Car diagnostic machines work by scanning a car’s individual components and systems to look for any issues that might be present with parts like the engine, transmission system, oil tank, accelerator, and more. However, since these tests need special devices and expertise to be read accurately, they are usually carried out by mechanics at garages or MOT testing stations.

A vehicle diagnostic machine is an electronic scanner that can be plugged into an OBD (OBD 1) or OBD2 socket to read and clear codes, as well as view data readouts from various sensors. This can be used to help diagnose problems with a vehicle.

What are the different types of car diagnostic machines?

These are the top 5 main types of car diagnostic scanners available today:

• ODB1 car scanners: used to scan Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) on old vehicles, petrol cars earlier than 2001, diesel vehicles manufactured earlier than 2004 in the UK, and any vehicle manufactured before 1996 in the USA
• ODB2 car scanners: used to scan Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) on all modern cars and vehicles
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS): used to monitor and alert to tyre pressure reduction or increase by 25% or more from manufacturers’ recommended inflation levels
• Circuit Testers and Multimeters: used to test electrical circuits and can be used to measure voltage, electric current, electrical resistance and electrical continuity to help determine where some electrical issues may exist
• Car Battery Testers: a voltmeter used to test the charge in a car battery, often this functionality is combined with the ability to charge or trickle charge the battery and prevent overcharging by constantly monitoring the voltage and condition of the battery

Usually, when garages or mechanics refer to diagnostic machines they are talking about the first of these, and virtually every new car in the past 20 years has followed the OBD2 standard, so this is by far the most popular kind of diagnostic connection used.

Need Help Choosing a Vehicle Diagnostic Machine?

If you are considering purchasing a car diagnostic machine for your garage, view our selection online or speak to our sales team at Concept Garage Equipment at 0113 469 0572.  We can advise on the best equipment to purchase to get you started with vehicle diagnostics or to upgrade to a better model as your business grows.  Don’t forget that even for mobile mechanics, a professional car diagnostic scanner is an essential device to help speed up your work and increase your revenue by ensuring you can provide this service to your customers.

We can offer you advice over the phone at 0113 469 0572, we sell Car Diagnostic Machines from leading manufacturers TOPDON UK, Bosch and Otofix but if there is anything you need that you can’t see on our website then call us and we will supply you anything you need.

https://concept-ge.co.uk/