TheSamba.com :: View topic - OBD2 Scan tool

Wed Jul 27, 2016 12:18 pm

Considering a bluetooth module that I can use with my iphone. Anyone have any suggs for this or a more standard one? The port is under the steering column in my 03 EVC so it'd need to be fairly low profile.

Wed Jul 27, 2016 1:19 pm

I suggest moving the OBD2 port if you are going to run that unit all of the time. I have already seen one port get broke because it's almost impossible to not hit it with your leg.

Thu Jul 28, 2016 4:05 am

These ones are pretty slimline, I've used one with android in my car and they dont take up much space:

https://www.amazon.com/iSaddle-Bluetooth-CAN-BUS-D...rds=elm237

Worth checking compatibility with both your eurovan and your phone thou, dont think the early eurovans were odb2.

Thu Jul 28, 2016 6:04 am

d-9 wrote: These ones are pretty slimline, I've used one with android in my car and they dont take up much space:

https://www.amazon.com/iSaddle-Bluetooth-CAN-BUS-D...rds=elm237

Worth checking compatibility with both your eurovan and your phone thou, dont think the early eurovans were odb2.

yeah - i've been thinking about one of these that's iphone compatible and then using the torque app. Seems the least expensive option by far.

Thu Jul 28, 2016 6:45 am

Just remember to do your research on those bluetooth OBD2 things. Many are fake and end up not working as well as you think they should. A friend of mine bought one and it wouldn't work on his Golf. I tried it on my EV and Jetta and it didn't work at all. Yet it worked on my Fiat and my neighbors Surburban. I know he found out it was fake because he took it apart and found some site that showed the differences. So it was $10 down the drain and a week of frustration.

Thu Jul 28, 2016 7:24 am

jjvincent wrote: I tried it on my EV and Jetta and it didn't work at all. Yet it worked on my Fiat and my neighbors Surburban.

Thats what I mean by check compatibility, I'm not so familar with the dates for the US market, but in europe, quite late golf4 and eurovan's are not ODB2 compatible. A friend had a 1999 golf 1.8t, which turned out to not be odb2 compatible, and only the very very late eurovans here are odb2. It may not be fault of the bluetooth dongle, but just incompatibility with that age VW.

Thu Jul 28, 2016 7:28 am

d-9 wrote: jjvincent wrote: I tried it on my EV and Jetta and it didn't work at all. Yet it worked on my Fiat and my neighbors Surburban.

Thats what I mean by check compatibility, I'm not so familar with the dates for the US market, but in europe, quite late golf4 and eurovan's are not ODB2 compatible. A friend had a 1999 golf 1.8t, which turned out to not be odb2 compatible, and only the very very late eurovans here are odb2. It may not be fault of the bluetooth dongle, but just incompatibility with that age VW.

mine's an 03.

Thu Jul 28, 2016 7:49 am

All cars sold in the US from 1996 are OBD2 compatible. It's required by law. One of the main reasons why many European cars were last sold here in 1995 was because they were going to have to be OBD2 compatible and the manufacturer did not want to go through with that. Pretty much why many cars were stopped being sold here in 1994 because passenger side airbags were required.

The thing is, there are some different standards for OBD2 protocol and some of the bluetooth readers do not support them all, thus the reason why the cheap ones can become a problem for some cars.

Thu Jul 28, 2016 8:03 am

Happy with my AUTEL 800 series. Its paid for itself charging old ladies $25 per scan, the $50 to clear codes I put in.

I charge double if your name rhymes with 'kills' and you live in CT

Thu Jul 28, 2016 9:41 am

jjvincent wrote: All cars sold in the US from 1996 are OBD2 compatible. It's required by law. One of the main reasons why many European cars were last sold here in 1995 was because they were going to have to be OBD2 compatible and the manufacturer did not want to go through with that. Pretty much why many cars were stopped being sold here in 1994 because passenger side airbags were required.

The thing is, there are some different standards for OBD2 protocol and some of the bluetooth readers do not support them all, thus the reason why the cheap ones can become a problem for some cars.

Useful info, thanks :) It took a longer to arrive for cars in europe (eodb ~= odb2) and a LOT longer to arrive for vans, most T5s arent odb2 until about 2005. Oddly some T4s are in 01-03.

Thu Jul 28, 2016 1:16 pm

My guess is whatever VW was sold here in the US that was sold in Europe, got OBD2 first. Then it just trickled down afterwards.

Fri Jul 29, 2016 2:33 am

jjvincent wrote: My guess is whatever VW was sold here in the US that was sold in Europe, got OBD2 first. Then it just trickled down afterwards.

Very good point, would explain why the petrol T4s got it and the diesel ones didnt.

Fri Jul 29, 2016 5:11 pm

Has anyone used OBDeleven, as an alternative to VAG-Com ?
Saw a link to it yesterday from a VW tech, hadn't heard of it before.
https://deutscheautoparts.com/vw-audi-scan-tool-obdeleven.html

Fri Jul 29, 2016 5:38 pm

Is OBD Eleven someone who didn't have Roman Numerals in school or is it a real thing?

Fri Jul 29, 2016 6:57 pm

Abscate wrote: Is OBD Eleven someone who didn't have Roman Numerals in school or is it a real thing?
A real thing, and I think that the name is a play on the Roman Numerals. The Eurovan isn't specifically listed, but maybe it would work since there are others of the same vintage?

Mon Aug 08, 2016 11:40 pm

May wish to consider a ScanGuage II

http://www.scangauge.com/products/scangaugeii

As well as OBD II codes, can use it also as to run as extra useful gauges when running car down the road, notably engine temperature, and transmission temperature.

For the transmission temperature you just need to type in a code once only to add it into the device for Eurovan, then can use it forever thereafter without having to re-enter programming code.

Tue Aug 09, 2016 9:56 am

I may have missed it in a previous post but...

Be aware that in my experience iOS must use a WiFi version of the OBD2 dongle because Apple doesn't allow access to the bluetooth stack; unless you are jailbroke in which there is an app from cydia which will enable the use ob BT OBD2.

Android works with both BT and WiFi.

I have bought a few BT and WiFi adapters from amazon for about $15 or less and used Prime so if there were any quality issues I'd have an easy return although all 3 units I've purchased work great.

Another suggestion, you might want to look for a unit with power standby, the ones I got were active at all times due to the OBD port always being energized. I haven't had any power draw issues but I'd feel better if the dongle would sense the vehicle is off and go into standby.

I use Dash Command for my iOS devices and Torque on my Android; both are great app's although I prefer Torque. These are amazing app's, granted VAGCOM can do a few things these cant and I wouldn't go without VAGCOM but when it comes to basic troubleshooting I've found these low cost adapters are easier to use than VACCOM. For example, diagnosing a bad MAF, datalogging a few pulls... very easy. Setting up virtual gauge panels, not even possible in VAGCOM.

Thu May 11, 2017 9:51 am

Is anyone successfully using the Torque app to monitor their transmission temp in real-time? Or are we better off sticking with the more costly Scanguage? Just trying to consider all of my options here.

Thu May 11, 2017 8:58 pm

I pulled the main OBDII port inside, and plugged a Y-splitter to it - https://www.amazon.com/Docooler-16Pin-Splitter-Extension-Female/dp/B000TMCX72

One end of the Y splitter I placed back where the original spot was for my scan gauge, the other end I left inside and connected a bluetooth module for use with TorquePro on Android.

Fri May 12, 2017 5:17 am

eurovank- cool idea! Does that mean that you are able to pit the Scanguage against the TorquePro? Are you able to pull transmission temp on the TorquePro app?