Actron Code Scanner - The Absolute Most Useful Features Needed in a Code Scanner

With so many code scanners on the market today, what features do you need for your code scanner to come equipped with in order to diagnose your vehicle? There are several manufacturers of code scanners out there today, the one in particular I will be reviewing is Actron because I believe their product line has the most useful features in its array of products. Their product line has models that fit the novice driver ("where is my engine") to the advanced home mechanic. The features below are not on every model but I will highlight the features that are and are the ones I feel are most useful in diagnosing your car's performance.

Actron Code Scanner - The Absolute Most Useful Features Needed in a Code Scanner

Actron Code Scanner - The Absolute Most Useful Features Needed in a Code Scanner

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Actron Code Scanner - The Absolute Most Useful Features Needed in a Code Scanner

Actron Code Scanner - The Absolute Most Useful Features Needed in a Code Scanner

Cost Effective

Without a doubt, this has to be true. Your scanner has to be cost effective. There are many that you will find that are in the thousands of dollars but I see no sense in spending that kind of money when it is totally unnecessary. Your scanner should pay for itself when it saves you one, maybe two trips to the dealer having them tell you what is wrong.

OBDII Compliant

OBDII refers to on board diagnostics in vehicles later than 1996. Basically auto manufacturers after 1996 equipped all their vehicles with the same mechanism to test the on board diagnostics (wow it only took roughly 100 years). So if your car was made 1996 and later, your scanner needs to be OBDII compliant.

OBD I Upgradable

But my car was made before 1996, what do I do? Well, it will depend on the make of your car because manufacturers were not consistent in how they obtained on board diagnostics from vehicles. Basically, a good, reputable scanner manufacturer (like Actron) will provide upgradable cables to attach to your scanner to hook up to pre 1996 vehicles based on the make of your car.

 

Dependable

Overall, I would say that most scanners and readers on the market today are dependable. I mean, a scanner in it's most basic form is simply reading codes that the car is giving to them. What happens after that is a different story. Now unlike some scanner manufacturers, Actron scanners have a 1 year warranty period so in the event you do have something go wrong you can trade it in for a new one.

Actron Code Scanner - The Absolute Most Useful Features Needed in a Code Scanner