Overhaulin'

Does anyone know what those diagnostic machines are called that you hook up to your car are called?

You know the ones you can buy yourself and plug into your cars computer? My engine lights on and I don't want to pay for the diagnostic. I rather just buy the one on sale at pepboys for 30-50 bucks I just don't know what it's called. Does anyone know if it's worth it?

Public Comments

1. scan tool. chances are you can get it diagnosed for that same money at a garage and then you wont hae to guess what to do based on the code you get.
2. it's an OBD II reader they sell the at partsource.....but could I pose another question?........are you going to know how to fix it when you find out what it is Or will you even be able to read the code? A mechanic will charge you to diagnose not just because he has the tool, but because he knows how to read it and the best solution for the problem.
3. Some are called "coder readers / scanners" They can cost up to 300 dollars. OBD II for most cars, they'll tell you the code numbers it reads but it cant tell you what the number stands for. Murray's has a INNOVA OBD II code reader for $99 dollars after the rebate.
4. after you get the ODB scanner you can go to http://www.obd-codes.com/ and find out what the problem is. make sure u get the right one for ur car there is two different ones depending of the year of the car ODB I and ODB II
5. amazon.com has some good ones cheap. I bought one its paid for its self
6. Diagnostic machine