Does Your Car Have To Be Running To Use A Diagnostic Scanning Device?

Source: DHgate, Tag: Car Motorcycle

Want to check the health of your car? Find out if you need to keep your car engine running when using a diagnostic scanning device.

A diagnostic scanning device is an effective way to check the health of your car. Vehicles are a machine that needs maintenance at all times, normally because they can develop problems at any time.
Most of the complicated problems normally start with small issues, and while the car may be giving signs through the auto-check indicator, most people ignore the check as long as the car keeps moving and only care to check once the vehicle has broken down.
The fact is that although cars are evolving to be more advanced with new technology emerging, the likes of Tesla are now building amazing smart cars. There will come a time when you cannot understand the problems developed by most cars. And this is where the car diagnostics tools come to play. If you have one, you can easily diagnose your cars every week, and this will give you an insight into the problems that are not yet happening but smaller faults that can lead to bigger issues.

There was a need for a shift in the auto industry in 1996 when they shifted from the standardized diagnostic system because of the auto repairs. Before then, diagnostics systems were specially designed for car manufacturers, with details to their specified systems. However, the first generation of this diagnostic system is now called the OBD-1.
This new wave of diagnostic tools called the OBD-2 can inquire about vehicle problems and troubleshoot the codes to get information on what is wrong with the engine. The scanner is more user-friendly, and the user can easily check their manual if they encounter any problem.
While driving, there are times you can hear some sound coming from your car, and then you pull over and open up the hood of your engine, but while looking, you couldn't see anything, so what do you do in such a situation? You might think of calling your auto mechanic or probably call out to a tolling vehicle, but before you jump to such conclusions, it is more advantageous to pull out the diagnostic tool and get more information about why your car is making such noise.
This article will discuss more what the OBD-2 can do and how to use it step by step, and we will discuss if it is indeed important to keep the vehicle running while using the scanner.
Pro tips when using a diagnostic scanning device

• 1. Please consult the manual provided to fully understand the diagnostic scanning device. You can also find the code description to understand the insight these codes are trying to tell you. Most manuals consist of this. You can also find out how the scanner will understand the differences between pending codes and trouble codes.

  2. Search the internet to know more about codes because there are chances that your scanner will load many codes that are not on your scanner manual. Therefore it is important to get familiar with these codes. You can also navigate to the website of the vehicle you are using to cross-check the meaning of some of these codes.

  3. Now you can open your car on the driver's side, carefully place the scanner manual on the passenger's seat, and then insert your car key into the ignition box and turn it on; leave the key inserted for now.

  4. It would be best to find the data-link connection in your car; this is a normal diagnostic port found in every vehicle. This port has 16 pin-receivers and is normally in black or grey colour. The DLC location in your vehicle can differ based on the make or the model of that vehicle, but it is usually under the dashboard. You are most likely to find it in between the left kick and the car gas pedal.

  5. Now you need to input the scan tool into the DLC, and the scanning operations will begin; some of these scanners can spot diagnostic issues and start scanning immediately, while others may require switching them on and off through the power button.

  6. This is a very important step because this can vary based on the vehicle model or manufacturer; it can also have a lot to do with the maker of the scanner tool you are using. You can be required to turn in the key of the vehicle you placed in the ignition earlier. Some scanners require that the vehicle's electrical system is switched on for scanning, while others need the engine running.

  7. While some scanners will automatically read or scan problems, you might need to initiate the command for other scanners, like "scan" or "read".

  8. After going through the scanning procedure, check the scanner and differentiate the codes to know if it is a pending code or a trouble code. You have to pay attention to the codes, and some will be first classified as pending. Then, the codes can be reclassified as fault or trouble, which will lead to the vehicle checking engine light coming up.

  9. Lastly, you need to check the codes and the car manual to identify what is wrong with the car. If you can't figure out the codes, you can approach an auto mechanical shop to tell them the codes and allow them to solve the problem for you. That is the better solution, but if you have the experience needed to fix it yourself and the equipment, you can fix it.

