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Diagnostics and car care

Diagnostics answers what the car is complaining about; care is what keeps the answer from being about rust and swirl marks. Both are categories where a small purchase removes a recurring irritation.

A scan tool reads the codes the car stores, and on most cars that means engine and emissions data. Live data is often more useful than the code itself: fuel trims, sensor voltages and temperatures recorded over a drive tell you whether a fault is constant or a one-off.

For care, the useful purchases are the unglamorous ones: a wash mitt and two buckets, a drying towel that does not drag, and a protectant you will actually reapply. Most marks in paint come from the first wipe across a panel that still has grit on it.

What actually decides a purchase here

  • Which modules a scan tool reads: engine and emissions are common ground, ABS, airbag and transmission often are not.
  • Whether live data and the phone app are included, and what the app costs over a year.
  • For care products: whether they suit your finish, including matte paint, a wrap or fresh paint.
  • Concentrate or ready-to-use, and how much of it you will get through in a season.

Our picks in this category

A diagnostic scan tool plugged into a car

Diagnostics and car care

BlueDriver bluetooth OBD2 scan tool

A dongle that reads fault codes and live data, and shows them on the phone you already carry.

Best for
Anyone who wants to read and clear a check-engine light at home before booking a workshop.
Watch out for
A code names a circuit rather than a failed part. Two different faults can set the same code, and several unrelated codes at once often point at the battery or the charging system first.
Check price and availability
A jump starter pack and clamps on a garage bench

Power tools and 12 V gear

NOCO 12 V lithium jump starter pack

A battery pack that starts a car with a flat battery without needing a second vehicle.

Best for
Anyone parking outside in winter, or with a car that sits for weeks between drives.
Watch out for
A jump pack is a rescue, not a repair. If a car needs one twice in a week, the battery or the charging system needs testing, and the pack should be recharged and stored as the maker instructs.
Check price and availability
Car cleaning products, buckets and microfibre towels

Diagnostics and car care

Chemical Guys car wash and detailing kit

The washing and drying basics: a mitt, two buckets and towels that do not drag grit across paint.

Best for
Anyone washing their own car who wants fewer swirl marks rather than a cupboard of bottles.
Watch out for
Most marks come from the first wipe over a dirty panel. Rinse the car first, use a mitt rather than a sponge, and give the bucket a grit guard instead of buying another wax.
Check price and availability