How to use a bluetooth ODB2 reader.

Thought I'd share my engine management light clearing I did today.

It took ten mins from start to finish.

So I got a cheap OBD2 reader from eBay. Why? To see whats going on in the car when the engine management light comes on.

The reason I got bluetooth was that it is very small and I can connect it to my phone so no need for a cable and / or laptop.

What you get:

1 * Bluetooth Adapter
1 * CD Rom





How does it work then?

The first thing to do is to pair it to your phone.

Go into your phone, settings bluetooth and then 'pair' a device.

My phone is an android so is as below:

Click "Settings"


Click "Bluetooth"



Then Pair the device, the code was 1234



Next... START THE ENGINE UP

Install and load an app called "Torque"



Then click the menu button on your phone and show faults.



This will show you whats up, just have a look at all the faults while your there and you should spot on.

Mine was a magical "P0313 - Low Fuel Misfire" eh?



So I cleared it and I'll wait and see if it comes back and investigate further.

Engine management light is now off



I will run it with some Optimax and see if it does anything special.

Vroom Vroom!

You've just saved yourself a minimum of £40.

It also monitors your cars statistics so lets say you left it on you could collect your stats including mpg etc and you can export it into a file for reference.

Thanks Ben! Wish I'd waited and bought a bluetooth rather than one that physically plugs into a laptop!! Ah well, hopefully once I replace the 02 sensor this weekend, I won't need to use it very often

Is there similar software for the I pad 2?

The is dashcommand, but that is £35 on the app store. Considering torque on android is £3, the price for dashcommand is a bit steep.

It could also get worse... On android dashcommand is a free download, however to stop it crashing and timing out, you need to take out a subscription, which works out more expensive in the long run.

I was looking at getting a scangauge 2, but realised I could get one of these Bluetooth obd readers and a cheap android phone for about 1/3 of the price, which has given me realtime stats AND a mobile Internet wireless hotspot in the car, great for my daughter and her iPod when I'm picking her up.

Now all I need to do is find a tidier way of installing it all in the car...

Anyone any experience with dash command?

I've just bought a 1998 Mk1. The technical manual says the diagnostic socket is SAE J1962 standard, which I thought was OBD II. But it doesn't look like the OBD II socket on my other car. Will this reader work on the Mk1? If not, are you aware of another one that will?

Best regards

Robin

All cheap readers are mems3 (OBDII compliant). Although most US cars were OBDII from the mid90s the standard was only applied to European cars from 2001 (petrol) and 2004 (diesel). 2001 MY MGFs are the first to be mems 3 compliant. I don't know how much earlier readers cost. Others on the Forum may be able to advise you.

Its frustrating as despite me having three different methods of diagnosing OBDII compliant cars my son had to pay £40.00 for a diagnostics check on his V reg Corsa recently

EDIT : In addition to the How tos this thread gives more information http://www.the-t-bar.com/en/component/kunena/9-mgf-tf-pitstop/56689-obd-ii-with-dashcommand-for-ipad#56756

All MGFs and TFs do have a J1962 connector, and indeed the J1962 connector is part of the OBD2 standard. However the orientation of it isn't.

Also as explained by alanrt54 the protocol and pinout of OBD2 didn't have to be used in the EU until 2001/2004 for petrol and diesel respectively.

The reader that will work on ALL Fs and TFs isn't cheap but covers MEMS 1.9 (1.8 MPi not OBD2), MEMS 2J (VVC not OBD2) and MEMS3 (all models from 2001 is OBD2).

Google a T300+ and search for the best price you can. Some people are selling them for nearly £300 but I've seen them for £130ish with free delivery.

cairnsys wrote: I've just bought a 1998 Mk1. The technical manual says the diagnostic socket is SAE J1962 standard, which I thought was OBD II. But it doesn't look like the OBD II socket on my other car. Will this reader work on the Mk1? If not, are you aware of another one that will?

Best regards

Robin

good question aside from the info above, anyone know which ebay offering will work on a mark 1? or am i going to be a guinea pig again.......

Lee

The only reasonably priced product is the t300 which will read all mgs(as well as all others)They usually come with a load of adapters.
Check out the How tos for a link.