"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Since the mandate of the OBD-II port in 1996, auto mechanics have accessed vital information about your ...

Vehicles manufactured since 1996 have had to comply with the CARB issued OBD-II specification. These vehicles use a standardized diagnostic connector and data output format. On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) ...

This article was updated in November 2025 with new information. You know you’ve earned your DIY stripes when you can stay calm the moment something goes wrong. And with cars, that moment usually ...

Vital Engineering has made available its Bluetooth OBD-II connector software for use with Microsoft Windows Mobile Smartphones. The software was previously available for Windows Mobile Pocket PC and ...

That little yellow check-engine light is sneaky. Most of the time, you forget it could be there. But when it detects an issue, it illuminates menacingly. For many, the initial reaction might be to ...

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 ...