CarMD

If you've been staring down the "check engine" light on your car for the past few months, you might need a CarMD. Every car manufactured since 1996 has an easy-to-access port in the dashboard that this portable device taps into. Plug in the CarMD, turn on the car, and in a few minutes the device will beep, displaying either a green light if the car's diagnosis indicates no problem, a yellow light if there is a problem that will become major soon, or a red light if the car requires immediate service. Details on exactly what is wrong with your car can be found by logging in to the CarMD Web site or, if you're on the road away from the Internet, by calling a toll-free number on the back of the device. Popular uses for the CarMD include checking your car before a long road trip, diagnosing "check engine" light problems before taking your car to a mechanic or checking out used cars before a purchase.