I need a simple On-Board Diagnostic II (OBD2) scanner that pairs with my iPhone and tells me what’s causing my car’s Check Engine Light to come on repeatedly.
I have no desire to become a DIY mechanic, but I do want to be better informed before scheduling an appointment at the car dealership.
Please reply with your OBD2 scanner experience and your recommendation(s) for one to use with an iPhone.
Thank you.
I use RepairSol2, which came with a ~$40 OBD-2 scanner I needed to buy while on vacation (turned out to be a failing gas cap seal).
I’ve had the “check engine” light come on a couple of times, and both times seemed to be due to the gas cap not being “quite right”.
The first time a friend reset it with a standalone diagnostic scanner.
But the second time (only about a week ago), I reset it by removing the battery negative cable for about 10 minutes, then re-connecting it. It’s stayed out since.
I’d check the gasket on the gas cap first. Reseat it in any case. Might be time for a new cap. If you want to try resetting with the battery, the battery bolts are generally 10mm.
I do it “the hard way”. I bought a cheap OBD2 reader. I plug it into the car, according to the device’s instructions and write down the sequence of codes.
Then I take that piece of paper inside and do web searches using the codes and the car’s make/model, in order to determine what it means.
My advice is to visit a forum that caters to your car make and model and ask which one is recommended for your model and year. I did that for my Jeep after returning one that only partially worked (not all functions and/or reports were available for my make and model).
Having said that, this is the one I got and I am very pleased with it: Vgate iCarPro paired with the OBD Jscan app. The scanner was $35 and the app is free, but for $18 you get full access to all the functions and reports (well worth it).
JC
Nello,
I’m happy with my BlueDriver. I’ve had it for seven years. It still receives firmware updates. And it has been a one time purchase. There’s no subscription. It has worked fine with all my iPhones.
It’s also available on Amazon.
Be sure to check the compatibility link for your vehicles, if you’re interested.
–Brian
I was happy with Carly.
Like @shamino, I use a standalone OBD2 reader and look up the codes it reports separately. I actually prefer being able to look at the OBD2 reader’s display while looking up the info separately on my iPhone.
The codes are standardized, so it is easy to find information for any particular code.
The model I purchased a few years ago paid for itself the first time I used it. FWIW, the model I have is an Ancel AD530, which is available on Amazon for US $56.
Whether you buy a standalone device or an iPhone-enabled device, I do recommend trying to download and review a manual before purchasing to ensure it has the features (including simplicity) that are important to you.
Depending on what kind of car you have, I use Carly. When it works it’s great and when it doesn’t it is frustrating. But it’s easy and straightforward.