The Foxwell NT201 is lightweight but does not feel especially durable. It doesn’t seem like this tool would survive many drops onto a hard floor.

At a minimum, any OBD2 scanner should be able to read and ideally clear DTCs. You may want an OBD2 scan tool for several reasons, even if you aren’t a professional mechanic. With an OBD2 reader, you can: B : Indicates an issue with the body (cabin interior parts such as the steering system, airbags, and seatbelts) Mechanics who we speak to typically tell us that the most important feature of any OBD2 scanner is that it can read engine codes. Other design features can be nice, but for many, a basic code reader is all they need. Zac Salerno, a technician at Import Performance and certified Safety Inspector with more than three years of experience, told us: Whether you’re an advanced DIYer or a professional mechanic, the TOPDON ARTDIAG 800BT in our opinion, is one of the best scanners on the car diagnostics market that money can buy. We’ll take you through our review and list the top 6 reasons why we think it offers the best value for your hard earned cash. TOP 6 Reasons To Buy The TOPDON ARTIDIAG 800BT 1. Supports ALL Systems DiagnosticsThere are several different communication “protocols” that onboard computers may use to communicate with an OBD2 scanner. The most common are: Everything about the TOPDON is designed for easy use and handling. The device comes in a sturdy, ergonomic case. The Bluetooth dongle slots into the scanner itself and is easily removed with a single push. Setting up the TOPDON requires an internet connection as you’ll need to input the included activation code. Once your account is made, TOPDON provides free lifetime updates. Steering Angle Sensor (SAS) calibration : All modern vehicles are equipped with power steering systems that greatly assist in handling. If the SAS is improperly calibrated, your vehicle will be difficult to steer and may handle strangely (the wheel turning too easily, or only with difficulty). The SAS typically needs to be reset after any wheel alignment. Most automotive diagnostic tools perform similar functions, like reading codes or sending commands to the vehicle’s electronic control unit (ECU). What differentiates products is their ability to clear codes from certain vehicle systems. Additionally, some tools may be meant for older vehicles with OBD1 ports instead of OBD2 connectivity. How accurate are OBD2 scanners?

So, there you have it folks! The top 6 reasons why we think you should buy the TOPDON ArtiDiag800BT. We hope you enjoyed reading the blog post and it allows you to make a more informed decision when buying a car diagnostics scanner. When you’re looking for the best OBD2 scanner, Bluetooth connectivity is worth considering. Since having a physical cord usually keeps you close to the vehicle while you’re performing a diagnostic, wireless scanners are gaining popularity because of their simplicity and data collection capabilities. Users are pleased with the scanner’s ability to detect fault codes, even those that may not show up on other scanners. Others praise the TOPDON for being a professional-level scan tool that is nonetheless easy for mechanics of almost any skill level to navigate. VCI connector can be plugged into the mainframe for easy storage and to prevent loss of VCI connector.It’s all good being able to do in-depth scanning but any serious mechanic is going to need to be able to actually work on the car to fix issues and carry out maintenance works. If you’re a professional mechanic, you need a scanner which can offer both all systems diagnostics and maintenance functions, to allow you to carry out maintenance works. Now… we come across many scanners in the car diagnostics industry, from the good, the bad, and the downright ugly! What we find very unusual about the TOPDON ArtiDiag800BT is the large number of maintenance functions which it supports. Not just “supports” but actually comes included with! It’s definitely in with the good but warrants it’s own category, as it really does stand out from the rest with a generous offering of 28 maintenance functions! By the way, 50% of all breakdowns are battery related, you can also save yourself money and hassle by looking into car battery reconditioning. Some DTCs apply to all vehicle makes, while others are specific to certain brands. The first number in a DTC is always either 0 or 1. ‘0’ is a universal (generic) code and ‘1’ is a manufacturer-specific code. This could be the most common Pro we’ve heard for this unit. Users tell us it’s very easy to use. They’ve had issues with their car that have plagued them for a while, and which OBD tools could not fix, yet the BT800 allowed them to fix it effortlessly. In addition to common codes, all cars also have manufacturer-specific fault codes. The best OBD2 scanners can read codes from most major brands. If you plan to use your OBD2 scanner with a specific vehicle or set of vehicles, make sure it is capable of reading error codes for that manufacturer.

Support 96 brands of models full system diagnosis including Engine, Transmission, Airbag, ABS, ESP, TPMS, Immobilizer, Gateway, Steering, Radio, Air Conditioning, etc.

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Customers appreciate the intuitive touchscreen and data accuracy, with at least one customer noting that the product was able to read everything from VIN to transmission codes and send reports to his computer.

Or, see if there’s an EVAP leak somewhere in the system. All that diagnostic data can be saved on the ArtiDiag800 BT for another day. Alternatively, you can pull up service and history records of a certain vehicle, from its prior diagnosis. TOPDON has then programmed in AutoVIN, enabling the device to automatically identify your vehicle by scanning its VIN code from the ECU. As the cars of today become ever more complex, with their umpteen different sensors and electronics, it can be challenging to conduct diagnostics… Even the simple ones. Trying to narrow down to what’s wrong can literally include jumping into an actual rabbit hole. However, all those computers can help make things easier, if you have the right tools on hand, such as TOPDON’s ArtiDiag800 BT. One thing that immediately strikes you, when using the scanner, is it’s large and responsive touch screen and the vibrant colour screen. This makes the text very legible, making the scanner accessible and very easy to use. 6. Solid Build Quality And Powerful Hardware

VCI Dongle's Specifications

As a basic scan tool, the NT201 does not have a lot of functions, but it is compatible with most vehicle makes and models. Finding this information in the menu is straightforward and intuitive. Press enter when the OBDII function is selected and follow the menus. Rather than having to dig through all those options and menus, the ArtiDiag800 BT lets you save the 5 most commonly-used reset functions, which you can more readily activate. In addition to what was listed earlier, there are several other cool touches beyond reading, resetting, and erasing error codes. For starters, you can read the ECU to view its version information or any other vehicular data.