The Best OBD2 Scanners for Jeep

If you are a fan of a sturdy and tough all-terrain vehicle, then a Jeep is definitely the car for you. However, despite the Jeep’s powerfully built body, don’t settle and think that these vehicles are indestructible machines. Even these contemporary machines can easily fall prey to the dangerous effects of driving off-road, not to mention the hazards that begin to accumulate when using your vehicle daily. When your vehicle’s malfunction indicator or check engine light comes on, you need to pay a lot of attention to your car because this could lead to a very expensive repair bill. To allow you to avoid that high repair bill and maintain your Jeep’s pristine condition, this article has listed some of the best OBD2 scanning tools in the market.

For so many drivers, their vehicle is so much more than a simple transportation device. While cars are not living or breathing elements, there are so many car owners who form a really close bond with their cars. Some drivers may name their car, others find some peace and solitude when seated on the driver’s seat while others enjoy releasing a lot of stress and tension in traffic by jamming to their favorite songs.

Whatever you may enjoy doing in your own car is quite unique, however, each and every driver hopes that every time they turn on their ignition, they may safely make it to their destination. The good news is that there are tools available that will give you the chance to get to know your car better than ever before. One way you can get to know your vehicle on a more personal level is by using an OBD2 scanning tool.

An On-board Diagnostics system can be regarded as one of the many effective tools created by modern science. The diagnostic tool gives the user a lot of access to a number of vehicle systems that operate inside your car. The OBD2 scanner points out the component that is experiencing the problem and informs the user about the issue listing out all possible solutions.

This is great as this actually allows the user to quickly identify the issue as well as take up corrective steps without been forced to look for the issue in every nook and corner of your car’s engine. Additionally, the diagnostic tool provides you with a very easy and useful way to keep your car under close and constant monitoring. This helps you maintain the pristine condition of your car.

With that been said, it is very important that you find out the most ideal scanner for your Jeep. In this review, we go through the most important features of the best scanners in the market, as well as the advantages. This guide will give you an idea of what you should expect from your OBD2 scanner.

Additionally, we have reviewed a number of factors that should be put into consideration when buying your own OBD2 scanner. If you are in the market searching for the most ideal scanner for your Jeep, this review will guide you through the entire process.

Here are theThe Best OBD2 Scanners for Jeep

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Autel Maxidas DS808 Scanner

The Autel Maxidas weighs only 2.05lbs. Its lightweight feature makes it quite easy to hold and move around with this tool without any kind of hassle.

This scanning tool possesses such spectacular vehicle car coverage. The scanning tool can be used on more than 80 cars from Asia, Europe and even the US.  It works well on cars manufactured from the year 1996 to 2017. Vehicles made between these years are covered by the OE level system.

With this scanner, you will be able to easily gain access to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) of your car’s control system. Some of the mechanisms that are covered by this diagnostic tool include the airbag system, the anti-lock brake, the transmission, and the engine.

The scanner helps you locate the regions in your vehicle that are giving you problems, and it also helps by performing active tests. The tests are quite advanced as they allow you to try out output elements instead of only depending on the report of the ignition status. The scanner also gives you access to the car’s system allowing you to gain information on the service that has been scheduled and the required maintenance.

The scanner also features a number of multitasking capabilities. It works well with the Android operating system. It is designed with a 7-inch LCD touch screen which makes it so much easier to read and view diagnostic reports. To ensure that the scanner performs highly, the OE level diagnostic feature has been designed with great concentration and a lot of accuracies.

The Autel Maxidas operates on a very fast quad-core processor. This processor works well in increasing the efficiency of the scanner, meaning you do not ever have to worry about the speed of the operating system.

Pros

• This scanner functions very highly and smoothly
• The capabilities offered are very versatile
• The scanner has a very nice and ideal display

Cons

• It is not so easy to understand this scanner
• It is a very expensive scanner.
  

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The Innova 3160g Scanner

This diagnostic tool has a very sleek and stylish look. Its compact design allows you to comfortably hold it in your hand and walk with it anywhere you go. The scanner is covered by a nice casing that protects the screen very well. If the scanner drops on the ground with a very hard impact, the casing works well in protecting the screen.

The buttons on this scanner have been placed well. This allows you to easily make use of both your hands to maneuver through the options on the menu. The scanner’s screen is quite large allowing you to read all the necessary information without struggling in any kind of way.

To use this scanner, you can easily connect the device to your vehicle by using a cable. The cable also powers up your scanner, however, you also need batteries to power up the tool. The scanner uses Bluetooth to connect to a phone or tablet. That means that your diagnostic report can easily be read on your phone and your tablet.

