Decimal/Binary/Hexadecimal Conversions

The scan tool displays various vehicle information which aids in repairing the vehicle. Some scan tools will display encoded messages which will aid in determining the type of the concern. This method of encoding involves the use of 2 additional number systems: Binary and Hexadecimal.

The binary number system uses a base of 2. Each of the digits is a 0 or a 1. The number has eight digits and is read from the right to the left. Each digit has a position number. The digit farthest to the right is in the 0 position. The digit farthest to the left is in the 7 position. A 1 in the 0 position indicates the number 1 in the decimal system. Each position to the left is double the previous position and added to any other position values that are marked as a 1.

The hexadecimal system is 16 different alphanumeric characters. The alphanumeric characters are the numbers 0 through 9 and the letters A through F. The hexadecimal system is a common approach scan tool manufacturers use to display binary data and digital data.