Why buy a OBD II scanner-reader for your car or truck?

First, it can save you a ton of money — and time. You can scan your own vehicle problems and avoid a lengthy expensive trip to a mechanic to learn that your gas cap is loose or needs to be replaced.  Diagnose the problem and fix it yourself.

Certainly, an OBD II code reader will cost you a little money up front, but the more you use it, the more you save on mechanics and high parts costs, the more the reader pays for itself.

In fact, it can pay for itself the first time you use it, depending on what the problem turns out to be.

An OBD code scanner can also help eliminate worry and surprises. If your “engine check” light keeps coming on and you find the problem is a faulty oxygen sensor, you know you won’t damage your car if keep driving it for a couple of days until you can fix it.

Most OBD scanners are easy to use. Simply plug it into the socket under the dash on any car, and begin checking. It’ll tell you if it finds problems and will display the codes. Some scanners translate the codes and others do not. If not, you can look the codes up for your vehicle online.

 We have looked at actual owner/user reviews of OBD diagnostic code readers and have selected the top makes and models. Click on the following link to take a look at the results:

Best OBD Diagnostic Code Readers / Scanners

Buying a flashlight today is more than going down to your local hardware store or supermarket and picking up one of those big cheap “D” cell models with the short-life incandescent bulbs.

Modern technology has created much better flashlights today.

The best flashlights now are much brighter, produce whiter light, and are considerably smaller than their older cousins of yesteryear. They use LED (light emitting diodes) “bulbs” that almost never burn out and are much easier on batteries. Thanks to new computer technology (yes, your flashlight now is digital and is run by a computer), battery power is managed such that light output remains practically full brightness though the whole life of the batteries.

Furthermore, you can get multiple light levels, depending on your needs. You can also get strobe and SOS functions if you like, for outdoor emergencies.

The newest flashlights are rugged, being constructed of lightweight aircraft aluminum or practically indestructible nylon. Many are waterproof or water resistant, have practically unbreakable lens, and many even have self-defense features.

We have selected the best flashlights from the best companies, based on actual owner/user reviews. Click on the link below to see the results:

Best Flashlights | LED Flashlights

We have selected the #1 pocket video camera or camcorder. Our selection is the best-selling video camera of all time on Amazon.

It is rated as the best by hundreds of actual owners/users.

It is especially handy due to it’s small size, ease of use, and relatively low cost.

Most buyers of this type of product are looking for features such as: small size, easy-to-use controls, internal solid-state storage (no memory cards, disks, or tapes), easy transfer of videos to computer and YouTube, high-definition (HD) quality video, easy-to-charge battery, and reasonable cost.

Our #1 choice product meets and exceeds those expectations.

We show you our choices, not only for the #1 product, but also a number of other top-rated choices just in case you need something a little different than our top choice.

Click on the following link to see our #1 user-rated pocket video camera:

Best Flip Camcorders | Pocket Video Cameras

You have plenty of choices when it comes to buying a portable GPS navigation unit.

There are not only different brands of which Garmin, TomTom, Magellan, and Navigon are the leaders, but you also have a rich selection of features — wide screen, voice directions, traffic, route assist, Bluetooth for hands-free cell phone use, lane assist, fuel-efficient routing, world clock, calculator, currency converter, weather forecast, free map updates, worldwide maps, music players, photo display, and touchscreen.

We’ve analyzed owner/user reviews of many different makes and models, and have selected the #1 user-rated portable GPS unit. Many owners have had other GPS systems before, and have rated our selected system the best.

You can take a portable GPS with you from vehicle to vehicle, to rental cars, walking in a city, on a bicycle, or in your home or hotel to locate restaurants, banks, or other points of interest.

Once you own a portable GPS, you’ll find more uses for it than you imagined and wonder how you ever did without one.

Click on the link below to see our #1 best rated pick for a portable GPS unit.

Best Portable GPS Navigation Units

A cold air intake is a simple system made up of a pipe and filter designed to bring unrestricted cool air into a car’s engine, to increase engine power and efficiency. It is one of the least expensive and most effective ways to increase a vehicle’s power performance.

Factory air intake systems tend to be restrictive, which sucks engine power and quiets engine noise.

 Air intake kits come in a wide variety of types, colors, and configurations. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to self-install. Just be sure you purchase the exact model that fits your make/model vehicle.

We have chosen the best car air intake systems based on actual user reviews. Keep in mind that when you see the number of reviews on a particular model, it’s only reflecting the relatively small number of people for whom that model fits their make/model car. Since there are typically many, many models of the product — for the many makes/models of cars — you are only seeing a fraction of the reviews.

To view our picks for the top rated air intake systems click the link below:

Best Car Air Intake Systems and Kits

We found the best close-up photography macro lens (micro lens) for your Nikon digital camera, based on user reviews and professional evaluations.

Macro lenses must be chosen carefully.

Although there are many lenses to choose from there are also many differences — construction quality, internal/external focusing, focal length, zoom or fixed, auto focus speed, vibration reduction, glass quality, and closest minimal focus distance. 

These characteristics can be important to a lens’ reliability, picture quality, useability, and user satisfaction. As with many other types of products, you get what you pay for with digital macro lenses.

To see our #1 pick in macro/micro lenses for Nikon digital SLR cameras, click on the following link:

Best Macro/Micro Lens

We have selected the #1 best coffee maker by looking at actual user reviews of the top coffee makers on the market.

Customers of coffeemakers look for durability (is it going to last me more than a couple of months), construction quality (is it built well and will it work reliably), can it be programmed or set easily to meet my particular needs, does it have the features most people want, is is easy to use and clean, and is it worth the money I must spend.

Most coffee drinkers are very particular about their coffee brewer machines as well as their coffee blend. Both have to be just right.

What is significant about the reviews we found is that most owner/user reviewers are long-time coffee drinkers and have experience with coffee makers over a long period. So when these people say a particular brand and model coffee machine is good — you can bet it’s good.

To see our #1 choice in coffee makers, click on the following link:

Best Coffee Makers / Coffee Brewers