Gas Caps and More With An OBD II Code Reader?

You might be asking what does my car’s fuel cap have to do with an OBD 2 code reader, or you might just asking what the heck is an OBD II code reader? Well first off in case you don’t know, an OBDII code reader is a neat little specialty tool that you can use to see why your check engine light is illuminated on your dash. Yes, the SES (Service Engine Soon) is that pesky warning on the dash that many people either freak out over or totally ignore! Sometimes the check engine light can come on over something as simple as the gas cap being left off or loose. To have your codes scanned at an auto repair shop, it might cost $50-80. The good news is that now like with most electronic gadgets, prices do come down over time. Launch makes a cool little pocket obd2 code reader, unlike most cheapy code readers this one gives on screen definitions for most trouble codes. In the past a manual just to look up the definitions of the codes could run around $75. For the price of this code reader it can pay for itself after using it just a few times. Every household should have one, just like every household should have a few screwdrivers and wrenches lying around for those times you need them, they can really be valuable.  Another added bonus to owning one of these code readers is you can clear the code, if it doesn’t come back on in a short time, the problem could have been an intermittent glitch. If the code does come back on, you know there really is something wrong and you can either tackle the problem yourself, or you can go to the repair shop armed with the knowledge of what code is present. An informed customer is less likely to be taken advantage of! Have you ever had to clear a code because of a gas cap left loose? Or have you ever used a code reader that saved the expense of having your car scanned at the shop? Feel free to comment and share your story.