Seeing your vehicle's check-engine light come on can throw a wrench in your travel plans. It can also feel a little scary: Does it mean your ride is headed for the scrapyard? Or is there a simple fix?

The second iteration of on-board diagnostics, OBD II, has been required tech on all new cars sold in the U.S. since 1996. That means that anyone who uses or works on cars less than three decades old ...

“Using this device has saved me from being overcharged at auto repair shops.” ...

Learn what those pesky dashboard lights mean with this easy-to-use scanner, compatible with almost all vehicles made after 1996. Car issues can be incredibly expensive, and many of us feel like we're ...

You're driving down the road, everything seemingly normal. Then, out of the corner of your eye, you see a light come on: the dreaded check-engine light. A lot of people just ignore it; after all, it's ...

The world of car diagnostics has changed a lot over the last 50 years. Back in the '70s and earlier, a mechanic's most valuable diagnostic tools were usually their eyes and ears. You could figure out ...

When my check engine light came on recently, I decided to try the FIXD scanner to avoid an unnecessary mechanic visit. The device plugs into the OBD2 port and pairs with my phone via Bluetooth, giving ...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Saving yourself a trip to the mechanic is likely less expensive than you'd think. With Kobra's ...

Seeing your vehicle's check-engine light come on can throw a wrench in your travel plans. It can also feel a little scary: Does it mean your ride is headed for the scrapyard? Or is there a simple fix?