The advantages of a scanner
Using a scanner as a car owner might be confusing for you because you might not be able to fix your car yourself; when you scan it, you understand what might be the cause of the problem; it also helps you quickly discover if your car is faulty. Discovering a problem earlier will help you avoid any issue resulting in a bigger fault with the vehicle. Even though you b still need to take your car to a professional mechanic, you get to know your car better, which is also a good form of maintenance.
It saves you money:
Diagnosing your vehicle from another shop all the time or each circle of your maintenance time will cost you a lot more than buying one yourself. Each time your car engine comes up, you have to go for diagnostics, and the added amount might be worth buying one.
Having a diagnostic scanning device for your use can be very beneficial to you. As such, you can decide to scan your vehicle weekly to check any possible fault that might later add up to become a more complex issue over time. As such, you will know the problem that needs your immediate attention and fix them quickly.
You can check serious problems:
Having a diagnostic scanning device and reading the codes will help you determine what needs urgent fixing and what doesn't. At times the check light might come up because of some lesser issue that might not need you to actually approach an auto mechanic to help you fix, which means that you can still drive your car around for some time.
Compatibility:
Today car scanners are more compatible than they used before 1996; now, manufacturers are required to use only the standard onboarding diagnostics, also known as the OBD-II, which means that you can buy one scanner and then use that scanner for more than one car. If you buy a scanner today for your car, you won't have to buy a new scanner each time you change that car.
They are portable
Scanners are portable devices; they are not big and don't require any extra equipment to handle; this means that you easily keep your car scanner in your car if you are going for a road trip. The broken-down car can be a mood spoiler for a road trip, which means that your car brings up the engine check light. You can easily bring out your scanner to check what is wrong before deciding if you need to start finding an auto repair around your location.
Fast DIY solutions
Having your scanner gives you more knowledge about your car and also exposes you to some possible DIY. When you have a scanner, this gives you the ability to check what is wrong with the car. When you have good knowledge of what is happening, you will be able to read the code and possibly fix the car yourself.
However, without a scanner, you will not be familiar with your vehicle and might not be able to know how to fix most of the issues with your car.

Three things you need to know before buying a diagnostic scanning device
There are some things that you must consider before buying a diagnostic device. This will help you understand the usage and why you have to spend your money on the device. This is not a decision-maker, but things you should have in your mind and access before buying one:
What is the information you require from the scan?
Before buying a scanner, you need to be well aware of the type of information you expect from the scanner. Most people will ask if an OBD2 scanner covers one issue or another. However, every scanner does not work the same, there are regular ones, and there are high-end scanners, with many others in between.
The basic ones are more used for limited functions like the ABS light in your vehicle, you can also get a scanner that covers only the generic functions similar to emission testing, but this type of scanner will not do much. If you are looking the get the best from your scanner, you have to buy something better. But this is the question you should ask before paying for one.
How much are you willing to spend?
As we said above, there are many types of OBD-2 diagnostics scanners; the more money you pay, the more function you will get from what you are buying, just like any other device like a mobile phone or even the car. High-end scanners are generally more expensive than low-end and middle-level scanners. To get much more from your scanner, you need to understand how much you are willing to spend on that scanner.
However, it is advisable to buy the middle-level scanner; it puts you in a better position regarding the functionality. When the scanner cannot give you results, you will know you have to find a reliable auto repair that has a high-end scanner.
Diagnostics doesn't guarantee a fix
Most people mistake diagnostics to fix the vehicle, and we have stated earlier that this does not guarantee that you will fix the car. Most times, you have to decode the codes to understand what the codes are saying and then see if you can either repair it yourself or call on a professional mechanic to help you fix it. Scanning your car does not mean you have to fix the car. In a case where the error code is not something important, some scanners will help you clear the error, not fix it so that the check engine light can be switched off from your dashboard. However, using the diagnostic scanner on your vehicle does not mean it is fixed.
FAQ
Do I need to keep my engine running while scanning the vehicle?
The process of scanning a car depends a lot on the model and the car's manufacturer; as we stated earlier, it depends on the maker of the car. Some cars require that you keep your engine running while you scan your vehicle, while some only require you to switch on the electrical model of the car while you scan the vehicle. You have to confirm from the car's manual or the scanner to confirm which option to go for.
As a car owner, do I have to have a scanner?
It is not necessary to have a diagnostic scanner, it can come in handy for you at any point, but you can also choose to have your car checked by the auto mechanic whenever you discover a problem with your car.
Where do I decode the codes generated from the scanner online?
You can easily search online through the vehicle manufacturer's website or check different auto forums or articles on different codes.
How do I operate a diagnostic scanning device?
Operating a scanner device is very easy; you only need to follow the pro tips above to understand the basics. However, please read the manual that comes with the device or ask someone familiar with it.