When mysterious lights start appearing on your car's dashboard, an affordable OBD2 dongle can help you diagnose and fix problems.

We've all been there—that pesky check engine light pops up on your dashboard. Instantly, thoughts of expensive mechanic bills, weeks of it being repaired in the garage, and inconveniences galore flash ...

Most of us cringe in fear when the check engine light in the dashboard of a modern 4x4 is tripped on. Your mind begins to spin in frustration wondering what could have triggered it, how bad it really ...

Before I figured out how to work on cars, onboard computer systems scared me. I’ve had no formal training, after all, so the idea of a car’s complex electricals and countless sensors made DIY work ...

The Standard's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Modern cars are great, except when they go wrong. The number of ...

Yet anyone can get an idea of the problem with a simple check using a tool that can cost less than a pub lunch. Most cars have an On Board Diagnostics (OBD) port, which allows you to plug in a device ...

Diagnosing automotive problems used to be much more challenging. A mechanic had to use all of their skills to pinpoint mechanical or electrical issues. Nowadays, you can diagnose many problems ...

In the Last diagnostics article, we outlined how to retrieve and decipher engine diagnostics for engines running OBD-I engine management computers. OBD or On Board Diagnostics is a subsystem of the ...

A check engine light that returns after being reset means the underlying fault has not been repaired, only cleared from the vehicle’s diagnostic memory. The OBD-II system monitors engine and emissions ...