Scanning automotive error codes on a laptop has advantages over many handheld OBD2 scan tools. Handheld tools are great and work for the most part but they can sometimes fall short. For example, I was trying to diagnose an ABS light on a 2004 F150 with my low cost OBD2 scan tool, and couldn’t find… Read More »
Having a garage door that can be controlled by a smartphone is a nice upgrade with many advantages. There are a few different styles of smartphone remote controls for a garage door depending on the scenario. For example, for a home that has a few roommates all needing to open the garage door, each person… Read More »
The Autel AutoLink AL319 is a low-cost OBDII engine scan tool that has a lot of features. It can read and clear vehicle engine codes as well as live data, freeze frame, and I/M readiness. This makes it a good small budget scan tool for the average vehicle owner to a DIY mechanic. *This unit… Read More »
If you have a car radio that doesn’t have Bluetooth built-in, there is an easy, low-cost way to quickly make it Bluetooth-ready. It is an easily fixable problem with a Wireless Bluetooth FM Transmitter. FM transmitters allow for hands-free calling and playing music from Bluetooth devices such as a smartphone. Most all will plug into… Read More »
The Foxwell NT624 is an OBD2 scanner that is made for both the professional and the do-it-yourself mechanic. It can read and erase engine codes as well as many advanced features. This makes it a good fit for anyone looking to troubleshoot a vehicle that is having engine problems, transmission errors, and more. Foxwell NT624… Read More »
Having Bluetooth built into your car or truck radio is a nice feature to have, from playing music to hands-free calling. Answering calls is the most used feature of a Bluetooth car stereo, but listening to your favorite songs via a smartphone or other Bluetooth device is no doubt a nice option to have. But… Read More »
Having a wireless winch that works with remote control is a nice thing to have when loading and unloading. Using the hard-wired switch on the winch works but can be a pain to make sure everything is loading correctly. For example, loading a car on a trailer with no remote requires stopping periodically and making… Read More »
Wireless OBD2 Bluetooth adapters have become very popular since they are low-cost and have a lot of functionality. What are OBD2 Bluetooth Adapters for Smartphones? Bluetooth OBDII adapters Pair with a smartphone and vehicles onboard computer (ECM/PCM) and can read diagnostic information. This includes reading engine error codes and clearing them. For example, someone may… Read More »
An OBDII scan tool is one of those things that can make a real difference to a DIY mechanic or a car owner. For example, a car owner can use a low-cost OBDII scan tool to find the problem causing it to run badly or an engine light to come on. A mechanic can use… Read More »
The LAUNCH Creader123i OBD2 scan tool is the latest version of the 123 series from LAUNCH. It is a professional OBDII scan tool with many nice features such as reading SRS and ABS codes, a touchscreen for easy use, WiFi, and much more. The Creader123i has a lot to like about it, and it is… Read More »