ScanTool.net Blog

Oxygen sensors play a key role in engine performance and keeping emissions under control. Their purpose is to measure the amount of oxygen in the exhaust, providing your vehicle's computer with information whether the air/fuel mixture is burning rich (less oxygen) or lean (more oxygen). If an oxygen sensor goes bad, it can damage the catalytic converter (a very expensive fix!), reduce fuel efficiency, and substantially increase the amount of harmful pollutants in the exhaust.

Using OBDLink's logging feature, you can graph the transitions of each oxygen sensors’ voltage (usually there are 2 sensors but some vehicles have up to 4), and know when one becomes faulty.

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There are 3 main jobs that the antifreeze in coolant performs to keep the engine coolant temperature normal:

1. It prevents the coolant from freezing during cold weather
2. It raises the boiling temperature of the coolant to prevent overheating during hot weather
3. It fights corrosion

Your vehicle is equipped with an Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor screwed into the engine's block or cylinder head, which determines the temperature of the engine coolant. If the operating temperature exceeds what your owner's manual says is acceptable (usually between 200 and 230 degrees F), it's time to get your cooling system checked to avoid overheating, and a possible breakdown.

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Does your state require an emissions check before renewing your registration? These checks verify that your vehicle is not putting harmful vapors into the air. Most states now use an OBD-II test to confirm your vehicle is not violating standards required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

To pass an OBD-II emissions test, a vehicle must:

• Have a functional 'Check Engine' light and OBD port
• The 'Check Engine' light must be off
• Successfully complete the OBD-II system monitors that are built-in to the vehicle

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An update for OBDLink for Android app has just been released on Google Play and the Amazon Appstore.

OBDLink v3.4.0 Release Notes

• Improved the PID selector dialog and added search functionality
• Improved Dropbox CSV file syncing
• Improved support for some vehicles that don't fully conform to the OBD2 specification
• Added Hebrew language support
• Various improvements and bug fixes

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When the Check Engine light is illuminated, your vehicle's on-board diagnostic system is telling you that there is a potential problem with your engine or transmission. The severity of the problem can very from innocuous (like a loose gas cap) to something that can cause the failure of a critical component.

Generally, you can tell whether the problem requires immediate attention, just by looking at the Check Engine light:

• A steady light typically indicates a problem with the emission control system: bad oxygen sensor, a loose gas cap, etc.
• A flashing light indicates a serious problem like a misfire, which should be taken care of right away to avoid expensive repairs.

You can use OBDLink to read out the trouble codes that will help you pinpoint the source of the problem, research the severity, and discover potential fixes. Once you make the repairs (or tighten the gas cap), you can use the scan tool to clear the trouble codes and turn off the Check Engine light.

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With Spring and Summer fast approaching, April is the perfect time to get your car in road-worthy shape (we're not pulling your leg), and it's Car Care Month! Don't put off that oil change or brake job any longer! All month long we'll be throwing our best tips forward to make tuning up a breeze, and ways you can use the OBDLink app to keep you on top of maintenance.

PLUS, every week in April (starting Monday, April 4th), we'll be giving away an OBDLink-A-Week to one lucky random. Head over to our Facebook page, LIKE OUR PAGE & SHARE THE HIGHTLIGHTED POST WITH FRIENDS at the top of our feed, and you'll be automatically entered into the drawing to win. Cut off to enter is Friday of each week (April 8th, April 15th, April 22nd, & April 29th). Winner will be announced on the following Mondays (April 11th, April 18th, April 25th, & May 2nd).

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We're Getting Ready for Spring!

And now you can too!

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We're giving you 10% off any order $49 and over!

That's right, get 10% off OBDLink LX Bluetooth, OBDLink MX Bluetooth, and OBDLink MX Wi-Fi. Plus, a wide range of our OBD Software and Development Tools too!

Enter code SPRING10 at checkout.

Sale ends Sunday, March 27th at midnight PST

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An update for OBDLink for Android app has just been released on Google Play and the Amazon Appstore. This update fixes a couple issues that OBDLink users are running into regarding user-defined PIDs. In addition, it adds new calculated PIDs for Engine Power, Engine Torque, and A/F ratio.

OBDLink v3.3.1 Release Notes

• Improved the accuracy of fuel calculations for some vehicles
• Added calculated PIDs for engine horsepower and torque
• Added calculated PIDs for actual and commanded air-to-fuel (A/F) ratio
• Expanded the allowable start and end angle range for radial gauges
• Fixed a bug that could prevent user-defined PIDs from loading when Start on Dashboard Page is enabled
• Fixed a bug that could prevent some advanced communication settings from not working when connect on startup is enabled
• Minor bug fixes and improvements

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In observance of the New Year, our offices will be closed on January 1st, 2016. We will resume normal business hours on Monday, January 4th. Please note: Shipment cutoff times on December 30th will be at 2pm MST. Regular shipment schedules will continue on Monday, January 4th. We look forward...

To spend time with our families this holiday season, our offices will be closed on December 24th and 25th, 2015. We will resume normal business hours on Monday, December 28th. Please note: Shipment cutoff times on December 23rd will be at 2pm MST. Regular shipment schedules will continue on Monday...