A relatively new technology in the automotive world that has helped to detect very important information from the cars that enter the workshop.

What is it?

A scanner is a tool that connects to the vehicle’s computer that allows reading and modifying information, verifying the different parts, identifying if they present damages, and finding serious electronic faults in the car.

Scanners can be very complex that specializes in a single make or model, or they can be multi-brand, working with different vehicles. There is also very basic equipment that reads essential data from the car, creating a list of codes.

Regardless of which scanner is used, it must be operated by someone who is trained since if you make a mistake, it could cause damage to the car’s computer or even its engine.

Where do scanners come from?

At the end of the 80s, in the city of California in the United States, to monitor and control the levels of toxic gases emitted by vehicles due to high pollution, emission sensors, a control computer, were incorporated. warning lights for faults and a system monitoring interface, which is called OBD [On Board Diagnostics].

With the advances in technology and the advantages offered by the system, multiple generations of scanners began to be developed, with larger systems, adding an infinity of sensors and computers capable of controlling the multiple processes of the car. Thanks to this, the scanner has become a standard tool to be able to connect to cars through the OBD II port.

What is it for?

It allows knowing sensitive data that are protected by the car’s computer, such as the actual mileage to see if the meter has been altered. The scanner allows you to see a series of essential elements that help the performance of the vehicle and save money on future repairs by identifying problems before they become serious.