Diagnostic Tools

Performing regular maintenance on your vehicle is a must when wanting to keep it functioning at an optimum level. Vehicle diagnostic tools are designed to test various aspects of your vehicle to allow you to keep it running efficiently. Here at Cromwell, we have a wide range of vehicle diagnostic tools from our quality, trusted own brand Kennedy® as well as national brand such as Sykes-Pickavant®.

What are diagnostic tools?

Vehicle diagnostic tools come in many shapes, forms and sizes and are designed to test varying aspects of your car or vehicle. However, their blanket use is for testing key elements of your vehicle and diagnosing potential problems that would affect the smooth operation of your vehicle. Example diagnostic tools include anti-freeze testers, mechanics stethoscopes and OBD2 scanners.

When are diagnostic tools used?

Used widely in the industrial automotive sector, vehicle diagnostic tools are invaluable when checking for potential or existing problems with your vehicle that could pose a hazard or keep your vehicle from working to an optimum level. They can be used by automotive professionals, mechanics and hobbyists alike. It's highly recommended that you perform regular checks on your vehicle to keep it working correctly, especially before taking your vehicle on an extended journey.

Considerations when choosing a diagnostic tool

• Application - It's important to consider what vehicle you intend to use your diagnostic tool on when purchasing to check that it is compatible and suited for your use, as some diagnostic tools are only suited for specific types of vehicles, whereas others such as mechanics stethoscopes have a broader use.

• Product type - Different vehicle diagnostic tools have different functions and are designed to test various components within your car. It's advised that you check that your intended diagnostic tool performs the function you desire before purchasing to ensure you achieve the correct end result.

Diagnostic tools jargon buster

We want to make it easy for you to shop our range of vehicle diagnostic tools, so here are some key terms that will help you understand the range and applications a little better.

What is an OBD2 scanner and what is its purpose?

An OBD2 scanner is a pocket sized vehicular diagnostic tool that accesses data about your vehicle by being plugged into your vehicle. OBD2 stands for Onboard Diagnostics, with the 2 referring to second generation. OBD is the first generation Onboard Diagnostics scanner. The data that OBD2's collect includes your engine's RPM, your coolant levels, the functionality of your camshaft and crankshaft and other functions of your car, depending on the model specifications of the OBD. They are most commonly used by mechanics and automotive experts, although cheaper and less detailed OBD's can be purchased by vehicle enthusiasts.

FAQs

Which car diagnostic tool is best?

This depends on your desired application and which part of your car or vehicle you wish to check. For example, when testing the coolant or anti-freeze percentage and temperature range, it would be advisable to use a specific anti-freeze tester, whereas a mechanics stethoscope is useful when trying to listen for noises that denote a potential problem with the engine.