this depends on the the car that you are wanting to scan, but for the most part the hook up for a scan tool is located under the driver side dash to the right or left of the sterring column
check under the dash someware behind the conselle
For one, the check engine light will come on. At that point, you'd have a shop hook up a diagnostic scan tool and decipher the codes.
remove positive battery cable for 20 seconds,this should shut off light!! if car is newer than 1996 then you have to have a scan tool to read codes, Auto zone has a scan tool,and they will test it for no cost!! to read codes,,
Below is a description about scan tool. It is simply a code reader that plugs into a car's computer diagnostic port and reads trouble codes if any.
With a scan tool or by unhooking the battery.
With a bi-directional scan tool and the car makers software.
You connect an OBD2 scan tool to the diagnosis port.
Under the hood on the passenger side.
The car won't start. Need a scan tool.
hook up the OBD-II scan tool to the Data Link Connector in your car, it will give you a code, and depending on the type of diagnostic tool you have, will give you the meaning of the code, if it doesnt tell you what it means, you will have to look it up. You can either fix the problem and let the car go through the warm up cycles itself and erase the code and turn off the MIL (the right way), or you can just erase the code with the scan tool (easy way out..not suggested)
It is a tool used to read and display the information stored in an automotive computer. Sometimes you just need the Diagnostic trouble code and sometimes you need Live information as the car is running. The scan tool helps a mechanic to find out why a car isn't running right or why a "check engine" light is on.