OBD Scan Tool for Smartphones
Updated: Jun. 30, 2017Turn your smartphone into an OBD scan tool with a wireless transmitter and a free app.
Using an OBD scan tool you can track down engine problems through your car's engine control computer, then send the results to your smartphone.
How the scan tool works
Download free app for the obd scan tool
If you’ve ever wanted to know what’s going on in your car’s engine control computer, this handy tool lets you peek inside. Just plug the sensor (BlueDriver; sold at lemurmonitors.com) into the onboard diagnostic (OBD-II) port on your vehicle. The unit sends data right to your smartphone via its Bluetooth interface.
Use the free software iPhone app (there’s an Android app in the works) to get generic powertrain (P) trouble codes, ABS codes (for some domestic vehicles), interactive gauges and logs.
Or, buy subscriptions individually to unlock premium features like these:
- Repair reports (tell you the most likely fix for up to five trouble codes)
- Freeze-frame data (tells you what was going on before and after a trouble code was set)
- Smog readiness check
- Live data (see the data the computer is getting from the sensors).
Required Tools for this Project
The only tool you will need for this project is a smartphone.
Required Materials for this Project
Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.
- BlueDriver sensor
- Free software app
Originally Published: June 20, 2017
