Isuzu D-Max and SsangYong/KGM: diesel OBD diagnostics
Working diesels bought for towing and load carrying. The emissions hardware is the recurring cost, and the drivetrain oils are the recurring omission.
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Blog
J2534 PassThru: the standard behind dealer-level programming
J2534 was the regulatory answer to manufacturers locking out independent workshops. It defines the cable, not the software, and that distinction is the whole story.
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Jaguar XE and XF: OBD diagnostics and the JLR electrical reputation
The reputation for electrical gremlins is largely one root cause wearing many costumes. Fix the supply and a surprising number of unrelated-looking faults disappear together.
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Key stuck in the ignition: causes and safe fixes
On an automatic this is usually the gear selector, not the lock. On a manual it is usually the steering lock. Both are free to fix if you try them before forcing anything.
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Kia Ceed and Sorento: what an OBD scan finds first
A compact hatchback and a large SUV sharing a parts bin with Hyundai. The Ceed fails around ignition and mixture; the Sorento adds diesel emissions hardware and drivetrain oils.
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Lada Vesta and Granta: OBD-II support and common codes
Modern Ladas are fully OBD-II compliant and read with any standard adapter. The engines are simple, which makes the recurring fault list short and mostly cheap.
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Mazda CX-5: SkyActiv OBD diagnostics in practice
SkyActiv engines took a different path from the rest of the industry, and their fault list reflects that. The diesel in particular fails in ways other diesels do not.
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Mercedes GLA and GLC: OBD diagnostics on the compact SUVs
Two Mercedes SUVs on different platforms with different fault sets. The GLA borrows from the A-Class; the GLC from the C-Class — and that determines what goes wrong.
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MINI Cooper: common OBD faults on the BMW-based platform
A MINI is a BMW underneath, and it inherits the timing chain, carbon and cooling issues to match. The fault list is well documented — which means the warning signs are too.
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Nissan X-Trail: OBD diagnostics and the CVT question
The engine is rarely the problem on an X-Trail. The continuously variable transmission is where the risk and the money are, and it announces itself early if you know what to log.
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Can an OBD adapter drain your battery? Measuring the real current
Pin 16 is permanently live, so a plugged-in adapter never truly switches off. Whether that matters depends on a number you can measure, and on how long the car sits.
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The first OBD scan after buying a used car: a 20-minute routine
You have the keys. Before the first long trip, twenty minutes with a scan tool establishes what you actually bought and gives you a baseline to measure against later.
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