{"id":25007,"date":"2022-12-21T13:08:09","date_gmt":"2022-12-21T13:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/21\/skip-the-auto-shop-you-can-decode-a-check-engine-light-at-home\/"},"modified":"2022-12-21T13:08:09","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T13:08:09","slug":"skip-the-auto-shop-you-can-decode-a-check-engine-light-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/21\/skip-the-auto-shop-you-can-decode-a-check-engine-light-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Skip the Auto Shop, You Can Decode a Check Engine Light at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Yaraslau Mikheyeu\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sometimes you can\u2019t avoid a trip to your mechanic. But with this little device, you can decide whether the trip is necessary or if you can troubleshoot it at home. And if you end up in the shop, you can walk in knowing what\u2019s wrong with your car.<\/p>\n

The Magic Device Is an ODB-II Reader<\/h2>\n

You\u2019re left in the dark when the check engine comes on in your vehicle. Wouldn\u2019t it be nice if you could turn that check engine light into a detailed insight into what\u2019s wrong with your car so that you could make an informed decision about what to do next?\u00a0 Thanks to a handy little device called an ODB-II reader, you can.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve talked about ODB-II readers<\/a> before and remain big fans of them. In short, an ODB-II reader is a small dongle-like device (it looks like a USB dongle on steroids) that you plug into the ODB-II diagnostic port in your vehicle.<\/p>\n

When you take your car into the shop, they hook a device up to that port to get diagnostic codes and investigate what\u2019s wrong with your vehicle.<\/p>\n

There are things you can\u2019t fix at home (or if you can, it will require a lot of tools and Saturday afternoon). And if you have no idea what is wrong in the first place, your only option is to drive somewhere\u2014like your local mechanic, dealership, or big auto-parts store\u2014to get an ODB-II reading.<\/p>\n

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This little port will help you decode the check engine light. Gargantiopa\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But what if the check engine light is on not because there is something seriously wrong with your vehicle but because some simple check failed? Just the other day, the check engine light came on in my SUV, which gave me pause because the vehicle has been trouble-free, and there were no outward signs of trouble like stalling, poor acceleration, or such.<\/p>\n

I was really busy at work, really busy in my personal life, and really not looking forward to driving somewhere to figure out why my stupid check engine light was on for no apparent reason.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, I didn\u2019t have to. I had an ODB-II reader on hand; all I had to do was pop it on the car, open up an app on my phone, and read the code.<\/p>\n

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Once you know the codes, the investigation can begin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That code means what the screenshot above indicates: that there is a small leak detected somewhere in the evaporative emissions control system connected to your car\u2019s gas tank and fuel system.<\/p>\n

Armed with that code and the make and model of my vehicle, it was easy to quickly search for potential sources of the problem. In my case, the most probable source was either:<\/p>\n

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  1. A broken or leaking hose somewhere in the EVAP system.<\/li>\n
  2. A bad purge valve in the EVAP system.<\/li>\n
  3. The gas cap wasn\u2019t tightened properly and\/or the cap was dirty.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    You read that last entry correctly. While there are a host of reasons ranging from onboard computer failure to hose and valve failures that could result in the P0456 code, the simplest explanation was that a poorly tightened gas cap had triggered the detection of a \u201cleak\u201d in the fuel system.<\/p>\n

    Sure enough, I thoroughly wiped down the gas cap with a rag, tightened the cap firmly, restarted the car, cleared the code, and that was the end of it.<\/p>\n

    No trip anywhere, no time wasted (beyond a few minutes investigating the issue), and I never even had to leave my driveway.<\/p>\n

    But even if the code was more serious, at least I could call ahead and tell them what the code was (in case they needed to order any parts), and I\u2019d go to the shop with a rough understanding of what was wrong.<\/p>\n

    Grab One of These ODB-II Readers<\/h2>\n

    In modern vehicles, if the check engine like comes on, the answer to \u201cBut why?\u201d is in the ODB log. Which is exactly why we think everybody should own an ODB-II reader. Historically they were quite expensive, and it was impractical to own one for home use.<\/p>\n

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    Autel OBD2 Scanner Code Reader<\/h3>\n

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    This all in one unit is perfect if you don’t want to use your phone with your ODB scanner or want to give one as a gift to somebody who prefers traditional tools.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

    But today, you can pick up a stand-alone ODB-II unit<\/a> that includes both the reader and a screen with an interface for under $40.<\/p>\n

    And if you use your phone as the interface, you can save even more. Reliable dongle-only ODB-II readers<\/a> are under $20. You can diagnose your car right at home for the cost of a fast food lunch.<\/p>\n

    If you opt for the dongle option, we strongly recommend you only buy Bluetooth versions. There are Wi-Fi versions on the market, but they require you to pair your phone in an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network with the dongle, which is a hassle.<\/p>\n

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    It might not matter much for a one-off reading here or there, but if you want to slap your phone in a car mount<\/a> and drive around actively monitoring your car via the ODB-II port to see what\u2019s going on, that means the internet won\u2019t work on your phone for the duration of the test. Better to get a Bluetooth model and retain the ability to use your phone normally.<\/p>\n

    However you go about it, stand-alone or dongle, you\u2019ll be able to easily read the engine codes on your car and any of your friends and family who need a little insight into their engine woes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n