Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Modern cars are technological marvels, and understanding what’s happening under the hood has never been more important—or more ...

I’m a shadetree mechanic and recently bought an OBDII/CAN scanner. I chose the cheapest unit I could find (about $25), and it seems that all it will do is read and/or clear any codes that are set.

An OBD2 (On-Board Diagnostics II) scanner can provide information about the status and health of various vehicular systems. This information can help inform the user as to what the source of a problem ...

I'm a shadetree mechanic and recently bought an OBDII/CAN scanner. I chose the cheapest unit I could find (about $25), and it seems that all it will do is read and/or clear any codes that are set.