Find out what your engine dashboard light means with this $20 OBD scanner

What do you do when the ‘Check Engine’ light comes on in your car? Many people ignore this; After all, this sensor is notorious for burning out for no reason. On the other hand, this could indicate a problem, so you should probably head to your nearest auto parts store and use their OBD scanner. Or you can buy one for yourself, like this pick from Motopower.

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Find out what those annoying dashboard lights mean with this easy-to-use scanner that’s compatible with nearly all vehicles built after 1996. Remember, you must be an Amazon Prime member to take full advantage of the discounts!

save $10 with code and Prime

MPOWER66

$17 on Amazon

Why is this a good deal? 💰

There is quaternary discounts – one for on sale, one for Amazon Prime members, 10% coupon, and then another 15% off with promo code MPOWER66. The savings are insane (and the lowest price on record), and it’s a deal you should definitely take advantage of.

Why do I need this? 🤔

OBD stands for “on-board diagnostics”. It connects to your vehicle’s computer system and can read internal codes to diagnose problems. This could be something as simple as a gas cap that isn’t screwed on properly (which will cause a code to set) or something as complex as a faulty engine thermostat. In other words, it’s important to have one; will inform you about your vehicle and any repairs it may need.

Sometimes it literally comes in handy to have an OBD scanner. We all know the stories of unscrupulous, wallet-empty mechanics, so it’s helpful to know what kind of problem you’re dealing with before leaving your car in for repairs. Most importantly, you don’t have to be a gearhead to make sense of what the OBD scanner is telling you. It also supports six languages, including German, Dutch and Spanish.

What the critics say 💬

With over 27,000 five-star ratings, this gadget does the job right.

Pros 👍

“I bought this to save myself a trip to my mechanic to find out why the check engine light was on when my car was running just fine,” this driver said. “Apparently it was just the gas cap. I took the cap off and it wasn’t dirty or damaged in any way, so I gave it a few more taps while turning it to put it back on. Then I cleaned the cap.” code and has not returned so far.”

“Worth every penny,” echoed another user. “I bought this to help solve the ‘engine code’ on my 2016 Chrysler Town & Country minivan. It showed a ‘low voltage’ message and I was able to purchase and install a new battery, saving me the expense of a trip to my mechanic.”

Another driver praised the device’s simple ease of use. “This device kept me informed, saved me a lot of gas and anxiety. … The device is flawless at reading codes, easy to use, and clearly well made. It’s not the prettiest device, but it still gets the job done.”

Cons 👎

Here’s a pretty obvious, if unfortunate, example: “If your car battery isn’t working, it’s useless, so that’s a disadvantage,” one shopper shared.

Another reviewer warned against using it in the cold. “My only complaint is that the screen reacts slowly in cold weather. This is not unexpected for an LCD [readers]but it has a bad side effect. When the LCD becomes unresponsive and the reader shows a screen for a second and then clears the screen, sometimes the screen is unreadable at all. It would be better if all screens required a button press to turn it off.”

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Not sure what to do about the check engine light? Verify if this is just a faulty sensor or a serious problem that requires a trip to the vehicle doctor.

save $10 with code and Prime

MPOWER66

$17 on Amazon

An older car? Consider an inexpensive upgrade:

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If your vehicle predates CarPlay and Android Auto, this transmitter makes it easy to listen to your favorite songs wirelessly. It also provides you with two USB ports to charge the device.

$17 on Amazon

The reviews quoted above reflect the latest versions at the time of publication.

If you have Amazon Prime, of course, you get free shipping. Not a member yet? No problem. You can sign up for your 30-day free trial here. (By the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)

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