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Can you leave an OBD2 plugged in while driving?
My check engine light came on so a friend is lending me an OBD2 scanner to diagnose the code. Is it ok to leave the OBD2 scanner plugged in while I drive?
Mary Cahill · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Sorry to hear you’re having car trouble! It’s completely safe to leave an OBD2 scanner tool plugged in while driving. In fact, it’s important to have your car running while you diagnose an engine code to avoid damaging the scanning software.
Worried about your car’s battery life? Driving with an OBD2 scanner plugged in does not significantly drain the battery unless you leave it plugged and don’t drive your car for several days. If you know you won’t be driving for more than a couple of days, you should unplug the scanner.
OBD2 scanners are becoming increasingly sophisticated due to their use of Bluetooth technology. But just like with the older models, you’ll want to make sure that you plug and unplug the scanner very carefully during use.
The scanner connects to your car’s OBD2 port through 16 pins within the plug. The pins are very delicate so you want to take care not to bend or crack them while installing the scanner. If a pin appears warped or frayed, don’t insert it into the OBD2 port.
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