According to Schueller (2015), there are mainly three types of scan tools available in the automotive aftermarket domain: the On-Board Diagnostic Level Two (OBD-II) generic and OBD-II enhanced tool and then there is the factory scan tool.
It is very important, due to the immense amount of electronic components that regulate so many vehicle functions, to use the right diagnostic tool to detect and identify problems. We will look at the different types of diagnostic tools in use we will also learn about what a vehicle diagnostic exactly entails. When we refer to tools, in its plural form, we imply that there are more than one. These diagnostic tools makes the task of diagnosis so much easier. Today’s diagnostics tools are able to check every aspect of a vehicle, such as the engine control unit (ECU), performance, emissions, oil levels, temperature systems, etc. This is where the diagnostic tool steps in to save the day! Because of this high-tech state, we are not always able to detect the exact cause and location of a problem. Due to an immense amount of electronic components, and a sophisticated computer that regulates most of the functions in the vehicle, diagnosing problems and fixing it require a decent amount of knowledge about electronics. Mechanics and vehicle owners, who had the knowledge, could diagnose problems and work on these problems with only some basic tools to their disposal. In the past, working on a vehicle was not as computerised as it is nowadays. When we talk about vehicle diagnostics, the use of the term is still applicable. In the common sense of understanding, it refers to identifying the nature or cause of something, usually an illness, disorder, or problem. The word ‘diagnostic’ originates from a Greek word that refers to the capacity or art of distinguishing.