What’s an OBD-II (sometimes alternatively referred to as OBD-2, and other times in either form absent the interstitial hyphen) scanner? Answering that question first requires an understanding of what ...

The OBD-II port. It's one of the most fascinating features of most modern cars, and, for lack of a better word, it's a portal into all of your car's deepest and darkest secrets. No, it's not hiding a ...

Not so long ago, before software and electronics became so integrated, investigating car trouble and tuning performance was a mostly mechanical affair. Early electronic scanners and systems were brand ...

Antuan started out in the automotive industry the old-fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. He now has nearly 20 years of expertise and experience behind ...

This article was updated in November 2025 with new information. You know you’ve earned your DIY stripes when you can stay calm the moment something goes wrong. And with cars, that moment usually ...

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 ...