The world of car diagnostics has changed a lot over the last 50 years. Back in the '70s and earlier, a mechanic's most valuable diagnostic tools were usually their eyes and ears. You could figure out ...

Anyone who’s driven a vehicle has had an error light pop up on the dashboard at some point. You have a few options when this happens: you can take the vehicle ...

Modern vehicles are packed with technology that monitors vital signs and can alert the owner to a potential problem. But the issue for the everyday motorist is that warning lights only tend to come on ...

After all, that’s precisely what the shop will do—so why not arm yourself with the same info? These days, there’s a huge range of scanners available, from basic plug-ins to high-tech Bluetooth models ...

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 ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The OBD acronym stands for on-board diagnostics, a system built into modern vehicles that monitors the performance of the engine and other ...

Seeing your vehicle's check-engine light come on can throw a wrench in your travel plans. It can also feel a little scary: Does it mean your ride is headed for the scrapyard? Or is there a simple fix?

That's where OBD-II scanners come in, giving enthusiasts and everyday drivers a window into their vehicle's diagnostic systems. If you're chasing down the cause of a check-engine light, ensuring peak ...