How to turn your smartphone into a car diagnostic tool

There are few sights that will make your heart sink quite like a warning light on your dash, as you know it could be just the beginning of a long, drawn out saga. You may have to wait weeks for that initial diagnostics appointment at your local garage, and that’s before any work is actually scheduled, let alone done.

After all, we’re moving further and further from the era of drivers opening their bonnet and having a little root around and tinker. Modern motors are at the mercy of ever-more complex ECUs (electronic control units), so many car issues can leave even the most garage-savvy among us feeling powerless.

Thankfully, TOPDON can help you take control of your car’s diagnostics, getting you to the root of the problem instantly with a nifty contraption that’s small enough to fit in your pocket. So, whether you’re taking on an ambitious garage job yourself, or simply want to know exactly what’s wrong with your car to speed up the repair process and potentially save yourself some money, here’s how TOPDON can help…

Diagnose your own car

Good news: thanks to the TOPDON TopScan OBD2 Scanner, your phone can now tell you what’s wrong with your car. By downloading the TopGuru app for Apple or TopScan app for Android and syncing it to your scanner, you can connect the TopScan to your car’s OBD2 port, which is commonly found on the driver’s side of the vehicle, often behind a removable cover. Now you’re ready to scan, and there are plenty of capabilities to take advantage of.

Its upgraded 5.0 Bluetooth system ensures a super-fast connection without the need for cumbersome wires and will stay connected up to 10 metres away. Then, with a tap of your screen, you can ask the TopScan to perform a comprehensive scan of all the vehicle systems, including the engine, transmission, airbag, ABS, ESP (electronic stability programme), TPMS (tyre pressure monitoring system), immobiliser, gateway, steering, radio and air conditioning. Plus, it’s compatible with more than 70 car brands, so the odds are very much in your favour.

Check your compatibility

With the TopScan’s bi-directional control, you’ll be able to narrow down problem areas, as it allows you to send commands from your smartphone directly to your car’s ECU for active testing. And once you’ve identified the issue, the DTC repair guide will help you get your head around the various fault codes, with handy definitions for each one and even guidance on how to repair it, should you possess the wherewithal and equipment.

Of course, in our increasingly computerised cars, a warning light might not always be telling the truth. It’s not an altogether rare occurrence to take your car to the garage or arrange a home visit, only to be told by the mechanic that the system simply needs resetting, rather than repairing. TopScan has you covered with that, too, with its comprehensive suite of eight reset functions, including oil reset, throttle adaptation, EPB reset and steering angle reset.

Ready to take control of your vehicle diagnostics? Order your TopScan Lite now and enjoy a whole year of no subscription fees and just $49* per year thereafter.

Diagnose your own car

*If purchased outside the US, transactions will be calculated based on the prevailing exchange rate at the time.