Code readers are diagnostic tools that every car owner should consider owning. Having one of these is as important as carrying a spare tire or a fire extinguisher in the trunk. Back in the day, before ...

Spark plug wear hides in plain sight. It builds slowly, then suddenly the engine starts telling a different story. A code reader might flag a misfire or throw a generic warning, but spark plug wear ...

Have your owner’s manual handy. Place your vehicle in “park,” or “neutral” for a manual transmission. Firmly set the parking brake. Download and install the manufacturer’s code reader app to your ...

Q. I have a newer Toyota Camry and an older Ford F-150. What does a scanner do that a code reader cannot do? Can you recommend one that you have found acceptable? A. A code reader will read most ...