With this device, you can read and reset trouble codes as well as most of the manufacturer-specific codes that include the oil, batteries, supplement restraint system and your air braking system. You can also view live data and freeze frame data and export all of this data. You can also easily connect to another app using Bluetooth.

This scanner works well with vehicles that have been manufactured from the year 1996 and later. The scanner can read manufacturer codes as well as multiple protocols. You can read the scanner’s data in English, Spanish and French. The scanner has a repair solutions software that easily points out where the problem is originating from. The scanner will also reveal the areas that need to be replaced.

This will help you deal with the main cause of the problem. A great advantage is that you will also be presented with a clear list of a number of options that will help you deal with the problem.

Pros

• It is a very affordable diagnostic tool
• It has a nice and ideal display
• It is very versatile

Cons

• It does not work well with many other car models
• The software contains some functionality issues

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BlueDriver Bluetooth

This scanning tool is quite small and easy to use. It looks like a small black box. The scanner has a wing on each side and this design makes the scanner look quite advanced and futuristic. The scanner is also designed with an LED light. When the LED light comes on, this is an indication that a connection has been made. The scanner also makes use of a QR code that is found at the top of the diagnostic tool.

This OBD2 scanner directly connects to your engine’s system without using a cable. Once the device is connected to your engine, you can easily pair it to your phone or your tablet. This scanning tool works well with all smart devices including iOS, Android and Windows systems.

The scan tool can perform more functions than regular scan tools. It can scan and clear engine codes. It also has the ability to monitor airbags, transmission, and ABS codes. You will also have access to live engine and sensor data, freeze frame information and much more. Users will also get to know if their scan tool can pass an emission test.

The data from the scanner is presented to you in real-time. You will be able to view logging data as well as the parameters of the vehicle’s engine. You can view all of this data on your smart device. Once you have received all of the codes, the scanning tool will give you a list of all of the possible causes of these problems. You will also be provided with the most ideal fixes that could fix the problem that you are facing.

The diagnostics are presented to you in the form of a report. You can easily print out this report or send it to your email. This is great s you get the chance to share the report with your friends and family and you can refer to the report later just in case you would like to.

Mode 6 of this scanner gives you the chance to access information from your sensor. This also allows you to perform a number of tests helping you find out if the sensors are operating within the right parameters. As soon as you connect the scanner to your vehicle, you can view the gauge on the scanner and take a look at digital and voltage readings as well as the live data.

The OBD2 scanner works well with vehicles that have been manufactured after 1996. The scanner’s database also contains more than 4 million car fixes.

Pros

• The scanner is very easy to use
• The scanner can scan a large number of vehicle codes
• This scanner is easy to use and connect and it also contains free updates.

Cons

• The scanner’s Bluetooth connection is not very reliable
• The scanner is not very durable.
  

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Factors That You Must Consider When Purchasing an OBD Scanner for Your Jeep.

If you have never used an OBD2 scanner or you are still new to these diagnostic tools, you may have no idea what you should be looking for when purchasing one.

The market is filled with a number of different OBD2 scanners that vary in size, durability, speed, power and a number of other different factors. Selecting the best scanner in the market may not be as easy as it seems.

All drivers are advised to choose an OBD2 scanner because these diagnostic tools are more durable and much more effective than the older models. The first step is to ensure that your scanner is compatible with your vehicle. Next, you should consider the type of scanner that you are choosing as well as the different features present in your Jeep.

In this section, we have listed different factors that must be put into consideration when choosing a scanning tool. This will make it easier for you to pick out the most ideal scanner for your Jeep.

The Type of Scanner That You Would Prefer

The right type of troubleshooting diagnostic tool actually depends on your needs. The DIY scanners are the most popular tools in the market because they offer users a balance between basic and advanced tasks.

If you know a lot about cars or you are into DIY activities, then you should definitely use a DIY scanner. These scanners are small in size and very easy to use. The good thing is that they also come with extensive guides and tutorials that will walk you through the entire process, helping you fix your Jeep right in the comfort of your own home.

However, if you require very advanced features then it is advisable that you purchase a professional scanner. These scanners are much larger than the generic kind of scanners and they offer users so many more advanced features and functions.

The Compatibility of Your Scanner

It is important that you choose a scanner that works well with your vehicle. Your scanning tool must be compatible with your car model, fuel type and make. So many scanners support vehicles, however, there are scanners that can only work with light trucks as well as heavy-duty trucks.

