Seeing your vehicle's check-engine light come on can throw a wrench in your travel plans. It can also feel a little scary: Does it mean your ride is headed for the scrapyard? Or is there a simple fix?

Your check engine light can come on a host of reasons, ranging from a loose gas cap to a faulty engine component. If you see a light illuminated on your dashboard, you can use an OBD2 scanner to ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Modern cars are technological marvels, and understanding what's happening under the hood has never been more important—or more ...

Modern technology has made diagnosing vehicular issues much easier than ever before. Using an OBD2 (On-Board Diagnostics II) scanner is a relatively simple process that can provide crucial information ...

The world of car diagnostics has changed a lot over the last 50 years. Back in the '70s and earlier, a mechanic's most valuable diagnostic tools were usually their eyes and ears. You could figure out ...

You've probably been there — you go in for a simple oil change, and suddenly the mechanic tells you your transmission needs replacing. Or your check engine light turns on, and what you thought would ...

Topdon makes a huge range of car computer tools, from simple $30 OBD2 scanners to full-featured diagnostic units (both Amazon links) worth more than three grand. The new Topdon One and One Lite are ...

“Helped me dx and solve a problem the first time I plugged it in.” Plugging a scanner into the OBD2 port under your steering wheel is one of the first steps a mechanic will take to diagnose customer ...

Plug in all the things.

Seeing your vehicle's check-engine light come on can throw a wrench in your travel plans. It can also feel a little scary: Does it mean your ride is headed for the scrapyard? Or is there a simple fix?

After all, that’s precisely what the shop will do—so why not arm yourself with the same info? These days, there’s a huge range of scanners available, from basic plug-ins to high-tech Bluetooth models ...