Sep 14, 2015, 04:32 PM
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OBD-II reading without a scanner?
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Southern ohio
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Head over to eBay and pick up an ELM327 BlueTooth module for cheap. Install the Torque (Free) app on your smartphone and shaboom! Done. Works on ANY OBDII vehicle. Allows you to clear codes too. I have used the snot out of mine on all my vehicles.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...reader&_sop=15
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...reader&_sop=15
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 400
Likes: 42
From: Oxford, CT.
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
I ended up buying one called OBDWIZ
it is basically a patch cord from obd port to your laptop.
Ive used it many times now and works great.... I like the fact you are looking at a larger screen and also whatever code shows up, you can simply click a link and BANG you are on the internet looking at the solution
I think it was 30 bucks.
well worth it ... for me.
it is basically a patch cord from obd port to your laptop.
Ive used it many times now and works great.... I like the fact you are looking at a larger screen and also whatever code shows up, you can simply click a link and BANG you are on the internet looking at the solution
I think it was 30 bucks.
well worth it ... for me.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 494
Likes: 4
From: Ohio
Year: 98
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
I hate to necro a thread (well, it isnt all THAT old i suppose) but i do have some pertaining info that id rather not just start a new thread about.
If you check out my build thread I have pictures of one of the Bluetooth OBD-II dongles you can get pretty cheap online. I paid 12 dollars for mine on amazon. there are many "brands" but they all run about the same price and id be willing to wager most of them are the same unit. After that i had to settle on an app for my Android (If you have an iPhone you may need the wifi version and not Bluetooth version of the dongle)
Many people recommend to use a free app called "Torque". my experience with this app was not the best, it was clunky, ugly and somewhat limited on what you could read at once. there was a paid version that had more features but i didnt want to throw cash at it. It claimed to be able to measure your HP ratings and such vith the phones accelorometers and GPS but to me on a privacy standpoint i wasnt interested in it.
I tried about two other free apps with varying degrees of success. One just displayed trouble codes, the other wanted to charge you to read them. I didnt like that either.
Finally i found one called Piston, and ive been using it. Its a much cleaner interface, the download size is small and best yet it displays the code numbers, their "human" translation, and can even erase codes for free.
Id recommend anyone not wanting to pay for an "actual" OBD-II tool, not wanting to take it somewhere to have the codes read, or those just interested in more data than your gauges show you, to get one of these dongles offline and look into the free phone apps available.
If you check out my build thread I have pictures of one of the Bluetooth OBD-II dongles you can get pretty cheap online. I paid 12 dollars for mine on amazon. there are many "brands" but they all run about the same price and id be willing to wager most of them are the same unit. After that i had to settle on an app for my Android (If you have an iPhone you may need the wifi version and not Bluetooth version of the dongle)
Many people recommend to use a free app called "Torque". my experience with this app was not the best, it was clunky, ugly and somewhat limited on what you could read at once. there was a paid version that had more features but i didnt want to throw cash at it. It claimed to be able to measure your HP ratings and such vith the phones accelorometers and GPS but to me on a privacy standpoint i wasnt interested in it.
I tried about two other free apps with varying degrees of success. One just displayed trouble codes, the other wanted to charge you to read them. I didnt like that either.
Finally i found one called Piston, and ive been using it. Its a much cleaner interface, the download size is small and best yet it displays the code numbers, their "human" translation, and can even erase codes for free.
Id recommend anyone not wanting to pay for an "actual" OBD-II tool, not wanting to take it somewhere to have the codes read, or those just interested in more data than your gauges show you, to get one of these dongles offline and look into the free phone apps available.
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