{"id":15276,"date":"2022-10-06T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-06T12:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/roadwarrior-inc.com\/ca\/?p=15276"},"modified":"2022-09-29T15:30:24","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T19:30:24","slug":"how-to-choose-the-right-scan-tool-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/roadwarrior-inc.com\/ca\/how-to-choose-the-right-scan-tool-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose the Right Scan Tool for You!"},"content":{"rendered":"
Diagnostic equipment is like anything else: the more you know about the market and what\u2019s on offer, the better your purchasing decisions will be. Commercial truck scan tools vary widely in everything from price to capabilities. The more you know about the differences, the easier it is to choose a tool that meets your needs. While specific models are regularly updated, these general features are always worth keeping in mind. You should also consider how your particular profile might affect your choice of scan tool. You can find out more about this in our companion blog Your Checklist for Choosing a New Scan Tool<\/a>.<\/p> Firstly, is the scan tool you\u2019re thinking about buying meant for HD trucks? It can be tempting to try reading DTCs with an automotive scan tool, but though a high-end tool may work, it\u2019s not a good idea! For one thing, many DTCs that are common in HD trucks are OEM-specific, and car scan tools aren\u2019t designed to read them. This means that the scan tool may miss or misdiagnose errors, causing you to waste time and money doing the wrong repairs. On top of this, car scan tools often have different size connectors; trying to force the wrong type to fit could ruin your connector port and blow your diagnostic fuse.<\/p> Another basic but important factor when buying an HD scan tool, is whether it\u2019s the right size for your truck. Different OEMs favour different connector ports. You should only buy a tool that fits with your truck or has an adapter that fits. Once you\u2019ve confirmed that it can support 6, 9 and 16 pin connector types (or at least those included in your fleet), and that it can recognise fault codes from all the major OEMs, you should check which truck classes a scanner is suitable for. If you have a mixture of class 4\u20138 trucks, you should make sure your scan tool has been tested and approved for them all. <\/p> It\u2019s important to check whether a DTC scan tool has been tested with diesel trucks, petrol trucks or both. While some tools can be used interchangeably, others can only be used reliably with one engine type. This isn\u2019t just because the scanner needs to fit into your truck\u2019s diagnostic port. Diesel and petrol engines also have different components and not all tools can correctly diagnose issues with both.<\/p>Will it Work in Your Truck?<\/h3>
Can You Use DTC Scan Tools On Petrol and Diesel Trucks?<\/h3>