OBD2 Scan Tool Recommendations

I need some help selecting a scanner. All my vehicles are OBD2 and as of a few minutes ago they all have CEL's on.

Are Bluetooth versions any good? I'd prefer to go that route.

Under $100 would be ideal, but would double that for more bells and whistles.

Thanks in advance!

Quote from another GRMer when I asked a similar question:

Stefan (Not Bruce) wrote: ELM327 OBDII to wifi adapter + OBD Fusion App https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HEWU7P4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_iY8.xbCK99J1Z https://www.obdsoftware.net/software/obdfusion Worked great on my wife's 01 'yota Highlander to diagnose the bad oxygen sensor and allow me to monitor them before and after they were changed. One trick I've read on the ELM327 is to set the ipaddress on the iPhone to manual based on what the DHCP server in the adapter provides, reduces delay in connecting. You can also get an OBDII y-adapter to allow access to the port and using the above adapter. Hope this helps!

I did the same as he recommended, and have been happy with it.

I bought two of these last week to replace my previous larger version that has gone missing. Works great with Torque App for Android.
Amazon

John Welsh wrote: I bought two of these last week to replace my previous larger version that has gone missing. Works great with Torque App for Android. Amazon

I've actually had this sitting in a wish list on Amazon for about a year. I just didn't want to buy something I knew nothing about.

Are you an Apple or Android? I've been all Android for a few years.

mtn wrote: Quote from another GRMer when I asked a similar question:

Stefan (Not Bruce) wrote: ELM327 OBDII to wifi adapter + OBD Fusion App https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HEWU7P4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_iY8.xbCK99J1Z https://www.obdsoftware.net/software/obdfusion Worked great on my wife's 01 'yota Highlander to diagnose the bad oxygen sensor and allow me to monitor them before and after they were changed. One trick I've read on the ELM327 is to set the ipaddress on the iPhone to manual based on what the DHCP server in the adapter provides, reduces delay in connecting. You can also get an OBDII y-adapter to allow access to the port and using the above adapter. Hope this helps!

I did the same as he recommended, and have been happy with it.

Appears to be NLA.

Crackers wrote:

John Welsh wrote: I bought two of these last week to replace my previous larger version that has gone missing. Works great with Torque App for Android. Amazon

I've actually had this sitting in a wish list on Amazon for about a year. I just didn't want to buy something I knew nothing about. Are you an Apple or Android? I've been all Android for a few years.

I had had the identical larger black unit for years like noted above bet it went missing so I ordered the smaller blue version by Veepeak. I actually order two, one to give as a gift.

They have all done fine with the Torque App on Android.

The Torque App is not as robust as a $300 scanner in that it wont read ABS and Aitbag codes but it does a great job of reading standard Check Engine codes and most importantly, can be used to clear codes.

Crackers wrote: All my vehicles are OBD2 and as of a few minutes ago they all have CEL's on.

Actually, I forgot about my Xterra, and Uncle Ben is still carved. So technically only half of them have CEL's if you don't count my mother's Fit.

I'm all Android, this is the cheap one I have: BAFX OBDII

My parents got me this one: OBDLink MX

The second one has a faster sample rate (if you care about it), but both work equally good for querying the ECU for trouble codes, basic monitoring of both O2 sensors, etc, etc. I can't speak to the second one's CAN monitoring, since I don't own any Fords and my GM truck hasn't needed it luckily.

I'd go with the first one and pay the $5 for a copy of Torque.

I've owned several of the cheap Bluetooth OBD2 scanners from Amazon, and all have worked fine with Torque. Just pick something cheap with good customer reviews and you should be fine. The one I'm using in the SHO now is this one, and I picked it because it's compact so I don't hit my knee on it all the time.

Yes, the more compact size is really noticeable in some vehicles.
In my Prius the black one was easy to bump and dislodge with my shin when entering or exiting the car. The small blue version is hardly visable and resides mostly out of site. Much better.

Well I went ahead and ordered 2 of the VeePak's so I can keep one at my parents place (and possibly use one as a temporary dash in Uncle Ben once the swap is done)

Mostly went with the VeePak's because it was already in my wish list and because of Tom's comment about knee room.

My knee is already very close to the OBD2 port on the Xterra so that was helpful and why I ask questions here.

Thanks everyone!

How do the Veepaks hold up? I had an older compact one(I think it was called an iSaddle) which worked fine until I left it plugged it overnight at which point it was dead.

My Bluetooth MX stays plugged into my OBD port at all times, and the Torque app is awesome.

WonkoTheSane wrote: How do the Veepaks hold up? I had an older compact one(I think it was called an iSaddle) which worked fine until I left it plugged it overnight at which point it was dead.

My new Veepeak has been plugged into the Prius for about a week now. No problem yet. My large black version also typically resided right in the OBD2 port at all times.

That's good to hear.. The MX hasn't had a problem (it was plugged in for a few months once..), but the early cheap compact ones didn't seem to hold up. I think they all got reviewed appropriately and probably fixed by now, but I figured I'd check in :)