tools. When you purchase a scanner, you may have existing software that comes with it, but without critical updates, and perhaps even a better solution, you will not get the same stuff that mechanics around the world are using.
That’s where OBD II Software comes into play. You can buy software that is going to help you get the right information. The stuff that mechanics see will be in the palm of your hand, or on your laptop, and that’s something worth exploring on a deeper level. If you’re looking for that type of solution, then perhaps a quick summary and guide to getting the best software is worth considering.
The Connectors
Before investing in software, make sure that you look into several different connection points. If you’re going to use software from your laptop or even a smartphone or tablet, you’ll want to look for a solid Bluetooth connection device. There’s a lot of scan tools out there, but you need to have something that is going to communication information from the module to your software, and that’s where Bluetooth connectors can work. There’s a lot of OBD connection options out there, but you have to look for options that connect with either Bluetooth or wireless internet access. Either way, the communication bridge has to be in place if you’re going to get forward progress with any OBD.
The Basics Covered
The first thing that you should look for in a scanner software is the elements that it checks. For the most part, you want to have all the diagnostic trouble codes readily available. Furthermore, you should know readiness monitors and sensors that can work as you drive or as soon as you turn on the vehicle. This is the bottom of the barrel so to speak. As you become familiar with what the codes are and what to look for in regards to diagnostics, it’s imperative that you get a more advanced solution.
For those that want advanced options from the start, look for things like oxygen sensor monitors, in-use performance tracking, sensor graphics, multiple control unit support, gas or diesel engine metrics, console information, electronic control system logging, and compatibility with your laptop. These are just some of the features that you’ll want to have, just to get started. If you don’t have these, then you’re going to be missing out on a lot of elements overall.
Frequency of Updates
Regardless of which software choice you pick, make sure that you look at the track record of updates that come with it. There’s nothing worse than investing into an option that doesn’t really get updated very often. You could spend a great deal of time looking at data that isn’t up to date, therefore making it archaic. There are some options that get updated quarterly, annually, and every couple of years. Having the solution that is going to be up to date is the key that you want to look for. The frequency of updates will determine whether or not you’re getting the most up to date information, and that is critical when it comes to car repair and maintenance.
The Cost Break Down
The cost of having a solid OBD should be considered. There are some solutions that start at around a few hundred dollars, and some that can run you tens of thousands of dollars. You’ll want to look for a happy medium that fits your budget, but then find software that is going to work with your solution. That’s the key that most people miss. The right software can make all the difference in regards to finding the right tools to fix your vehicle when something is awry. Some options only work with specific systems and software, so make sure that you double check on the software you are going to utilize and what connectors they have before you spend any money. As you search for options, consider Total Car Diagnostics as a name brand. You’ll find that it’s one of the premier solutions that fits into the mold mentioned above. Peace of mind comes with finding the right software for this latest tool in keeping your car running for a lifetime.
