There’s an excellent chance that someday you’ll be driving down the road and the Check Engine light on your dashboard will have come on. It’s a warning triggered by your vehicle’s Engine Control Unit (ECU) that there’s a problem somewhere in the powertrain that needs your attention, and the only thing you can be certain of when you see it is that the light’s going to stay on until the problem is tended to.

An onboard Diagnostic (OBD) scanner is a handheld electronic instrument that can retrieve real-time details from the ECU on what and where the problem is. Traditionally, these devices were available exclusively to dealerships and automotive specialists, but advancements in technology have made it possible for consumers to have the same level of diagnostic visibility that only professional mechanics had a generation ago.

When your Check Engine light comes on, you want the ability to see “why” it’s on without making a costly trip to a dealer to address a problem that you could potentially fix yourself. Fortunately, there’s one modern Australian-made OBD scanner that stands above the rest when it comes to troubleshooting, and it’s a small investment that can end up saving you big money.

The Codebreaker OBD2 Scanner Tool

Believe it or not, there can be times when performing your own troubleshooting won’t just be a convenience: it’ll be mandatory. When you’re deep in the bush and your Check Engine light comes on, roadside assistance isn’t going to do you much good. You need visibility of the problem, fast. That’s when a Codebreaker OBD2 Handheld Diagnostic Scanner can immediately help prevent extensive engine damage, or damage to some related system that could leave you stuck in the proverbial middle of nowhere.

While this may be an extreme example of how the Codebreaker can save the day, as an everyday diagnostic tool, it’s precisely what home mechanics need to analyze the OBD2 trouble codes being generated by their vehicle’s ECU. Once it’s plugged into the data link connector under your dashboard, The Codebreaker gives you the ability to:

• Instantly determine the cause of Check Engine, or other malfunction indicator lights (MILs);

• Disable or reset the Check Engine light along with other performance monitors;

• Read and clear diagnostic trouble codes;

• Display monitor and I/M (emissions) readiness statuses; and,

• View your vehicle’s ID number (VIN), and other vehicle-specific information.

The Codebreaker includes a code analysis database that allows you to see precisely which problems the ECU is detecting in real-time, and to freeze frame it. In short, if your vehicle’s displaying a Check Engine light or experiencing a perceptible drop in performance, this is the handheld automotive diagnostic tool that’s going to help you conclusively identify the problem and get it fixed.

Superior Codebreaker Scanner Design

As easy as it is to appreciate how well the Codebreaker allows professionals and consumers to troubleshoot faults, it’s just as easy to overlook how straightforward the device’s design is, even for a handheld scan tool. It’s compatible with all 2nd generation on-board diagnostic (OBD2) and European on-board diagnostic (EOBD) compliant vehicles manufactured since 2007, and features:

• A 128 x 64 dot matrix monochrome viewing screen;

• Intuitive setup and scanning functionality; and,

• A multilingual operating system.

The Codebreaker’s also durable enough to be effective across a broad range of operating variables, including:

• Vehicle operating voltages from 8V to 25V;

• Operating currents up to 52mA; and,

• Operating temperatures from -20°C to 70°C.

Regardless of the type of vehicle you’re driving, this palm-sized, handheld OBD2 scanner puts all the information you need at your fingertips to ensure your car, ute, or truck is running its best, and it’s the consistency of OBD2 that makes this level of scanning and diagnosis possible.

The question remains, however: what exactly is OBD2, and how does it differ from ordinary, 1st generation OBD analysis? It’s less of a technical or operational mystery than you might think, and it all comes down to standards.

The Codebreaker and OBD2 Standards

Although automotive electronic interfacing began with the 1st generation of OBD systems, the OBD2 system standardized it across the automotive industry as a way to regulate emissions. With most vehicle powertrains and a host of interconnected systems and sensors being controlled electronically by ECUs, the OBD2 port provides a central point where powertrain performance can be monitored, making them much more than just emissions tools.

Among the OBD2-specific features that are built into the Codebreaker are:

• Custom 16-pin connector that only matches OBD2 pinouts;

• The ability to power draw directly from the vehicle, not an external source; and,

• The use of only 1-letter / 4-digit, OBD2-style Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs).

Instead of just a single aspect of a vehicle’s operation (emissions), the OBD2 system is built around complete system diagnostics. Whenever an irregularity is detected, a trouble code is created, and if the same trouble code is created during 3 consecutive start-ups, the Check Engine light is triggered and the code is retained in the ECU’s memory until the irregularity is remedied.

Ultimately, the greatest benefit of OBD2 is its universality. Unlike 1st generation OBD technology, it’s not manufacturer specific: it’s industry-wide. And while the newer standard means that an OBD2 handheld scanner like the Codebreaker can’t be used interchangeably on a vehicle with 1st generation OBD technology, you can rest assured that if your vehicle is OBD2 compliant, the Codebreaker can help diagnose any powertrain-related problem that arises.

The Final Word

At the end of the day, when most drivers see their Check Engine light come on, they want to be the first to know what kind of problem they’re having. Not surprisingly, with adequate visibility and mechanical knowledge, that same group of drivers is usually very capable of fixing the problem without paying a costly visit to a dealer.

With a Codebreaker OBD2 Handheld Diagnostic Scanner, you can see precisely what your vehicle’s problem is, and the option is entirely up to you at that point as to whether you want to fix it yourself or not. It’ll give you the visibility to perform your own troubleshooting and decision-making, and that makes it a device that’s well worth having.