What is obd2? The term OBD2 - also written as OBDII - stands for on-board diagnostics, second generation. obd2 code readers are used to diagnose an automobile's systems and components as well as the emissions system. obd2 scanners come in a variety of makes and models, but they all have one thing in common: they do not require a computer or any other additional equipment to read codes from your vehicle's engine control unit (ecu) that can be stored in its memory.

If there's one thing that I support more than anything else it is saluting and supporting Americans looking to better themselves. When you combine that with engineering and in particular supporting the automotive industry, it is a home run. Congrats to the winners of the 2020 Fall Scholarship essay contest hosted by automotive parts company Turn5!

All-Season Tires... they are the boring cousin to racing slicks and big knobby offroad tires. Some of your trucks may have "All Terrain" tires but nope... these are just plain old tires designed for use on the pavement across all four seasons. They aren't fancy but they may be the most important tires to keeping your family safe across a variety of different conditions. Let's take a look at why these might be the most important tires for your car and when you might need something different.

Your tires are one of the most important safety features on your car. If you don’t replace them often enough, the tread will wear down and you will be far more likely to lose control of the car, especially when driving in wet or icy conditions. It’s important that you check the tread on your tires regularly, and keep them inflated according to the guidelines in the manual. 

It's the middle of winter and you probably have some friends who headed south to avoid the ice and snow up north. For retired guys and those who are self-employed and can work remotely, the idea of becoming a snowbird is a pretty attractive dream. While new RV's and motorhomes can be an exciting purchase, getting one that is slightly used can be a great option for those looking to save a bit of money. Just like with a car - the moment you drive it off the lot your purchase begins to depreciate. Here's what you need to know to make that used motorhome purchase a smart one!

When it comes to taking care of your family family, things like good looks and raw speed tend to fall aside and safety features become a primary concern. This is your family care after all and while how fast you can take that corner might be important with your weekend car, there are other more important things when it comes to taking care of your kids and making sure that they can get back and forth to school, errands, and of course the all important summer family road trip.

Michelin and General Motors presented a new generation of airless wheel technology, the MICHELIN Uptis Prototype at the Movin’On Summit for sustainable mobility today. GM intends to develop this airless wheel assembly with Michelin and aims to introduce it on passenger vehicles as early as 2024.

Nothing lasts forever. There will always come a time when we need to say goodbye to our beloved vehicles, no matter how heavy our hearts feel. Whatever your reasons are for selling, you have a responsibility to both the buyer and your car. However, your car has to be in tip-top shape so that it is in a good position to fetch those dollars you need to part with it.

While some guys you will meet on the trail talk about installing a lift kit as a simple procedure, it is not something you should enter into lightly. While it is not terribly complicated to do, the implications can completely change the dynamics of your Jeep and so it is critical that you do it with a plan in mind. When done correctly, your Jeep will look cooler, offer better visibility and perform better when tackling obstacles on the trail.

I drive for Lyft and so does my wife. It’s a great way to make fast money to fill in the gaps. Let me tell you though, there’s a lot more involved than simply turning on the app and making some money by driving around. To be successful, you need to treat it like you were fishing and learn all the secrets. There’s gear to buy, fishing spots to find, friends to learn from, and lots of patience too. With both pursuits though, if you are successful then it can be a fun and rewarding experience.

Years ago, I bought a new car at the dealership and they suckered me into buying their “protective coating” that would help the car stay clean and help protect from nicks and scratches. That coating cost me hundreds of dollars and frankly … I’m not sure it did anything. Flash forward a few years and the folks at AvalonKing sent me their Armor Shield IX DIY Kit to try out. For under $100, this is a great solution for anyone looking to keep their car looking like new.

Men love their cars sometimes more than women. No doubts, a car is a world of its own with all the systems, processes and details creating an exciting synergy and bringing so much comfort to our lives. Therefore, many car owners happily engage into all the repairing activity by them self as this not merely interesting and exciting but also helps to develop a proper attitude to things we as human beings use in our daily lives.

Pickup trucks are useful things to have around. Especially heavy-duty trucks like the Ram 2500. This big, burly, towing machine has a maximum tow rating of 17,980 pounds (about 9 tons). So when Ram Truck asked us if we wanted to test drive their 2018 Ram 2500, we immediately started looking around to find something to tow. Anything larger than a jet ski or a teardrop camper would do. We ended up with a huge pontoon boat and a fun day on the water with the Wyoming Air National Guard!

I'm a huge fan of electric vehicles. The promise of emissions free car travel that is both quick and quiet is something of a dream for simply cruising down the road and enjoying a beautiful landscape. Unfortunately, until recently EVs were expensive, had limited range, and in many cases were "Electric Vehicles" as opposed to cars powered by electric motors. That last point is a subtle distinction but an important one. While I enjoyed the promise of cars like the Kia Soul EV and the Mitsubishi iMIEV they were really products designed for a limited audience. With the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Chevy is offering a car that doesn't sacrifice anything.

While I do a lot of shopping online for various products it seems like I'm a luddite when it comes to buying car parts. Typically I just use what the mechanic suggests or I go to my local auto parts store and pick something up in person. The reality though is that today car part stores are as advanced when it comes to ecommerce as any other type of merchant. Here's our tips for what to look for when shopping for car parts online.

It might be obvious – big knobby tires are better at gripping rugged surfaces than smooth ones. After all, you wouldn't put a pair of racing slicks on your truck and take it out on the trail, would you? The reality though is that for most of us, the right choice of tires is more about balance than absolutes. That's why I really like this set of Grabber A/T X that General Tire sent me to check out.

What was it like the first time you hitched something to the back of a truck and hauled it away? If you are anything like most people, I'm sure you were pretty nervous that you did it right and pretty excited to be on the road headed to your next adventure. While it's really not that complicated to safely hitch a trailer to your truck, there are some basic things you should know to make sure you do it properly and safely.

For some, a vanity license plate is the epitome of wasting money to show off your wealth and perceived status but for others it's simply an easy way to remember your plate numbers. Whatever your reasoning for choosing a personalized vanity plate, it's something that shouldn't be taken lightly. For better or worse, the name you pick will define both you as the driver as well as the vehicle for years to come. 

Changing your oil is one of those things that most people just take for granted and don't really consider anything more than the fact that they have to do it every few months. While I'll never been on an pit team, most of us "have a guy" that can do it and a few of us even have actually done it themselves. But most of us really have never considered why we do it and what that oil actually does for us. For me, the first time I saw the difference between clean engine oil and the dirty stuff on my dipstick, I was amazed.