OBD Scanners

[hellfire]

I've seen a few around the interwebz and they're getting quite fancy in terms of bluetooth and wifi connectivity.
Has anyone here bought one for their car? Was it worthwhile? Do you use it?

 

[Beachless]

Yep one of the cheap Chinese ones but it only worked on 1 of 6 cars I tried it on.

 

[Sinbad]

I've seen a few around the interwebz and they're getting quite fancy in terms of bluetooth and wifi connectivity.
Has anyone here bought one for their car? Was it worthwhile? Do you use it?

I just ordered one from fong kong for 8 dollars. It'll arrive in a week or three. Tied in with the Torque android app it looks quite awesome.

 

[GreGorGy]

I've seen a few around the interwebz and they're getting quite fancy in terms of bluetooth and wifi connectivity.
Has anyone here bought one for their car? Was it worthwhile? Do you use it?

I've got the Launch C-Reader. Use it very seldom. Dunno if it was worthwhile since I no longer tinker. Mmmm - maybe Sunday I will mess around.

 

[Seriously]

Used one to fault check and repair a pre loved Volvo. Was totally worth the R270.00 odd.

Still used in car as and when required via phone or laptop using Torque.

Search for nuller on bid or buy

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/seller/2056727/Nuller

 

[hellfire]

I'm leaning towards this one from Zasttra: http://www.zasttra.com/products/min...i-diagnostic-tool-support-android-and-symbian

 

[Seriously]

I'm leaning towards this one from Zasttra: http://www.zasttra.com/products/min...i-diagnostic-tool-support-android-and-symbian

Same thing better price.

 

[psion]

Make sure it supports your car's protocol's or it won't work. Useful for checking faults and some info "Gauges" on your phone/tablet
iPhone won't work with the bluetooth version, iphone bluetooth is nerfed for audio only.

The poll/refresh rate is slow so the display is not instant, data lags behind for about 1-2 sec delay.

Other than checking fault codes(very useful if there is) it's just nice to look at (tablet app)

 

[johnnybfn]

I've got a wifi one but the bloody thing doesn't connect to mobile phones because it uses ad-hoc.

 

[Sinbad]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkXkGeg3ay4

 

[psion]

I've got a wifi one but the bloody thing doesn't connect to mobile phones because it uses ad-hoc.

Specify a IP address on your phone to the same range as the wifi dongle as found in the pamphlet/manual and you will be golden

 

[johnnybfn]

Specify a IP address on your phone to the same range as the wifi dongle as found in the pamphlet/manual and you will be golden

Already tried that, doesn't work. Tried it on 2 different android phones and a windows phone. No luck.

 

[RoganDawes]

Yup, got a bluetooth one, and it works well. Had an engine warning light come on that the garage could not pick up with their machines, turned out to be the glowplug having a out of range resistance value when it was cold. By the time I got it to the garage, it had warmed up, and was no longer showing up. For some reason it was not being recorded in the log.

Would like to get a USB one to work with an "in dash" tablet, but they are a lot more expensive for some reason.

 

[Rickster]

Clearing a fault code doesnt fix the problem causing the MIL light.


A OBD scanner enables you to read what the error is so you can fix it.