It is also important that you look out for protocols. There are a number of OBD2 scanners that can only support five OBD2 protocols, however, some scanners cover additional protocols. It is also important to keep in mind that OBD2 scanners can only work with vehicle manufactures from the year 1996.

Functions

When choosing a scanner, it is important that you keep in mind your vehicle’s requirements as well as your own. If you are a DIY enthusiast and you would like to save some money, you can choose a diagnostic tool that provides you with the most generic features and functions.

If you are a professional, then it is advisable to choose a scanning tool with more advanced features. The more advanced scanners will also give your car a boost.

The Connectivity of your Scanner

There are corded scanners in the market that use a wire or a cord to connect to the vehicle’s engine system. Most scanners come with a wire that supports the scanner, however, in some cases, you may have to buy your own cord and connect it with your engine. Scanners that need you to find a cord are considered to be a drawback, however, so many people still use these kinds of scanners.

The wireless scanners are actually the most popular scanners in the market. They provide you with the diagnostic report but they use a different kind of technology. By using Bluetooth or Wifi, these scanners can connect with your, Android, iOS or Windows device to transfer the diagnostic report and other data. Users prefer to make use of Bluetooth over Wi-Fi because it does not consume so much power and Bluetooth works faster than Wi-Fi.

The type of scanner that you will choose depends on your preference. Some people prefer to connect the scanner with wires while others don’t. The features provided, however, mostly depends on the brand and not on the cable or wireless feature of the scanner.

The Updates for Your Scanner

It is important that you choose a device that supports regular updates. These updates will allow you to take care of so many more problems. There are a large number of scanners that provide you with software support that will last a lifetime.

Scanners that support updates are quite ideal because new vehicle models may develop some  new problems. Regular updates are the only way to keep your scanner quite safe.

There are some scanners that can be updated online while other scanners must be connected to a computer system. Both types of updates work well, however, for some users getting access to a computer may not be so easy.

The Apps that your Scanner uses

OBD2 scanning tools work with apps. Some scanners are designed with their own apps while other scanners work well with outsourced apps. Drivers are often advised to choose a tool that is designed with an app of its own but also allows for the use of third-party apps. This will give the user more freedom to make a choice. Users will be able to decide whether they should purchase an app or not. Outsourced apps are also beneficial because they possess great features that your scanner may not have.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why should I buy an OBD2 scanner?

There are a number of different reasons why you should purchase an OBD2 scanner. First of all, with an OBD2 scanner, you will be able to save a lot of money.

As we all know, taking a trip to the garage consumes a lot of your time and money. A mechanic or technician could charge you anything from $10-100, just to take a look at your engine and read the trouble codes.

If you go to the mechanic at least four times a year and calculate how much you spend on a mechanic compared to how much you would spend on your own OBD2 scanner, you will realize that it’s a better financial decision to buy a scanner.

Reading the error codes from your vehicle is not hard. If you need any further professional help, it is always advisable to present the trouble codes to your mechanic and ask for any further advice or a recommendation.

Purchasing an OBD2 scanner is a very wise investment that every car owner should consider.

What kind of scanner should I consider buying?

The kind of scanner that you should choose largely depends on your vehicle’s needs. If you would like a scanner that can read and interpret DTC memory, you can select a generic model If you would like to search different engine systems and interpret other options other than the generic engine memory, then you would have to select a more advanced scanner that can perform a search on your vehicle system.

Drivers are often advised to read the specific descriptions of the scanners. This will allow you to find out if your scanner is compatible to your vehicle.

Can all of the scanners read all the control units?

Not all scanners can read all of the control units. The cheaper and generic scan tools can only read and interpret the common error code memory. If you would like to read other control units and manufacturer error codes then you should consider purchasing a more advanced scanner that will be compatible with your car engine and model.

What part of the car is the OBD2 port located?

In most vehicles, the OBD2 connection port is located under the steering wheel under the left side. (That is if your vehicle is driven using the left-hand) If your vehicle is a right-hand drive, the port will be located under the steering wheel on your right-hand.

Conclusion

It does not matter if you are a new driver, a professional, a mechanic or a garage owner. Owning an OBD2 diagnostic tool is advisable. The scanning tool that you will purchase should easily provide you with the best features and functions and the scanning tool should be compatible with your vehicle. The scanner that you select should also be affordable and the interface should have a nice, easy-to-use design.

In our opinion, The Innova 3160g Scanner is the best option. The scanner’s display is quite nice and ideal for both beginners and professionals. The scanner has versatile features and properties and it is also quite versatile.