Best Diagnose Tool for Cars: 5 Picks
Maintaining a motor vehicle is expensive, but cutting on the maintenance expenses may lead to bigger trouble. The only way to find a balance is to learn how to do some minor fixes and use a few tools. If you don’t want to visit the mechanic every time the ‘Check Engine Light’ comes on, invest in a diagnose tool for cars.
A tool can tell you what has gone wrong with the vehicle and what you can do about it. You can determine from the readings whether it’s a severe issue requiring professional service or a small problem that can be fixed in your garage.
The Best Diagnose Tool for Cars: Choose from these Five Options
A basic tool performs some basic functions, including examining the Check Engine Light, reading error codes, and a few more things. More advanced units can clear the error codes along with some other high-end features.
With a broad variety available in the market, choosing the best diagnose tool for cars could be a little confusing and time-consuming. Worry not. We’ve done the due research and picked up five options for you.
1# Ancel BD310
Small and lightweight, this handheld device can do more for a scanner that costs a little more than $50. With a small four-button control panel and a 2-inch color display, you can easily figure out this tool.
The device can read and clear codes on new OBDII-compliant vehicles and most 1996 models. You can make the correct repair decisions by checking the diagnosed codes.
Ancel BD310 has a 56-inch cable, but you can make a wireless connection to your phone and other devices via Bluetooth. Linking it to the Ancel App will provide detailed information about the error codes.
Pros
- Compact, lightweight scanner
- Connects to a phone via Bluetooth
- Ancel App
Cons
- Basic interface
2# BlueDriver LSB2 OBDII Scan Tool
This scan tool is slightly pricier than many competitors, but a handful of features make up for the price.
With the ability to read many generic and special error codes for vehicles of many major automakers, it can also count engine misfires and do emission checking. Two truly ingenious features are making suggestions for repairs and warning of recalls.
Compatible with Bluetooth connectivity, BlueDriver offers an app (available for Android and iOS) for this tool. The app shows various operational data including engine RPMs and the car’s speed.
Pros
- Bluetooth compatible
- Reads error codes
- Makes repair suggestions
- The app shows various data metrics
Cons
- Expensive
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3# FOXWELL NT301 Professional OBDII Code Reader
The NT301 is a flagship code reader of Foxwell. It’s a pro-level scanner that reads fault codes and explains them to the user to figure out the issue. When the repair is done, the device removes and resets the codes.
An innovative feature of this tool is the ‘early warning’ system that warns about possible upcoming problems through red, yellow, and green indicators.
The scanner turns on after plugging into a car’s OBDII port and does immediate scanning. You can also use it for diagnosing oxygen sensors, EGR valves, fuel trim, and more.
Pros
- Early warning system
- Resets and removes fault codes
- Easy-to-use interface
Cons
- No power button on the tool
4# Autophix Code Reader OM126
Autophix’s OM126 is one of the most budget-friendly car scanners available in the market. It has a 2.4-inch color display with six touch menu buttons and the physical control panel has five buttons.
The device reads fault codes and shows them on the screen in an easy-view format. It also shows battery conditions, O2 sensors, and live engine variables. The software of the device will remain valid during its lifetime, which means you don’t need to spend for an upgrade.
Pros
- Color screen
- Various features
- Lifetime software upgrades
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- The interface lacks left and right navigation
5# Autel AutoLink AL539
The AutoLink AL539 from Autel is undoubtedly a high-grade diagnose tool for cars. This smart scanner can examine electrical connections with a multimeter function, which means you get the service of two tools at the cost of one. However, you cannot use the multimeter feature when the tool is connected to the vehicle as an OBDII scanner.
Via the multimeter function, you can check for burned cables, alternator voltage, fuses, and many other electrical problems.
As a scanner tool, AutoLink AL539 has various live engine parameters including speed and RPMs. You can also diagnose the vehicle for any possible issue. It will show results by lighting up a red (serious faults), yellow (minor faults), or green (no faults) indicators.
Pros
- Works as a scanner and multimeter
- Shows various engine parameters
- Can run pre-inspection tests
Cons
- Cannot run scanning and multimeter functions at once
6# Fcar F7S-D
Fcar F7S-D Device is a powerful, intuitive, professional diagnostic solution for heavy-duty vehicles. Supports all vehicle brands in the world, all heavy transport vehicles, diesel engines, construction machinery, agricultural machinery and ABS braking systems, gearbox systems…Advanced functions of the FCAR F7S-D multi-function diagnostic machine can meet many requirements:
- Automatically identify vehicle models in some lines.
- Read – delete error codes for the entire control system
- Analyze error codes after diagnosis
- Read and check the entire vehicle information system
- Displays current vehicle parameters.
7# OTOFIX D1
OTOFIX is the latest technology equipment brand of Autel Group. OTOFIX car diagnostic machine lines always optimize needs and prices. Thanks to that, OTOFIX D1 is known as the car diagnostic machine that is worth buying at the cheapest price today.
TOFIX D1 supports almost all auto brands on the market, including more than 80 car brands from Europe, America, and Asia, and some Chinese car models. Features of OTOFIX D1 include:
- Automatically identifying vehicle models in some models
- Reading errors, deleting errors, describing error codes
- Step-by-step repair instructions according to error codes (Support Audi/ Volkswagen)
- Displays current vehicle parameters and live data
- Activates and checks electronic system actuators
- Supports dual activation mode, allowing simultaneous activation of 2 compliance mechanisms in the vehicle.
- It supports other features, such as online coding and online IMMO, and opens hidden features for lines.